It is hereby declared to be the public policy that the State and its subdivisions should foster and encourage the training of officials and employees after entry into public service so that they may improve their knowledge and efficiency in the operations of State and local government and thus improve public service. To that end it is deemed advisable that subdivisions of the State be granted the authority to accomplish that purpose.

Departments, bureaus and agencies of the State government and counties, municipalities, school districts and other governmental units may:

(1) Appropriate and expend public funds;

(2) Use property, equipment, materials, and facilities owned or controlled by them;

(3) Provide by statute, local law or ordinance, rules and regulations for the establishment and conduct of training programs including the methods of selecting officials and employees eligible to participate in such training programs;

(4) Contract with colleges, universities, other educational institutions, organizations, and individuals to conduct training courses and enroll officials and employees in existing courses which will improve their skill and efficiency;

(5) Provide that officials or employees taking such courses or training exceeding ninety days in length shall be required to give assurance to the employing unit of government that he will upon completion of the training period remain in the service of such unit, if his services are otherwise satisfactory, for not less than one year or refund the amount of salary, wages, and expenses that such unit has paid to him or for his benefit during his training period;

(6) Exchange with the State; other subdivisions, states or institutions, in or out of State, approved by the subdivision governing body; or the United States Government, officers or employees for training purposes;

(7) Arrange by contract with other subdivisions, the State or the United States for the training of officials and employees for compensation to be agreed upon among the party governmental units;

(8) Provide that officials and employees attending training courses or on exchange for the purpose of training may remain the employees of the governmental unit employing them and shall continue to be entitled to all benefits and rights as though continuously employed by the employing unit of government at the original station or place;

(9) Pay reasonable traveling expenses and subsistence of such officials and employees during the time they are receiving training;

(10) Provide that the money appropriated in the budget may be used for the payment of salaries or wages and supplies and services necessary for such training program, including salaries of instructors and other personnel who may be employed for that purpose;

(11) Do all other things necessary or appropriate and incidental to the administration of this section.