§ 2355. Council powers and duties

(a) The Council shall adopt rules with respect to:

(1) the approval, or revocation thereof, of law enforcement officer training schools and off-site training programs, which shall include rules to identify and implement alternate routes to certification aside from the training provided at the Vermont Police Academy;

(2) minimum courses of study, attendance requirements, and equipment and facilities to be required at approved law enforcement officer training schools and off-site training programs;

(3) minimum qualifications for instructors at approved law enforcement officer training schools and off-site training programs;

(4) minimum basic training for law enforcement officers in each level of law enforcement officer certification and the time within which that training shall be completed;

(5) [Repealed.]

(6) minimum annual in-service training requirements for law enforcement officers in each level of law enforcement officer certification;

(7) minimum courses of training for other criminal justice personnel;

(8) categories or classifications of advanced in-service training programs and minimum courses of study and attendance requirements with respect to those categories or classifications;

(9) recertification of persons who have not been employed as law enforcement officers for a three-year period;

(10) a definition of criminal justice personnel and criminal justice training for purposes of this title; and

(11) [Repealed.]

(12) permitting its Executive Director to grant up to a 60-day waiver to a law enforcement officer who has failed to meet his or her annual in-service training requirements but who is able to complete those training requirements within the time period permitted by the Executive Director;

(13) Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement training programs and requirements for Levels I, II, and III law enforcement certification, including minimum hours of training, prerequisites, and time periods for completion.

(b)(1) The Council shall conduct and administer training schools and offer courses of instruction for law enforcement officers and other criminal justice personnel. The Council shall offer courses of instruction for law enforcement officers in different areas of the State and shall strive to offer nonovernight courses whenever possible.

(2) The Council may also offer the basic officer’s course for preservice students and educational outreach courses for the public, including firearms safety and use of force.

(c)(1) The Council shall appoint, subject to the approval of the Governor, an Executive Director who shall be an exempt State employee and who shall hold office during the pleasure of the Council.

(2)(A) The Executive Director shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the Council.

(B) The Executive Director may appoint officers, employees, agents, and consultants as he or she may deem necessary and prescribe their duties, with the approval of the Council.

(3) The Executive Director is entitled to compensation as established by law and reimbursement for expenses within the amounts available by appropriation.

(d) The Council may, in addition:

(1) accept and administer under this chapter and for its purposes contributions, capital grants, gifts, services, and other financial assistance from any individual, association, corporation, or other organization having an interest in criminal justice training, and from this State and the United States and any of their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate or otherwise; and

(2) perform such other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(e) Any agency or department of State, county, or municipal government may, notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, engage in and pay for, from sums appropriated for that purpose, training activities for employees in addition to any minimum training required by the Council.

(f) The Council shall charge participants or employers of participants in law enforcement training programs as follows:

(1) The tuition fees for any of the basic training or annual in-service training required under section 2358 of this chapter shall be set forth in rules adopted by the Council. The tuition fees shall be set to reflect the actual costs for operation of the particular programs offered. The fees for basic training shall not be charged for persons employed by police agencies at the time of training.

(2) The tuition fees for training not required under section 2358 of this chapter shall be set to reflect the actual costs for operation of the particular programs offered, with an additional $30.00 entrance exam fee assessed on all training, except educational outreach courses for the public.

(g) The Council shall develop and maintain a comprehensive drug training program. (Added 1967, No. 189, § 5, eff. April 17, 1967; amended 1971, No. 120, § 46(b), (c); 1973, No. 225 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1979, No. 57, § 4; 1987, No. 34, §§ 1, 2; 1993, No. 210 (Adj. Sess.), § 68; 1997, No. 61, § 70; 1999, No. 49, § 185; 2005, No. 72, § 6; 2007, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2013, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. July 1, 2015; 2017, No. 56, § 1; 2019, No. 166 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. Oct. 1, 2020; 2023, No. 75, § 4, eff. June 19, 2023.)