K.S.A. Chapter 74.--STATE BOARDS,
TRAINING CENTER; TRAINING COMMISSION
Current through end of 2023 legislative session
74-5601 Citation of act.
74-5602 Definitions.
74-5603 Establishment; location; purpose and function; responsibility of director; rules and regulations; director of police training; additional personnel.
74-5604a Extension of program; certification of schools; part-time officer training; pretraining evaluation; rejection of applicant.
74-5605 Qualifications of applicant for training course; requirements.
74-5606 Creation of training commission; members; exemptions.
74-5607 Powers and duties of commission; compensation and expenses; meetings.
74-5607a Certification for permanent appointment; annual training; provisional appointment.
74-5608a Certification of persons completing training in other jurisdictions; waiver of courses.
74-5609a Tuition; reimbursement of tuition.
74-5611 Annual report to attorney general of persons attending academy.
74-5611a Central registry.
74-5616 Eligibility for appointment as officer; certification by commission required; suspension, revocation or denial of certification; judicial review.
74-5617 Failure to meet minimum requirements of act, penalties; violations of act.
74-5619 Law enforcement training center fund.
74-5620 Local law enforcement training reimbursement fund; expenditures.
74-5621 Severability clause.
74-5622 Certification; active status, time period; lapse; reinstatement.
74-5623 Affiliation with the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.
The provisions of article 56 of chapter 74 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, shall be known and be cited as the Kansas law enforcement training act.
History: L. 1968, ch. 81, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 322, § 8; L. 1983, ch. 256, § 6; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 6; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 1; July 1.
As used in the Kansas law enforcement training act:
(a) "Training center" means the law enforcement training center within the university of Kansas, created by K.S.A. 74-5603 and amendments thereto.
(b) "Commission" means the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training, created by K.S.A. 74-5606 and amendments thereto.
(c) "Chancellor" means the chancellor of the university of Kansas, or the chancellor’s designee.
(d) "Director of police training" means the director of police training at the law enforcement training center.
(e) "Director" means the executive director of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training.
(f) "Law enforcement" means the prevention or detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal or traffic laws of this state or of any municipality thereof.
(g) "Police officer" or "law enforcement officer" means a full-time or part-time salaried officer or employee of the state, a county or a city, whose duties include the prevention or detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal or traffic laws of this state or of any municipality thereof. Such terms shall include, but not be limited to,: The sheriff, undersheriff and full-time or part-time salaried deputies in the sheriff’s office in each county; deputy sheriffs deputized pursuant to K.S.A. 19-2858, and amendments thereto; conservation officers of the Kansas department of wildlife parks and tourism; university police officers, as defined in K.S.A. 22-2401a, and amendments thereto; campus police officers, as defined in K.S.A. 22-2401a, and amendments thereto; law enforcement agents of the director of alcoholic beverage control; law enforcement agents designated by the secretary of revenue pursuant to K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 75-5157, and amendments thereto; law enforcement agents of the Kansas lottery; law enforcement agents of the Kansas racing commission; deputies and assistants of the state fire marshal having law enforcement authority; capitol police, existing under the authority of K.S.A. 75-4503, and amendments thereto; special investigators of the juvenile justice authority; special investigators designated by the secretary of labor; and law enforcement officers appointed by the adjutant general pursuant to K.S.A. 48-204, and amendments thereto. Such terms shall also include railroad policemen appointed pursuant to K.S.A. 66-524, and amendments thereto; school security officers designated as school law enforcement officers pursuant to K.S.A. 72-8222, and amendments thereto; the manager and employees of the horsethief reservoir benefit district pursuant to K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 82a-2212, and amendments thereto; and the director of the Kansas commission on peace officers’ standards and training and any other employee of such commission designated by the director pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5603, and amendments thereto, as a law enforcement officer. Such terms shall not include any elected official, other than a sheriff, serving in the capacity of a law enforcement or police officer solely by virtue of such official’s elected position; any attorney-at-law having responsibility for law enforcement and discharging such responsibility solely in the capacity of an attorney; any employee of the commissioner of juvenile justice, or who is employed solely to perform correctional, administrative or operational duties related to juvenile correctional facilities; any employee of the secretary of corrections, any employee of the secretary for children and families; any deputy conservation officer of the Kansas department of wildlife parks and tourism; or any employee of a city or county who is employed solely to perform correctional duties related to jail inmates and the administration and operation of a jail; or any full-time or part-time salaried officer or employee whose duties include the issuance of a citation or notice to appear provided such officer or employee is not vested by law with the authority to make an arrest for violation of the laws of this state or any municipality thereof, and is not authorized to carry firearms when discharging the duties of such person’s office or employment. Such term shall include any officer appointed or elected on a provisional basis.
(h) "Full-time" means employment requiring at least 1,000 hours of law enforcement related work per year.
(i) "Part-time" means employment on a regular schedule or employment which requires a minimum number of hours each payroll period, but in any case requiring less than 1,000 hours of law enforcement related work per year.
(j) "Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" means a violation of domestic battery as provided by K.S.A. 21-3412a, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5414, and amendments thereto, or any other misdemeanor under federal, municipal or state law that has as an element the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed against a person with whom the offender is involved or has been involved in a ‘‘dating relationship’’ or is a ‘‘family or household member’’ as defined in K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 21-5414, and amendments thereto, at the time of the offense.
(k) "Auxiliary personnel" means members of organized nonsalaried groups who operate as an adjunct to a police or sheriff's department, including reserve officers, posses and search and rescue groups.
(l) "Active law enforcement certificate" means a certificate which attests to the qualification of a person to perform the duties of a law enforcement officer and which has not been suspended or revoked by action of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training and has not lapsed by operation of law as provided in K.S.A. 74-5622, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1968, ch. 81, § 2; L. 1973, ch. 331, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 351, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 278, § 1; L. 1978, ch. 365, § 3; L. 1978, ch. 324, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 255, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 315, § 2; L. 1982, ch. 322, § 2; L. 1982, ch. 323, § 1; L. 1985, ch. 257, § 1; L. 1987, ch. 292, § 27; L. 1987, ch. 277, § 2; L. 1987, ch. 112, § 39; L. 1989, ch. 118, § 183; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 3; L. 1997, ch. 168, § 2; L. 2001, ch. 177, § 13; L. 2003, ch. 29, § 4; L. 2004, ch. 180, § 11; L. 2006, ch. 107, § 5; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 7; L. 2011, ch. 30, § 254; L. 2012, ch. 47, § 105; L. 2012, ch. 56, § 2; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 2; L. 2012, ch. 166, § 17; L. 2013, ch. 106, § 12; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 306; L. 2018, ch. 92, § 3; July 1.
74-5603. Establishment; location; purpose and function; rules and regulations; director of police training; director of the commission; additional personnel.
(a) There is hereby created within the university of Kansas a law enforcement training center, to be located at the former site of the U.S. naval air station in Reno county. The purpose and function of such training center shall be the promotion and development of improved law enforcement personnel and procedures throughout the state, and the training center shall offer to qualified applicants, as defined in K.S.A. 74-5605 and amendments thereto, such programs and courses of instruction designed to fulfill this end. No person shall enroll in a basic course of instruction at the Kansas law enforcement training center unless the person holds a provisional law enforcement certificate.
(b) The chancellor, upon consultation with and approval of the commission, shall appoint a director of police training. The chancellor shall also appoint such additional personnel as deemed necessary to carry out the law enforcement training programs of the training center. Such personnel, whether administrative, instructional or research, shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act.
(c) The director of police training shall be responsible for the administration of the training center and for the operation of the programs thereunder. The director of police training shall be responsible for determining the curriculum of the program, subject to such changes and modification as are directed by the commission. In consultation with the commission, the director of police training may prescribe a code of conduct applicable to all trainees at the Kansas law enforcement training center. Upon consultation with and approval of the commission, the director of police training is authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the effective administration of the law enforcement training program.
(d) Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall appoint a director who shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act.
(1) The director shall serve at the pleasure of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training and shall be subject to removal by vote of 3/4 of the entire commission membership.
(2) The director shall enter into contracts necessary to administer the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act.
(3) The director may appoint employees, agents and consultants as the director considers necessary and prescribe their duties.
(4) The director shall be a law enforcement officer. The director may designate any other employee of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training as a law enforcement officer. The director and any employee designated as a law enforcement officer by the director shall possess all powers and privileges which are now or may hereafter be given to an agent of the Kansas bureau of investigation and may exercise such powers and privileges throughout the state.
History: L. 1968, ch. 81, § 3; L. 1973, ch. 331, § 2; L. 1976, ch. 351, § 2; L. 1982, ch. 322, § 9; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 7; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 8; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 3; July 1.
74-5604a. Extension of program; certification of schools; part-time officer training; pretraining evaluation; rejection of applicant.
(a) The director of police training may establish a program for extending the law enforcement training and instruction throughout the state on a regional basis. The director of police training also may certify annually the training schools of state and local law enforcement agencies providing a course of law enforcement training for full-time police officers or law enforcement officers when such training programs satisfy the qualifications and standards promulgated by the director of police training after approval of the commission and when such programs satisfy a demonstrated training need not met by existing programs. The director of police training shall establish a course in basic law enforcement training for part-time police officers or law enforcement officers, approved by the commission, to be provided at the training center and certified state and local law enforcement training schools. In addition, after the general election of each election year and prior to January 1 of the next succeeding year, and at such other times as the director of police training deems necessary, the director of police training shall commence a training course for persons elected to the office of sheriff at the preceding general election.
(b) The director of police training shall conduct a pretraining evaluation of applicants for admission to the course for law enforcement officers conducted by the training center or to any certified state or local law enforcement training school to assure that each applicant is qualified to serve as a law enforcement officer. The director of police training shall adopt minimum standards, which shall receive prior approval by the commission, to be considered in the pretraining evaluation. The director of police training shall advise the city, county or state agency, railroad, school district or community college authorizing the applicant to attend the training center or certified state or local law enforcement training school of the results of the pretraining evaluation. The director of police training, with approval of the commission, may reject an applicant to the training center who does not meet the minimum pretraining standards.
(c) Training courses conducted pursuant to this section may include procedures for law enforcement to follow when responding to an allegation of stalking.
History: L. 1982, ch. 322, § 3; L. 1983, ch. 256, § 3; L. 1987, ch. 277, § 3; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 8; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 9; L. 2008, ch. 137, § 6; July 1.
74-5605. Qualifications of applicant for training course; requirements.
(a) Every applicant for certification shall be an employee of a state, county or city law enforcement agency, a municipal university police officer, a railroad policeman appointed pursuant to K.S.A. 66-524, and amendments thereto; an employee of the tribal law enforcement agency of an Indian nation that has entered into a tribal-state gaming compact with this state; a manager or employee of the horsethief reservoir benefit district pursuant to K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 82a-2212, and amendments thereto; or a school security officer designated as a school law enforcement officer pursuant to K.S.A. 72-8222, and amendments thereto.
(b) Prior to admission to a course conducted at the training center or at a certified state or local law enforcement agency, the applicant’s appointing authority or agency head shall furnish to the director of police training and to the commission a statement certifying that the applicant has been found to meet the minimum requirements of certification established by this subsection. The commission may rely upon the statement of the appointing authority or agency head as evidence that the applicant meets the minimum requirements for certification to issue a provisional certification. Each applicant for certification shall meet the following minimum requirements:
(1) Be a United States citizen;
(2) have been fingerprinted and a search of local, state and national fingerprint files made to determine whether the applicant has a criminal record;
(3) not have been convicted of a crime that would constitute a felony under the laws of this state, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or a misdemeanor offense that the commission determines reflects on the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity or competence of the applicant as defined by rules and regulations of the commission;
(4) have (A) graduated from a high school accredited by the Kansas state board of education or the appropriate accrediting agency of another state jurisdiction; (B) obtained a high school education from a nonaccredited private secondary school as defined in K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 72-4345, and amendments thereto; or (C) obtained the equivalent of a high school education as defined by rules and regulations of the commission;
(5) be of good moral character sufficient to warrant the public trust in the applicant as a police officer or law enforcement officer;
(6) have completed an assessment, including psychological testing approved by the commission, to determine that the applicant does not have a mental or personality disorder that would adversely affect the ability to perform the essential functions of a police officer or law enforcement officer with reasonable skill, safety and judgment;
(7) be free of any physical or mental condition which adversely affects the ability to perform the essential functions of a police officer or law enforcement officer with reasonable skill, safety and judgment; and
(8) be at least 21 years of age.
(c) The commission may deny a provisional or other certification upon a finding that the applicant has engaged in conduct for which a certificate may be revoked, suspended or otherwise disciplined as provided in K.S.A. 74-5616, and amendments thereto. When it appears that grounds for denial of a certification exist under this subsection, after a conditional offer of employment has been made to an applicant seeking appointment as a police officer or law enforcement officer, the applicant’s appointing authority or agency head may request an order from the commission to determine whether a provisional certification will be issued to that applicant.
(d) As used in this section, ‘‘conviction’’ includes rendering of judgment by a military court martial pursuant to the uniform code of military justice, by a court of the United States or by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state, whether or not expunged; and any diversion or deferred judgment agreement entered into for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or a misdemeanor offense that the commission determines reflects on the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity or competence of the applicant as defined by rules and regulations by the commission and any diversion agreement or deferred judgment entered into on or after July 1, 1995, for a felony.
History: L. 1968, ch. 81, § 5; L. 1982, ch. 322, § 6; L. 1983, ch. 256, § 4; L. 1986, ch. 301, § 1; L. 1987, ch. 277, § 4; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 4; L. 1996, ch. 256, § 16; L. 1997, ch. 168, § 3; L. 2003, ch. 60, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 149, § 2; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 10; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 4; L. 2017, ch. 79, § 3; L. 2018, ch. 92, § 4; July 1.
74-5606. Creation of training commission; members; exemptions.
(a) There is hereby created the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training which shall consist of 12 members which shall include:
(1) The superintendent of the Kansas highway patrol, or the superintendent's designee;
(2) the director of the Kansas bureau of investigation, or the director's designee;
(3) a sheriff of a county having a population of 50,000 or more, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas sheriffs' association;
(4) a sheriff of a county having a population of less than 50,000 and more than 10,000, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas sheriffs' association;
(5) a sheriff of a county having a population of 10,000 or less, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas sheriffs' association;
(6) a chief of police of a city of the first class, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas association of chiefs of police;
(7) a chief of police of a city of the second class, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas association of chiefs of police;
(8) a chief of police of a city of the third class, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas association of chiefs of police;
(9) a training officer from a certified state or local law enforcement training school, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the Kansas peace officers association;
(10) a full-time, commissioned law enforcement officer employed by either a state, county or city agency, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the fraternal order of police;
(11) a county or district attorney, or an assistant county or district attorney, to be selected by the governor who shall consider, but not be limited to, a list of three nominees submitted therefor by the county and district attorneys' association; and
(12) a member representing the public at large who is not associated with law enforcement, selected by the governor to serve as chairperson.
(b) Each person initially appointed to a position described in subsection (a)(6), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9) or (a)(12) shall serve for a two-year term and thereafter the term of members appointed to such positions shall be four years. Each person appointed to a position described in subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), (a)(5), (a)(10) or (a)(11) shall serve for a four-year term. A person appointed to a position on the commission shall resign such position upon vacating the office or position which qualified such person to be appointed as a member of the commission in that position. Vacancies in any position shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments.
(c) Membership on the commission shall not constitute holding a public office, and members of the commission shall not be required to take and file oaths of office before serving on the commission and shall not be required to be bonded. No member of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment by reason of the member's appointment to or membership on the commission and no such member shall forfeit any such office or employment by reason of the member's appointment under this section, notwithstanding the provision of any law or ordinance. Membership of members employed by a city or county shall be deemed for all purposes a duty of the member's employment by such city or county.
History: L. 1968, ch. 81, § 6; L. 1982, ch. 322, § 10; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 9; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 11; July 1.
74-5607. Powers and duties of commission; compensation and expenses; meetings; rules and regulations, firearms.
(a) In addition to other powers and duties prescribed by law, the commission shall adopt, in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 77-415 et seq., and amendments thereto, rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of and to administer the Kansas law enforcement training act. The commission may also adopt such rules of procedure or guidance documents as are necessary for conducting the business of the commission.
(b) The commission or a designated committee or member of the commission may conduct investigations and proceedings necessary to carry out the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act. In all investigations, hearings or other matters pending before the commission, the commission or any person acting as a presiding officer for the commission shall have the power to:
(1) Administer oaths and take testimony;
(2) issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any papers, books, accounts, documents and testimony, and to cause the deposition of witnesses, either residing within or without the state, to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for taking depositions in civil actions in the district courts. In case of the failure of any person to comply with any subpoena issued on behalf of the commission, or on the refusal of any witness to testify to any matters regarding which the witness may be lawfully questioned, the district court of any county, on application of a member of the commission, may require compliance by proceedings for contempt, as in the case of failure to comply with a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify in such court. Each witness who appears before the commission by its order or subpoena, other than a state officer or employee, shall receive for such attendance the fees and mileage provided for witnesses in civil cases in courts of record which shall be audited and paid upon presentation of proper vouchers sworn to by such witnesses and approved by the chairperson of the commission or by a person or persons designated by the chairperson;
(3) enter into contracts necessary to administer the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act and the certification of law enforcement officers; and
(4) assess the costs of such matters pending before the commission under this section against the governmental entity employing the police officer or law enforcement officer.
(c) Members of the commission attending meetings of the commission, or attending a committee meeting authorized by the commission, shall be paid amounts provided for in subsection (e) of K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto. The commission shall be responsible for approving all expense vouchers of members.
(d) The commission shall meet at least once each year at the training center and may hold other meetings whenever they are called by the chairperson.
(e) The commission shall adopt the rules and regulations that are necessary to ensure that law enforcement officers are adequately trained and to enforce the provisions of the Kansas law enforcement training act. Such rules and regulations shall include, but are not limited to, the establishment of a course of fire as a standard qualification for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms that may also be used for qualified retired officers to carry firearms pursuant to federal law. The director shall provide qualification opportunities for qualified retired officers at the times and places the director determines to be necessary. The training center shall charge and collect a fee from retired state, local and federal officers for the qualification opportunities, but these fees shall be limited to the actual costs of presenting the standard qualifications course.
(f) On and after July 1, 2012, the commission shall require fingerprinting of each applicant for certification under the Kansas law enforcement training act, and may require fingerprinting of a person who has received a certificate under the Kansas law enforcement training act prior to July 1, 2012, if such person’s conduct is investigated pursuant to this section. The commission shall appoint an employee of the commission whose official duty includes seeking and maintaining confidential information as provided by this subsection. The appointed employee shall submit fingerprints to the Kansas bureau of investigation and to the federal bureau of investigation for the purpose of verifying the identity of such applicant or certificate holder and for obtaining records of that person’s criminal arrests and convictions. Upon the request of the appointed employee, the Kansas bureau of investigation and other criminal justice agencies shall provide to the appointed employee all background investigation information including criminal history record information, arrest and nonconviction data and criminal intelligence information. Such information, other than conviction data, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed by the appointed employee, except for a purpose stated in this section. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, unauthorized disclosure of such information shall be grounds for removal from office or termination of employment.
History: L. 1968, ch. 81, § 7; L. 1973, ch. 331, § 4; L. 1974, ch. 348, § 80; L. 1975, ch. 416, § 13; L. 1982, ch. 322, § 11; L. 1983, ch. 256, § 5; L. 1988, ch. 306, § 1; L. 2005, ch. 141, § 4; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 12; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 5; July 1.
74-5607a. Certification for full-time and part-time law enforcement officers; annual training; provisional certificate.
(a) The commission shall not issue a certification as a full-time police officer or law enforcement officer unless such officer has been awarded a certificate attesting to satisfactory completion of a full-time officer basic course of accredited instruction at the training center or at a certified state or local law enforcement training school or has been awarded such a certificate for not less than the number of hours of instruction required by the Kansas law enforcement training act at the time such certificate was issued or received a permanent appointment as a full-time police officer or law enforcement officer prior to July 1, 1969, or was appointed a railroad policeman pursuant to K.S.A. 66-524, and amendments thereto, on or before January 1, 1982. No person shall receive certification as a part-time police officer or law enforcement officer unless such officer has been awarded a certificate attesting to the satisfactory completion of a part-time officer basic course of instruction in law enforcement at the training center or at a certified state or local law enforcement training school.
(b) Beginning the second year after certification, every full-time police officer or law enforcement officer shall complete annually 40 hours of law enforcement education or training in subjects relating directly to law enforcement. Failure to complete such training shall be grounds for suspension of a certificate issued under the Kansas law enforcement training act until such training is completed, except that the commission may stay any such suspension upon a showing of hardship upon the employing law enforcement agency. The commission, in consultation with the director of police training, shall adopt rules and regulations regarding such education or training. Such education or training may include procedures for law enforcement to follow when responding to an allegation of stalking. Every city, county and state agency shall send to the director certified reports of the completion of such education or training. The commission shall maintain a record of the reports in the central registry.
(c) Subject to the provisions of subsection (d):
(1) Any person who is appointed or elected as a police officer or law enforcement officer and who does not hold a certificate as required by subsection (a) may be issued a provisional certificate for a period of one year. The commission may extend the one-year period for the provisional certificate if in the commission's determination the extension would not constitute an intentional avoidance of the requirements of subsection (a). If a person's provisional certificate expires or is revoked, the person shall not be issued another provisional certificate within one year of the expiration or revocation. A provisional certificate shall be revoked upon dismissal from any basic training program authorized by K.S.A. 74-5604a, and amendments thereto. A provisional certificate may be revoked upon voluntary withdrawal from any basic training program authorized by K.S.A. 74-5604a, and amendments thereto.
(2) Any police officer or law enforcement officer who does not complete the education or training required by subsection (b) by the date such education or training is required to have been completed shall be subject to revocation or suspension of certification and loss of the officer's office or position.
(d) The commission may extend, waive or modify the annual continuing education requirement, when it is shown that the failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) or (b) was not due to the intentional avoidance of the law.
History: L. 1982, ch. 322, § 4; L. 1988, ch. 306, § 2; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 10; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 13; L. 2008, ch. 137, § 7; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 6; July 1.
74-5608a. Certification of persons completing training in other jurisdictions; waiver of courses.
(a) The commission may, in the exercise of discretion, award a certificate to any person who has been duly certified under the laws of another state or territory if, in the opinion of the director of police training, the requirements for certification in such other jurisdiction equal or exceed the qualifications required to complete satisfactorily the basic course of instruction at the training center.
(b) The commission may waive any number of the hours or courses required to complete the basic course of instruction at the training center, part-time school, reciprocity school or for the hours required for annual continuing education for any person who, in the opinion of the director of police training, has received sufficient training or experience that such hours of instruction would be, unless waived, unduly burdensome or duplicative.
History: L. 1976, ch. 351, § 3; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 11; L. 1997, ch. 168, § 4; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 14; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 7; July 1.
74-5609a. Tuition; reimbursement of tuition.
(a) The law enforcement training center is authorized to charge tuition for each railroad policeman, each employee of a tribal law enforcement agency and each school law enforcement officer enrolled in a course at the training center. Such tuition shall not exceed the training center's average operating cost per trainee. Tuition charges authorized by this section shall cover the cost of room, board and all necessary instructional supplies and material for any railroad policeman or school law enforcement officer attending the law enforcement training center.
(b) Any city, county or state agency which commences employment of a police officer or law enforcement officer within one year of the time such police officer or law enforcement officer has completed a course of instruction at a state or local law enforcement training school shall reimburse the city, county or state agency which paid the tuition for training such officer. This reimbursement shall include the amount of the tuition paid, the officer's salary and travel expenses and any other expenses incurred which were incidental to training such officer.
History: L. 1982, ch. 322, § 5; L. 1987, ch. 277, § 5; L. 1996, ch. 256, § 17; July 1.
74-5611. Annual report to attorney general of persons attending academy.
The director of police training shall annually report to the attorney general of the state of Kansas the names of all persons who attended law enforcement training center during each training year.
History: L. 1975, ch. 157, § 2; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 12; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 15; July 1
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74-5611a. Central registry; purpose; required reports; immunity from liability.
(a) (1) The commission shall establish and maintain a central registry of all Kansas police officers or law enforcement officers.
(2) The purpose of the registry is to be a resource for all agencies who appoint or elect police or law enforcement officers to use when reviewing employment applications of such officers. The registry shall include all records received or created by the commission pursuant to this section and all records related to violations of the Kansas law enforcement training act, including, but not limited to, records of complaints received or maintained by the commission.
(3) All records contained in the registry are confidential and shall not be disclosed pursuant to the Kansas open records act, except such records may be disclosed as provided in subsections (a)(4) and (a)(5) and the Kansas administrative procedure act.
(4) Records contained in the registry, other than investigative files, shall be disclosed:
(A) To an agency that certifies, appoints or elects police or law enforcement officers;
(B) to the person who is the subject of the information, but the commission may require disclosure in such a manner as to prevent identification of any other person who is the subject or source of the information;
(C) in any proceeding conducted by the commission in accordance with the Kansas administrative procedure act, or in an appeal of an order of the commission entered in a proceeding, or to a party in such proceeding or that party’s attorney;
(D) to a municipal, state or federal licensing, regulatory or enforcement agency with jurisdiction over acts or conduct similar to acts or conduct that would constitute grounds for action under this act; and
(E) to the director of police training when such disclosure is relevant to the exercise of the authority granted in K.S.A. 74-5604a(b), and amendments thereto.
(5) The following records may be disclosed to any person pursuant to the Kansas open records act:
(A) A record containing only:
(i) A police or law enforcement officer’s name;
(ii) the name of a police or law enforcement officer’s current employer;
(iii) the police or law enforcement officer’s dates of employment with the police or law enforcement officer’s current employer;
(iv) the name of previous law enforcement employers and the dates of employment with each employer;
(v) a summary of the trainings completed by the police or law enforcement officer as reported to the commission; and
(vi) the status of the police or law enforcement officer’s certification under this act; and
(B) statewide summary data without personally identifiable information.
(6) The provisions of K.S.A. 45-221(a), and amendments thereto, shall apply to any records disclosed pursuant to subsection (a)(4) or (a)(5).
(b) The director shall provide forms for registration and shall refuse any registration not submitted on such form in full detail.
(c) Within 30 days of appointment, election or termination, every city, county and state agency, every school district and every community college shall submit the name of any person appointed or elected to or terminated from the position of police officer or law enforcement officer within its jurisdiction.
(d) Upon termination, the agency head shall include a report explaining the circumstances under which the officer resigned or was terminated. Such termination report shall be available to the terminated officer and any law enforcement agency to which the terminated officer later applies for a position as a police officer or law enforcement officer. The terminated officer may submit a written statement in response to the termination and any such statement shall be included in the registry file concerning such officer. The director shall adopt a format for the termination report.
(e) The agency, agency head and any officer or employee of the agency shall be absolutely immune from civil liability:
(1) For the report made in accordance with subsection (d); and
(2) when responding in writing to a written request concerning a current or former officer from a prospective law enforcement agency of that officer for the report made in accordance with subsection (d) and for the disclosure of such report.
History: L. 1982, ch. 322, § 7; L. 1987, ch. 277, § 6; L. 1992, ch. 157, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 13; L. 2004, ch. 149, § 3; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 16; L. 2018, ch. 93, § 3; L. 2023, ch. 25, § 7; July 1.
74-5616. Eligibility for appointment as officer; certification by commission required; suspension, revocation, reprimand, censure or denial of certification; judicial review.
(a) No person shall be appointed as a full-time law enforcement officer unless the person holds a full-time active law enforcement certificate or a provisional law enforcement certificate. No person shall be appointed as a part-time officer unless the person holds a full-time active law enforcement certificate, a part-time active law enforcement certificate or a provisional certificate. (b) The commission may suspend, condition or revoke the certification of a police officer or law enforcement officer, reprimand or censure a police officer or law enforcement officer, or deny the certification of a police officer or law enforcement officer who:
(1) Fails to meet and maintain the requirements of K.S.A. 74-5605 or 74-5607a, and amendments thereto;
(2) has knowingly submitted false or misleading documents or willfully failed to obtain any certification under the Kansas law enforcement training act;
(3) provides false information or otherwise fails to cooperate in a commission investigation to determine a person's continued suitability for law enforcement certification;
(4) fails to complete the annual continuing education required by K.S.A. 74-5607a, and amendments thereto, and implementing rules and regulations or otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of the Kansas law enforcement training act; or
(5) engaged in conduct which, if charged as a crime, would constitute a felony crime under the laws of this state, a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence as defined in the Kansas law enforcement training act at the time the conduct occurred or a misdemeanor crime that the commission determines reflects on the honesty, trustworthiness, integrity or competence of the applicant as defined by rules and regulations of the commission;
(6) has used racial or other biased-based policing prohibited by K.S.A. 2017 Supp. 22-4609, and amendments thereto; or
(7) has engaged in unprofessional conduct as defined by rules and regulations of the commission.
(c) The procedure for the censure, or reprimand of a police officer or law enforcement officer, or ordering a condition, suspension, revocation or denial of certification of a person as a police officer or law enforcement officer or an applicant for certification, shall be in accordance with the Kansas administrative procedure act.
(d) The commission may commence an emergency proceeding under the Kansas administrative procedure act to suspend the certification of any police officer or law enforcement officer who engages in conduct constituting grounds for discipline in this section and whose continued performance of duties constitutes an immediate danger to the public.
(e) Any action of the commission pursuant to this section is subject to review in accordance with the act for judicial review and civil enforcement of agency actions. Upon request of the commission, the attorney general shall prosecute or defend any action for review on behalf of the state, but the county or district attorney of the county where the police or law enforcement officer has been employed as such shall appear and prosecute or defend such action upon request of the attorney general or commission. The commission may elect to retain the services of a private attorney to appear and prosecute or defend any action on behalf of the commission.
(f) The agency head or other appointing authority for a police officer or law enforcement officer under investigation for a violation of this section shall provide all reports, documentation, transcripts, recordings and other information to the commission when requested during the course of such investigation.
History: L. 1983, ch. 256, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 306, § 3; L. 1995, ch. 180, § 14; L. 1997, ch. 168, § 5; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 17; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 8; L. 2015, ch. 89, § 1; July 1.
74-5617. Failure to meet minimum requirements of act, penalties; violations of act.
(a) Every candidate for appointment to a position as a police officer or law enforcement officer shall hold permanent or provisional certification.
(b) For the purpose of determining the eligibility of an individual for certification under this act, the commission may require the submission of training and education records, and experience history, medical history, medical examination reports and records, and interview appraisal forms.
(c) Law enforcement agencies in Kansas shall be responsible for their agency's observance of the hiring requirements of this section.
(d) No law enforcement agency head or other appointing authority shall knowingly permit the hiring of any person in violation of the requirements of this act, or knowingly permit the continued employment of any person as a law enforcement officer after receiving written notice from the commission that the person does not hold an active law enforcement certificate. No law enforcement agency head or other appointing authority shall knowingly permit any auxiliary personnel who have been convicted of a felony offense under the laws of Kansas or any other jurisdiction access to law enforcement records or communication systems that are restricted under state or federal law or appoint as auxiliary personnel any person who does not meet the requirements of K.S.A. 74-5605 and amendments thereto. Any violation of the requirements of this act shall be deemed to constitute misconduct in office and shall subject the agency head or appointing authority to:
(1) Removal from office pursuant to K.S.A. 60-1205 and amendments thereto; or
(2) a civil penalty in a sum set by the court of not to exceed $500 for each occurrence of noncompliance in an action brought in the district court, which penalty shall be paid to the state treasurer for deposit in the state treasury and credit to the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training fund.
(e) Whenever in the judgment of the commission any person has engaged in any acts or practices which constitute a violation of this act, or any rules and regulations of the commission, the commission may make application to the district court, without giving bond, for civil enforcement of this act or rules and regulations in accordance with the act for judicial review and civil enforcement of agency actions. The district or county attorney of any county shall at the request of the commission render such legal assistance as necessary in carrying out the provisions of this act. Upon the request of the commission, the district or county attorney of the proper county shall institute in the name of the state or commission proceedings for appropriate relief, whether mandatory, injunctive or declaratory, preliminary or final, temporary or permanent, equitable or legal, against any person regarding whom a complaint has been made charging such person with the violation of any provision of this act.
(f) The commission shall make such inquiry as necessary to determine compliance with the requirements of this section and the rules and regulations adopted under it.
(g) It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that every police officer or law enforcement officer under their supervision has the opportunity to receive the mandatory training as prescribed in K.S.A. 74-5604a and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1983, ch. 256, § 2; L. 1988, ch. 306, § 4; L. 1997, ch. 168, § 6; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 18; July 1.
74-5619. Law enforcement training center fund; Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training fund.
(a) (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the law enforcement training center fund. All moneys credited to such fund under the provisions of this act or any other law shall be expended only for the purpose and in the manner prescribed by law.
(2) All moneys received for assessments as provided pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5607, and amendments thereto, shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the law enforcement training center fund.
(b) There is hereby created in the state treasury the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training fund. All moneys credited to such fund under the provisions of this act or any other law shall be expended only for the purpose of the operation of the commission to carry out its powers and duties as mandated by law. The director may apply for and receive public or private grants, gifts and donations of money for the commission. All moneys received from grants, gifts and donations shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training fund.
(c) The moneys credited to the funds created in subsections (a) and (b) shall be used for the purposes set forth in this section and for no other governmental purposes. It is the intent of the legislature that the moneys deposited in these funds shall remain intact and inviolate for the purposes set forth in this section.
(d) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas law enforcement training act.
History: L. 1988, ch. 306, § 5; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 330; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 19; L. 2016, ch. 88, § 5; July 1.
74-5620. Local law enforcement training reimbursement fund; expenditures.
(a) There is hereby created in the state treasury the local law enforcement training reimbursement fund. All expenditures from the local law enforcement training fund shall:
(1) Be distributed to municipalities which participated in local law enforcement training programs, certified by the commission, which existed prior to January 1, 1992, in accordance with a distribution formula developed by the commission;
(2) not exceed more than 100% of the actual training costs incurred by the municipality in participating in the local law enforcement training program; and
(3) be distributed for basic law enforcement training and not be for any type of continuing law enforcement training education programs. Such distribution formula shall provide that distribution be based on the number of individuals trained and the cost per individual trained of each such municipality. Any such distributions shall be reviewed on a year-to-year basis and adjusted accordingly pursuant to the criteria specified in this section. The commission shall conduct a review of all local law enforcement training programs in which municipalities receiving expenditures pursuant to this act are participating and shall require that all such law enforcement training programs report their costs in a standardized format prescribed by the commission. Expenditures from the local law enforcement training reimbursement fund shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the commission or by a person or persons designated by the commission.
(b) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the Kansas law enforcement training act.
History: L. 1992, ch. 315, § 11; L. 2006, ch. 170, § 20; L. 2011, ch. 9, § 1; July 1.
If any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
History: L. 1995, ch. 180, § 15; July 1.
74-5622. Certification; active status, time period; lapse; reinstatement.
(a) Certification by the commission will remain active for a period of five years after leaving employment as a law enforcement officer. Certification which has lapsed due to more than five years since employment as a law enforcement officer may be reinstated if the applicant, within one year of reappointment:
(1) Satisfactorily completes the current basic training required under K.S.A. 74-5607a and amendments thereto;
(2) passes a written competency test and firearms proficiency qualification course developed and administered by the Kansas law enforcement training center; or
(3) obtains from the director pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5608a(b) and amendments thereto, a waiver based on the training, experience and circumstances of the applicant.
(b) (1) A person whose certificate issued under the Kansas law enforcement training act has been revoked may petition the commission to reinstate the certificate after the expiration of five years from the effective date of such revocation. If the commission denies a petition for reinstatement, such person may petition the commission to reinstate the certificate after the expiration of five years from such denial.
(2) The commission may reinstate a revoked certificate upon a finding that the petitioner is otherwise qualified for certification under the Kansas law enforcement training act and is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust. The burden shall be upon the petitioner to establish rehabilitation by clear and convincing evidence.
(3) In determining whether a petitioner is sufficiently rehabilitated to warrant the public trust, the commission may consider any relevant evidence, and may, but shall not be required, to consider the following factors:
(A) The present moral fitness of the petitioner for performance of duties as a police officer or law enforcement officer;
(B) the demonstrated consciousness of the wrongful conduct and disrepute which the conduct has brought upon the law enforcement profession and the administration of justice;
(C) the extent of the petitioner’s rehabilitation;
(D) the nature and seriousness of the original misconduct;
(E) the conduct subsequent to discipline;
(F) the time elapsed since the original discipline; and
(G) the petitioner’s character, maturity and experience at the time of the original revocation.
(4) The proceedings on a petition for reinstatement shall be conducted in accordance with the Kansas administrative procedure act.
History: L. 1997, ch. 168, § 7; L. 2012, ch. 89, § 9; L. 2015, ch. 89, § 2; July 1.
74-5623. Affiliation with the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4971, and amendments thereto, on or after the effective date of this act, the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall affiliate with the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system established under the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, pursuant to the provisions of this act for membership in the system of members of the staff of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training who have been designated as law enforcement officers by the executive director pursuant to K.S.A. 74-5603, and amendments thereto, and successfully completed the required course of instruction for law enforcement officers approved by the Kansas law enforcement training center or are certified pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-5607a, and amendments thereto. For purposes of such affiliation for membership in the system of such members, the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall be considered a new participating employer. The Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall make application for affiliation with such system in the manner provided by K.S.A. 74-4954, and amendments thereto, to be effective on July 1 next following application. The Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall affiliate for membership in the system of such members for participating service credit.
(2) The Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall pay a sum sufficient to satisfy any obligations as certified by the board of trustees of the retirement system and the employer contributions of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training shall be as provided in subsection (1) of K.S.A. 74-4967, and amendments thereto.
(b) (1) Each such member of the staff employed by the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training on the date of affiliation, may become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system on the first day of the payroll period of such member, coinciding with or following the entry date of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training as provided in this section, only by filing with the board of trustees of the system, on or before the entry date of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training as provided in this section, a written election to become a member of the system. Failure to file such written election shall be presumed to be an election not to become a member of the system. Such election, whether to become or not to become a member, shall be irrevocable.
(2) Each such member of the staff of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training who is on an authorized leave of absence or is in the military service on the entry date of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training as provided in this section may become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system on the first day of the first payroll period of such member, coinciding with such member's return to active employment and payroll of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training, only by filing with the board of trustees of the system within 10 days after such return to active employment a written election to become a member of the system. Failure to file such written election shall be presumed to be an election not to become a member of the system. Such election, whether to become a member or not to become a member, shall be irrevocable.
(c) Each such member who is employed as a member of the staff of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training on or after the entry date of the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training into the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system as provided in this section shall become a member of the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system on the first day of such employment.
(d) If the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training affiliates as provided in this act, the Kansas commission on peace officers' standards and training and each member of the staff who elects to become a member shall be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, as applicable.
(e) The division of the budget of the department of administration and the governor shall include in the budget and in the budget request for appropriations for personnel services the amount required to satisfy the employer's obligation under this act as certified by the board of trustees of the system, and shall present the same to the legislature for allowance and appropriations.
(f) The determination of retirement, death or disability benefits shall be computed upon the basis of "credited service" as used in K.S.A. 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, but shall include only participating service with the person's participating employer, commencing on and after the effective date of affiliation by the participating employer with the Kansas police and firemen's retirement system.
History: L. 2006, ch. 170, § 21; July 1.