§ 24-31-312 — School resource officer training

Colorado § 24-31-312

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 24: Government
• Art.: Department of Law

Text

(1) On or before January 1, 2014,
the P.O.S.T. board shall identify a school resource officer training curriculum to
prepare peace officers.

(2) To the extent practicable, the training curriculum described in subsection
(1) of this section shall incorporate the suggestions of relevant stakeholders and
advocates.

(3) (a) In assigning peace officers to serve as school resource officers
pursuant to section 22-32-146, C.R.S., each law enforcement agency is encouraged
to ensure that such peace officers have successfully completed the school
resource officer training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section, or
will complete said training within six months after beginning the assignment.

(b) On and after January 1, 2015, each county sheriff and each municipal law
enforcement agency of the state shall employ at least one peace officer who has
successfully completed the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this
section.

(4) For the purposes of section 22-32-146, C.R.S., the training curriculum
provided pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall include a means of
recognizing and identifying peace officers who successfully complete the training
curriculum.

(5) In providing the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this
section, the P.O.S.T. board may include provisions to allow for the awarding of
credit to a peace officer who has successfully completed a school resource officer
certification curriculum offered by one or more public or private entities, which
entities shall be identified by the P.O.S.T. board.

(6) The P.O.S.T. board may charge a fee to each peace officer who enrolls in
the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section. The amount of the
fee shall not exceed the direct and indirect costs incurred by the P.O.S.T. board in
providing the curriculum.

(7) The P.O.S.T. board, with respect to the hiring, training, and evaluation of
school resource officers and professionalizing a school-police partnership, shall
create a model policy for selecting school resource officers pursuant to the general
duties and responsibilities granted to the P.O.S.T. board pursuant to section 24-31-303. The P.O.S.T. board shall consult with school board members, school resource
officers, K-12 advocates, and other relevant stakeholders, including student groups,
in the development of the model policy. The department of education shall post the
model policy on its website and distribute the policy to school districts, charter
schools, and institute charter schools for consideration and possible adoption. The
model policy may be used by school districts, charter schools, institute charter
schools, and police departments. The model policy must, at a minimum, require that:

(a) Once selected, school resource officers must be fully trained in standard
best practices, as set forth by a national association of school resource officers;

(b) A candidate demonstrate, whenever possible, a record of experience
developing positive relationships with youth, which may include participation in
youth or community policing programs;

(c) A candidate voluntarily apply to serve as a school resource officer; and

(d) The employing law enforcement agency and school district jointly create
an evaluation process to evaluate school resource officers.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2012: Entire section added, (HB 12-1345), ch. 188, p. 746, � 32, effective May 19. L. 2022: (7) added, (HB 22-1376), ch. 243, p. 1804, � 7, effective May 26.