HB 587

Relating to Choctaw County; to provide for the qualifications of the sheriff; and to require completion of continuing education.

Section 1

This act shall only apply in Choctaw County.

Section 2

(a) On or after the effective date of this act, a person qualifying for election to the office of sheriff in the county or any person appointed to serve as a sheriff shall meet all of the following minimum qualifications, in addition to any other qualifications required by law: (1) The person is a citizen of the United States. (2) The person has been a resident of the county for at least one year immediately prior to the qualification date. (3) The person has the qualifications of an elector pursuant to state and federal law and the person has been registered to vote in the county at least one year immediately prior to qualifying. (4) The person has been awarded a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. (5) The person is 25 years of age or older prior to qualifying. (6) The person has three or more years of full-time prior service as a law enforcement officer having the power of arrest, which service is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission, and the person has not been retired or separated from full-time active law enforcement certified through the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission for more than two consecutive years from the date of qualifying, or in the event the person has been retired or separated from active law enforcement for more than two consecutive years, the person has obtained a re-certification of full-time active law enforcement status as a law enforcement officer from the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission prior to the date of qualifying. (7) The person has never been convicted of a felony criminal offense in this state or convicted of a criminal offense in another jurisdiction where a conviction of the offense would be considered a felony offense in this state.

Section 3

Upon election, the sheriff of the county shall attend annually a minimum of 12 hours of executive level continuing education approved by the Alabama Sheriff's Association, National Sheriff's Association, or any other recognized executive level continuing education program designed for law enforcement. Certification of annual continuing education shall be filed with the judge of probate of the county by December 31 of each year.

Section 4

This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.