SB14 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Law enforcement officers, requiring officers to have not less than 16 hours of crisis intervention training

Summary

SB14 would require at least 16 hours of mental health awareness and crisis intervention training for new law enforcement recruits and ongoing education for certified officers.

What This Bill Does

SB14 would require the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission to provide mandatory mental health awareness training with crisis intervention concepts for trainees in approved academies. It would also require certified officers to complete a continuing education course on mental health awareness. By January 1, 2022, the Commission must ensure at least 16 hours of this training are included in the academy curriculum, and officers certified before January 1, 2022 must finish by January 1, 2025. The Commission would annually update the training and may adopt rules to implement the act, and the act would take effect after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement trainees in commission-approved academies would be required to receive at least 16 hours of mental health awareness training focusing on crisis intervention.
• Certified law enforcement officers would be required to complete a continuing education course on mental health awareness, with those certified before January 1, 2022 having until January 1, 2025 to finish.

Key Provisions

• Mandatory Mental Health Awareness/Crisis Intervention Training for trainees in commission-approved academies.
• Not less than 16 hours of mental health awareness instruction by Jan 1, 2022 as part of the academy curriculum.
• Certified officers who were certified before Jan 1, 2022 must complete the Mental Health Awareness program by Jan 1, 2025.
• Commission must annually review and update the training to reflect current mental health awareness trends for first responders.
• Commission may adopt rules to implement; the act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency