§ 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(5) [Repealed.]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;
(11) the contents and application of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Code of Conduct;
(12) permitting its Executive Director to grant up to a 60-day waiver to a law enforcement
officer who has failed to meet the officer’s annual in-service training requirements
but who is able to complete those training requirements within the time period permitted
by the Executive Director; and
(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; 2023, No. 124 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 29, 2024.)