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Technical fixes to CJTC certification statutes advance; bill would remove some procedural steps and clarify background‑check requirements
Summary
Senate Bill 5224, an agency‑request technical bill from the Criminal Justice Training Commission, would remove the administrative law judge's required proposed recommendation in decertification hearings, add definitions, and clarify background checks for officers moving between agencies; CJTC and law‑enforcement associations testified in support.
Senate Bill 5224, requested by the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC), would make a set of technical changes to statutes governing officer certification and commission operations. Two substantive changes drew attention at the hearing: removing the requirement that an administrative law judge (ALJ) issue a proposed recommendation before a five‑member commission panel issues a final order in decertification hearings, and clarifying that background checks are required when certified officers move between agencies or change significant job duties.
Kimberly Bliss, assistant director at CJTC, said the ALJ would continue to preside and make evidentiary rulings, but the five‑member panel would no longer be required to receive a separate proposed recommendation from the ALJ before issuing a final order. Bliss told senators that in practice the panel typically drafts its own order and the proposed recommendation is redundant; removing it should shorten the post‑hearing timeframe and reduce costs.
The bill also adds definitions for terms used but not defined in statute, updates gendered language and aligns statutory language with a 2024 law that allowed more flexible work arrangements for officers.
James McMahon of the Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs said the association supports the bill and appreciated collaborating with CJTC staff; he emphasized that technical tweaks should not expand new rulemaking authority and urged clarity for temporary internal assignments that should not trigger full background checks.
The committee took testimony from CJTC and law enforcement associations; public testimony list showed six opposed sign‑ins but no formal vote was recorded in the hearing transcript.
