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Bill to harmonize POST reentry and equivalency rules gets support from law-enforcement groups
Summary
House Bill 75 would extend a one-year reentry grace period and a short equivalency refresher to all public safety disciplines covered by POST, aligning disciplines beyond law enforcement; the POST council and Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association testified in favor.
Representative Steve Gist opened the hearing on House Bill 75, which would standardize education and certification rules across disciplines governed by the Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) council. Timothy Allred, director of POST, said the change would extend a one-year grace period for returning officers and a one-week equivalency option to disciplines other than law enforcement so officers who leave active service are not forced to take the full basic course when they return.
Ninette Gilbertson of the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association supported the bill as a clean-up measure to ensure equitable standards for all POST-covered disciplines. Committee members asked whether tribal officers are covered; Allred said tribal officers may voluntarily seek POST certification and that POST certifications are within POST's jurisdiction only if the officers opt in.
Supporters said the bill is intended to standardize training pathways and ease administrative burdens without changing core certification standards. The hearing closed with sponsor remarks requesting a due pass.
