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House Approves Use of POST-Certified Officers in Youth Corrections with Training Concerns Raised
Summary
House Bill 192 passed 51–16 after debate over whether the Division of Youth Corrections should contract for POST-certified 'special function officers' or instead train and promote existing staff; sponsor said the measure gives options and is fiscally responsible.
Representative Chard introduced House Bill 192 as a companion to HB191, saying the bill gives the director of the Division of Youth Corrections authority to use special function officers—POST-certified law-enforcement personnel—for specific functions such as transport and apprehension of violent youth. "What this bill does is it gives the director... the authority to utilize special function officers," the sponsor said, outlining that the statute allows contracting from certified agencies or direct hires.
Floor debate centered on workforce and cost. Representative Tuttle and others asked whether the bill upgrades existing employees or relies on outside hires; supporters said the statute permits both options and that the fiscal note assumed using five officers as a baseline. Opponents, including Representative Hogue, urged training and certifying current staff rather than creating additional layers of personnel, arguing internal candidates could be post-certified and that training existing staff might be less expensive.
Sponsors replied that the bill is a modest addition (five officers in the fiscal note) and said they would continue to consult employees and labor representatives. After summation and a final vote, the House passed HB192 51–16 and referred it to the Senate.
