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Senate amends sheriff‑qualification bill, extends deadline for temporary appointees
Summary
The Senate passed House Bill 12 after adopting a floor amendment that extended the time for appointed county sheriffs to complete required training from 30 to 60 days; the bill modifies certification requirements and sets a timeframe for interim appointees.
The Utah Senate on Feb. 4 amended and passed House Bill 12, which revises certification and appointment timelines for county sheriffs.
Sponsor Senator Jenkins described the measure as simplifying certification requirements: it retains POST certification but allows an alternative 40‑hour Correctional Facility Management course as part of the qualifications and creates a timeframe for interim appointees to complete required credentials. "Currently, the sheriff has to be POST certified and correction officer certified. Under this bill ... it requires you to have that same POST certification, but then it also makes it so you can have a 40‑hour Correctional Facility Management course," Jenkins said.
Senator Greiner moved a floor amendment changing the deadline for appointees to complete required training from 30 days to 60 days, arguing 30 days was too short for someone new to the role to complete a 40‑hour course. Jenkins characterized the amendment as friendly; the body adopted the change and later passed the bill by roll call (vote recorded on the floor as 22 yea, 5 nay, 1 absent).
Why it matters: the bill changes the qualifications framework for county sheriffs and alters the statutory timeline for interim appointees, a point of concern for senators who questioned whether a 30‑day window was feasible for many jurisdictions.
What happens next: House Bill 12, as amended, will be returned to the House for further action.
