Committee holds constable-certification bill after questions about eligibility and costs

Senator Roberts introduced SB 2645, saying the bill would professionalize the constable office by requiring post-certification for future constables and adding psychological-evaluation standards consistent with other law-enforcement officers. He said current constables would be grandfathered and the requirement would apply to those elected or appointed after Aug. 1, 2030.

Members raised practical and fairness concerns. Senator Hensley asked whether the bill would effectively bar non-law-enforcement residents from running because POST certification requires training; other members worried that some counties rely on constables for limited functions and that requiring post certification could reduce candidate pools. The chief justice and a Department of Safety representative were asked to weigh in; the Department of Safety representative noted current law requires candidates to cover the cost of cognitive and psychological testing. Committee members agreed to hold the bill and return with clarifications about eligibility, timing and who bears evaluation costs.