2015 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 40 - Public Health and Safety
RS 40:2405.8 - Additional peace officer training requirements

§2405.8. Additional peace officer training requirements

            A. The council shall develop and continuously update a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) recognized homicide investigator training program and a sexual assault awareness training program for peace officers that shall consist of classroom or Internet instruction, or both. The training programs may include field officer training as prescribed by the council.

            B. Homicide Investigator. The council shall create and maintain a current list of those peace officers who have successfully completed the homicide investigator training program for purposes of coordinating homicide investigations occurring in the state. On and after January 1, 2017, only peace officers who successfully complete the homicide investigator training program or receive a waiver of compliance based on prior training or experience as a homicide investigator shall be assigned to lead investigations in homicide cases.

            C.(1) Sexual Assault. The council shall develop the sexual assault awareness training program in a series of modules to include all of the following:

            (a) The neurobiology of sexual assault and trauma, including victim impact.

            (b) Response to sexual assault, including but not limited to investigative methods, collecting and securing evidence, and interviewing victims.

            (c) Applicable federal and state victims' rights laws.

            (2) The council shall solicit free or no-cost training and technical assistance and may accept gifts, grants, and donations from whatever sources are available for purposes of this Subsection. The council shall consult with appropriate governmental agencies and nongovernmental statewide agencies in the development and presentation of the training required by this Subsection. Regarding nongovernmental agencies, only agencies whose primary purpose is the delivery of sexual assault services to victims are required to be consulted.

            (3) On and after July 1, 2016, each peace officer, as defined in R.S. 40:2402(3)(a), shall complete a sexual assault awareness training program as provided by the council.

            D. The council shall create and maintain a current list of those peace officers who have successfully completed the sexual assault awareness training program for purposes of coordinating sexual assault investigations.

            E.(1) The council shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, subject to the oversight of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B, for the implementation of a homicide investigator training program no later than July 1, 2016.

            (2)(a) The council shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, subject to the oversight of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B, for the implementation of a sexual assault awareness training program as provided in R.S. 17:1805(H) no later than October 1, 2015.

            (b) The council shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, subject to the oversight of the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice and the Senate Committee on Judiciary B, for the implementation of a sexual assault awareness training program for peace officers as defined in R.S. 40:2402(3)(a) as provided in Paragraph (C)(3) of this Section no later than January 1, 2017.

            Acts 2015, No. 152, §2, eff. June 23, 2015.