CORRECTIONS OFFICERS:  NEW EMPLOYEE TRAINING

IN COLLEGES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES

House Bill 5422

Sponsor:  Rep. Joe Haveman

Committee:  Education

Complete to 5-22-12

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5422 AS INTRODUCED 2-21-12

House Bill 5422 would amend the Correctional Officers' Training Act to allow new employee training for corrections officers to be provided by a college or a community college, beginning August 1, 2012.  A more detailed description of the bill follows.

Now under the law, state correctional officers can be certified by the Michigan Commission on Corrections if the officers meet the following requirements:

·                    Have a high school diploma (or attain a passing score on the GED test).

·                    Successfully complete one of the following:  (1) a vocational certificate or (2) equivalent coursework (earned from an accredited postsecondary educational institution after completing 15 semester credit hours or 23 term credit hours), or (3) a degree from an accredited school in a major discipline of study relevant to the position (as determined by the Correctional Officers' Training Council).

·                    Complete at least a two-month paid internship in a correctional facility.

·                    Complete at least 320 hours of new employee training, as determined by the council, at the central training academy.

·                    Fulfill other minimum standards and requirements set by the council and approved by the department. 

·                     

House Bill 5422 would retain all of these provisions, and also provide that the 320 hours of new employee training could be completed either at the central training academy, or at a college or community college.

Under the bill, beginning August 1, 2012, (and as often as necessary thereafter), the council would be required to develop minimum standards and requirements for a certification program for new employee training to be offered by community colleges and colleges.

The certification standards would have to, at a minimum, address the qualifications for instructors at approved schools; the facilities and equipment required at those schools; and program content. 

The bill specifies that only council-approved community colleges or colleges could provide training or a certificate of completion for new employee training.  Further, the council would be required to designate the form for a certificate of completion for new employee training at community colleges or colleges.

Finally, the bill also specifies that the council could provide for the decertification of programs that failed to meet its standards.

[NOTE: Section 3 of the act creates the Correctional Officer's Training Council within the Department of Corrections.  The Council is charged with establishing standards regarding training and education.  It consists of eight members appointed by the Governor, with one member to represent state corrections officers; one member representing the DOC; one member representing the department of Technology, Management and Budget; one member representing the state personnel director; two members representing the public at large; and two members representing the academic community, at least one of whom must represent Michigan community colleges.

MCL 791.512

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault     

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.