Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §371-B, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 338, §1, is further amended to read:

3. Minimum qualifications for officers. A person may not be appointed to the office of sheriff, be a candidate for election to the office of sheriff or serve as sheriff of any county in the State unless the candidate that person meets the following qualifications no later than one year after election or appointment to office:

A. The candidate person swears to or affirms the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics;

B. The candidate person has never been convicted of a Class C or higher crime;

C. The candidate person applies to the Secretary of State for a criminal background investigation; and

D. The candidate person submits written certification from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy that the candidate has:

(1) Met the basic law enforcement training standards under Title 25, section 2804-C; or

(2) Met the basic corrections training standards under Title 25, section 2804-D and has 5 years of supervisory employment experience.

SUMMARY

This bill allows a person elected or appointed to the position of sheriff to meet the Maine Criminal Justice Academy training standards for that office within one year of election or appointment. All other qualifications for that office remain unchanged. This bill ensures that sheriffs have the same time allowances to achieve academy certification as other law enforcement officers and municipal police chiefs.