TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TRAINING REIMBURSEMENT; AND TO INCLUDE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE ARKANSAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS AND TRAINING.

HB 1421 amends Arkansas law to require agencies hiring law enforcement officers trained by another agency to reimburse training costs, with the reimbursement amount decreasing over time: 100% if hired within 2 months, 80% for 2-6 months, 60% for 6-10 months, 40% for 10-14 months, and 20% for 14-18 months. It expands eligibility to include any law enforcement agency recognized by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, as well as private communities over 5,000 population that employ certified officers. If an agency fails to reimburse, the Treasurer of State will withhold the amount from the agency’s funds and pay the training agency. This policy affects county, city, town, state, and private law enforcement agencies across Arkansas.