Colorado § 24-31-312 - School resource officer training.

§ 24-31-312. School resource officer training.

(1) On or before January 1, 2014, the P.O.S.T. board shall identify a school resource officer training curriculum to prepare peace officers.

(2) To the extent practicable, the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section shall incorporate the suggestions of relevant stakeholders and advocates.

(3) (a) In assigning peace officers to serve as school resource officers pursuant to section 22-32-146, C.R.S., each law enforcement agency is encouraged to ensure that such peace officers have successfully completed the school resource officer training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section, or will complete said training within six months after beginning the assignment.

(b) On and after January 1, 2015, each county sheriff and each municipal law enforcement agency of the state shall employ at least one peace officer who has successfully completed the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section.

(4) For the purposes of section 22-32-146, C.R.S., the training curriculum provided pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall include a means of recognizing and identifying peace officers who successfully complete the training curriculum.

(5) In providing the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section, the P.O.S.T. board may include provisions to allow for the awarding of credit to a peace officer who has successfully completed a school resource officer certification curriculum offered by one or more public or private entities, which entities shall be identified by the P.O.S.T. board.

(6) The P.O.S.T. board may charge a fee to each peace officer who enrolls in the training curriculum described in subsection (1) of this section. The amount of the fee shall not exceed the direct and indirect costs incurred by the P.O.S.T. board in providing the curriculum.

(7) The P.O.S.T. board, with respect to the hiring, training, and evaluation of school resource officers and professionalizing a school-police partnership, shall create a model policy for selecting school resource officers pursuant to the general duties and responsibilities granted to the P.O.S.T. board pursuant to section 24-31-303. The P.O.S.T. board shall consult with school board members, school resource officers, K-12 advocates, and other relevant stakeholders, including student groups, in the development of the model policy. The department of education shall post the model policy on its website and distribute the policy to school districts, charter schools, and institute charter schools for consideration and possible adoption. The model policy may be used by school districts, charter schools, institute charter schools, and police departments. The model policy must, at a minimum, require that:

(a) Once selected, school resource officers must be fully trained in standard best practices, as set forth by a national association of school resource officers;

(b) A candidate demonstrate, whenever possible, a record of experience developing positive relationships with youth, which may include participation in youth or community policing programs;

(c) A candidate voluntarily apply to serve as a school resource officer; and

(d) The employing law enforcement agency and school district jointly create an evaluation process to evaluate school resource officers.

Source: L. 2012: Entire section added, (HB 12-1345), ch. 188, p. 746, § 32, effective May 19. L. 2022: (7) added, (HB 22-1376), ch. 243, p. 1804, § 7, effective May 26.