Minimum hours for police officers bill passes House committee

This morning the House Judiciary Committee reported SB 449, a bill that would define "regularly employed" for a law enforcement officer.

For several years the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act (administered by MCOLES) has had a requirement that a police officer be "regularly employed", but this term is not defined.

MCOLES worked for several years to come up with a definition of regularly employed and settled on a standard of 520 hours annually.  This standard has been scrutinized by smaller departments who rely on part-time officers to provide public safety.

Only one state, Idaho, has a minimum standard, and it is 120 hours annually.  SB 449 as passed the Senate would change that standard to 120 hours annually.  The House committee amended the law so that the standard would be 260 hours annually.

Samantha Harkins works for the Michigan Municipal League handling municipal services issues.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org.