Relating to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer. The bill provides that prior to enrollment in a certifying training program, all law enforcement officers shall be of good moral character as determined through a thorough background investigation and shall not have been convicted of any felony or a crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude. The bill defines “moral turpitude” as an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a person owes to another person or to society in general, and includes conduct that is contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals. The bill provides that a crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude includes but is not limited to any of the following: offenses of domestic violence; an adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult; any sex crime or crime listed in Code chapter 709 (sexual abuse); any crime committed as an adult that resulted in being listed on the sex offender registry; an adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult that resulted in being listed on the sex offender registry; or any crime involving child abuse. The bill provides that law enforcement officers seeking recertification shall be subject to the same background investigation.