ARTICLE 4. Peace Officers [13540. - 13542.]

Cal. Penal Code - PEN 4.

in effect

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 13540. Section 13540.

(a) Any person or persons desiring peace officer status under Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 who, on January 1, 1990, were not entitled to be designated as peace officers under that chapter shall request the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to undertake a feasibility study regarding designating that person or persons as peace officers. The request and study shall be undertaken in accordance with regulations adopted by the commission. The commission may charge any person requesting a study, a fee, not to exceed the actual cost of undertaking the study. Nothing in this article shall apply to or otherwise affect the authority of the Director of Corrections, the Director of the Youth Authority, the Director of the Youthful Offender Parole Board, or the Secretary of the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency to designate peace officers as provided for in Section 830.5. (b) Any person or persons who are designated as peace officers under Chapter 4.5, (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2, and who desire a change in peace officer designation or status, shall request the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to undertake a study to assess the need for a change in designation or status. The request and study shall be undertaken in accordance with regulations adopted by the commission. The commission may charge any person, agency, or organization requesting a study, a fee, not to exceed the actual cost of undertaking the study.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 13541. Section 13541.

(a) Any study undertaken under this article shall include, but shall not be limited to, the current and proposed duties and responsibilities of persons employed in the category seeking the designation change, their field law enforcement duties and responsibilities, their supervisory and management structure, and their proposed training methods and funding sources. (b) A study undertaken pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 13540 shall include, but shall not be limited to, the current and proposed duties and responsibilities of the persons employed in the category seeking the designation change and their field law enforcement duties and responsibilities, and the extent to which their current duties and responsibilities require additional peace officer powers and authority.

Cal. Penal Code - PEN § 13542. Section 13542.

(a) In order for the commission to give a favorable recommendation as to a change in designation to peace officer status, the person or persons desiring the designation change shall be employed by an agency with a supervisory structure consisting of a chief law enforcement officer, the agency shall agree to comply with the training requirements set forth in Section 832, and shall be subject to the funding restriction set forth in Section 13526. The commission shall issue the study and its recommendations to the requesting person or agency within 18 months of the mutual acceptance of a contract between the requesting person or agency and the commission. A copy of that study and recommendations shall also be submitted to the Legislature. (b) (1) In order for the commission to give a favorable recommendation as to a change in peace officer designation or status, the person or persons desiring the change in peace officer designation or status shall be employed by an agency that is currently participating in the Peace Officer Standard Training program. (2) If the designation change is moving the person or persons into Section 830.1, the person or persons shall obtain the basic certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, set forth in Section 832.4. (3) The commission shall issue the study and its recommendations, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 13540, to the requesting person or persons, within 12 months of the mutual acceptance of a contract between the requesting person or agency and the commission, or as soon as possible thereafter if the commission shows good cause as to the need for an extension of the 12-month time period. (4) A copy of that study and recommendation shall also be submitted to the Legislature.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026