§5521.1. Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program

            A.(1) A sheriff is eligible to participate in the Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program as provided for by this Section if the sheriff completes the training, certification, or educational requirement or attains the law enforcement experience as provided for in Paragraph (B)(4) of this Section.

            (2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit a sheriff from participation in an approved deferred compensation plan.

            B.(1) The Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program is hereby established to formalize and recognize the professional standards of sheriffs and further support public safety in the state.

            (2) The Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program is designed to provide incentives for sheriffs to gain additional knowledge and experience in order to further the requirements and responsibilities of the office for which they were elected.

            (3) Only elected sheriffs of each parish shall be eligible for participation in the Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program.

            (4) Sheriffs who complete any of the following training, certification, or educational requirements or attain the following experience shall be eligible for participation in the Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program:

            (a) A certificate of graduation from the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.

            (b) An associate or bachelor's degree from a regional accredited institution of higher education as recognized by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Executive Management Institute Board.

            (c) A masters degree or juris doctor from a regional, accredited institution of higher education as recognized by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Executive Management Institute Board.

            (d) Twenty years of law enforcement, military, or corrections officer experience as recognized by the Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training Council or the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

            C.(1) The Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program shall be administered and governed by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Executive Management Institute Board.

            (2)(a) Documents proving the successful completion of the certification program shall be submitted to and approved by the board.

            (b) If a sheriff has been certified to possess any of the above requirements as provided by Subsection B of this Section by the Louisiana Sheriffs' Executive Management Institute Board as presented to the legislative auditor, the sheriff shall be granted a seven percent increase in compensation to his annual salary.

            (c) A sheriff shall complete the requirements of Subsection B of this Section in order to receive and retain the seven percent compensation enhancement. The Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program shall not serve as a base salary. If a sheriff does not meet the requirements as provided in Subsection B of this Section, his salary shall not be increased.

            (d) The provisions of this Section shall become effective on July 1, 2020.

            (e) A sheriff who succeeds a sheriff who participated in the Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program shall not automatically be qualified to participate in the program by his election. The successor sheriff shall meet the requirements of Subsection B of this Section separately and independently of his election to qualify for the Louisiana Sheriffs' Certification Program.

Acts 2018, No. 123, §1.