SF3826
Peace Officer Standards and Training Board members selection process modification
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: HF3983
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill changes how the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board is selected and who serves on it. It aims to create a 17-member board with broader geographic representation and specific categories of members, and to set terms and eligibility for those appointments.
Main Provisions
Board composition
- The POST Board will have 17 members drawn from a mix of sheriffs, municipal peace officers (including police chiefs), state policing associations, educators, city officials, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, college/university administrators, and members of the general public.
- Specific categories include:
- Governors’ appointments from among Minnesota county sheriffs.
- Peace officers representing county sheriffs (including metro and nonmetro considerations).
- Peace officers from municipalities (with at least two chiefs of police, including metro and nonmetro representatives).
- Peace officers who are members of the Minnesota State Patrol Association.
- The superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (or a designee).
- Peace officers or former peace officers working full-time in professional peace officer education.
- Administrators of Minnesota colleges or universities that offer professional peace officer education.
- An elected city official from small cities (under 5,000 population) outside the metropolitan area.
- Four members from the general public.
- A chair will be appointed by the governor from among board members.
Appointment process and oversight
- The governor must strive for geographic representation across the state when making appointments.
- Several associations must participate in the process by recommending qualified candidates for each appointment:
- Minnesota Sheriffs Association
- Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association
- Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association
- Minnesota State Patrol Association
- League of Minnesota Cities
- Each association must submit slate recommendations to the governor for the relevant appointments.
Changes to Existing Law
- The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 626.841 to replace the existing POST Board structure with the new 17-member composition, appointment rules, and associated terms and eligibility.
Terms, Length, and Transition
- First appointments and term lengths
- The bill sets specific term expirations for the initial governor-appointed board members (with staggered expirations beginning 2028 and continuing through 2031).
- Ineligibility for first appointments
- Members serving on January 1, 2027 (except the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) would be ineligible for first appointments to the board for four years from the section’s effective date.
- Effective date
- Ineligibility calculations reference the bill’s effective date.
Significance and Potential Impact
- Aims to diversify and formally structure POST Board representation across geographic areas and professional backgrounds.
- Involves state and local law enforcement organizations more directly in the nomination process.
- Sets a phased transition for board membership with staggered terms to establish a long-term governance framework.
Relevant Terms - Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST Board) - Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 626.841 - Governor-appointed board members - Metropolitan area (as defined in section 473.121 subdivision 2) - Minnesota Sheriffs Association - Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association - Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association - Minnesota State Patrol Association - League of Minnesota Cities - Professional peace officer education - Colleges/universities offering professional peace officer education - Elected city official (small cities under 5,000 population) - Geographic representation - Slate of candidates - Term expirations (2028, 2029, 2030, 2031) - Ineligibility for first appointments - Effective date of the section
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Creates a 17-member POST Board with detailed categories of members (county sheriffs, peace officers, municipal police chiefs, Minnesota State Patrol, BCA, college/university administrators offering professional peace officer education, elected city officials, and public members).",
"Requires the governor to appoint a chair elected from among the board members.",
"Requires agencies and associations to submit at least two qualified representatives for each relevant appointment.",
"Requires the governor to strive for geographic representation across the state."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 626.841 to modify the composition and selection process for the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board, including establishing a 17-member board with specified appointing authorities and representation, appointing a chair from among members, and requiring association slate submissions for appointments.",
"modified": [
"Reconstitutes the board membership and appointment process (previous board structure altered).",
"Specifies initial terms for the governor-appointed members and eligibility provisions for first appointments, with terms expiring on fixed dates (2028–2031)."
]
},
"citation": "626.841.1.5",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill uses Minnesota Statutes 473.121, subdivision 2 to define the metropolitan area for purposes of determining representation on the POST Board.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "473.121",
"subdivision": "subd. 2"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee