ARC 0522D

ARC 0522D

LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY[501]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to professional development
and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council hereby proposes to rescind Chapter 4, “Instructor Certification Criteria for the Training of Peace Officers, Reserve Officers, Jailers and Public Safety Telecommunicators,” and to adopt a new Chapter 4, “Professional Development,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code chapters 17A, 80B and 80D.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapters 80B and 80D.

Purpose and Summary

    Proposed Chapter 4 describes the professional development that all employed law enforcement officers and reserve officers must complete each year and the documentation requirements for their records. As a part of the Red Tape Review required by Executive Order 10, this chapter was reviewed and revised. The former content from this chapter is proposed to be reorganized in a revised 501—Chapter 5 in ARC 0523D herein.

Regulatory Analysis

    A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on June 24, 2026. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   July 14, 2026

    No public comments were received.

    A change from the Regulatory Analysis has been made in paragraph 4.1(1)“b” to change “decision making” to “ethical decision making” to clarify that is the specific annual training required by the rule. Rule 501—4.2(80F) was also revised to clarify that the identified training is the initial training to be completed prior to conducting or supervising investigations.

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Council for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 7—Chapter 2504.

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the Council no later than 4:30 p.m. on September 22, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

    Public hearings at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

    Persons who wish to make oral comments at a public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

     Any persons who intend to attend a public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Council and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Rescind 501—Chapter 4 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 4

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

501—4.1(80B,80D) Professional development requirements. The agency administrator will ensure compliance with professional development requirements for all agency officers. All employed law enforcement and reserve officers will comply with the following professional development requirements.

    4.1(1) Mandatory annual professional development and certification requirements. Annual courses include:

    a.  Two firearms training sessions with passing qualifications, to include one daylight qualification and one low-light qualification, on the academy-approved courses of fire for issued or authorized duty weapon(s), both of which are conducted by another officer having a firearms instructor endorsement.

    (1)  Qualifications and any remediation will be conducted consistent with the academy course of fire guidelines.

    (2)  Handgun qualification on an academy-approved course of fire must be completed when an officer has a change of issued or authorized duty weapon prior to carrying the handgun while on duty.

    (3)  This subrule does not apply to reserve officers who are not authorized to carry a firearm.

    b.  Ethical decision making.

    c.  De-escalation/communication with people in crisis.

    d.  Mental health.

    e.  Hate crimes.

    f.  Human trafficking.

    g.  Officer resiliency and wellness.

    4.1(2) Mandatory annual general professional development. A minimum of 12 additional hours of law enforcement-related professional development approved by the employing agency administrator.

    4.1(3) Mandatory additional professional development.

    a.  Mandatory reporter core training curriculum for child and dependent adult abuse consistent with the time frames set forth in Iowa Code section 232.69(3)“b.”

    b.  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED) and foreign body airway obstruction for all age groups consistent with nationally recognized standards.

    c.  Four hours of emergency vehicle operations, including three practical hours, every three years with an officer having a driving instructor endorsement consistent with Iowa Code section 321.231B.

    4.1(4) Professional development for officers with a break in service. A certified officer with a break in service from Iowa law enforcement will complete the following professional development within one year of hire:

    a.  If the break in service is more than one year, all professional development outlined in subrules 4.1(1) and 4.1(2) and any additional professional development needed from subrule 4.1(3).

    b.  If the break in service is from one to three years, the professional development in paragraph 4.1(4)“a” and a minimum of 30 additional general professional development hours.

    c.  If the break in service is more than three years, the professional development in paragraph 4.1(4)“a” and a minimum of 60 additional general professional development hours, 40 hours of which will be the skills week from 501—paragraph 2.4(4)“b.”

    d.  General professional development completed for a break in service will be related to the duties the officer is performing.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 80B.11(1)“b,” “c,” and “d”; 80B.11G; 80D.3; and 80D.4A.

501—4.2(80F) Professional development on interviewing/investigating an officer subject to a complaint. An individual who performs or supervises an investigation of an officer who is the subject of a complaint will receive a minimum of two hours of professional development on each of the following areas before performing or supervising an investigation:

    1.   The fundamentals of interviewing; and

    2.   Peace officer, public safety, and emergency personnel bill of rights; Garrity warning; and peace officer disciplinary hearing with applicable agency policy, conducted by a licensed attorney familiar with Iowa law.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 80F.1(21).

501—4.3(80B,80D) Instructors.

    4.3(1) Unless otherwise indicated, professional development may be developed and instructed by any individual deemed qualified by the law enforcement agency administrator.

    4.3(2) An instructor providing instruction for a law enforcement-related training area, as determined by the law enforcement agency administrator, may receive the credit for the professional development.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 80B.11(1)“c,” “d,” and “e”; 80D.3; and 80D.4A.

501—4.4(80B,80D) Recordkeeping. The law enforcement agency administrator will ensure that professional development and qualification records are regularly maintained and that the records are made available for inspection upon request of the council. Professional development records will include the following:

    1.   An overview of the training;

    2.   The name of the instructor who conducted the training;

    3.   The name of the individual who completed the training;

    4.   The length of the training;

    5.   The date and location where the training took place; and

    6.   The scores, if any, achieved by the officer to show proficiency in or understanding of the subject matter.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 80B.11(1)“b,” “c,” and “k” and 80D.4A.