SB 2587

This bill provides that a local unit of government that requires all full-time certified local correctional officers to complete an in-service training course each calendar year is entitled to receive from the Tennessee corrections institute ("institute"") a pay supplement of $800 for each officer each year, to be paid to each officer, in addition to the officer's regular salary, if the training course is (i) p rovided or approved by the institute, ( ii ) a ppropriate to the officer's rank and responsibility and the size and location of the officer's department, and ( iii ) a t least 40 hours in duration. Certified local correctional officers are eligible for the pay supplement upon successful completion of 40 hours of in-service training. As used in this bill, a ""local correctional officer"" means a jail administrator, jailer, deputy sheriff, guard, or correctional officer employed by a local governmental entity, solely in a correctional capacity, and certified as a correctional officer with the institute. This bill provides that a local correctional officer who has not completed eight months of full-time service during the calendar year is not eligible to receive the salary supplement, except in the case of the death of the officer, retirement, or medical disability. Upon submissi on of proper documentation by an officer, the institute must include time spent in active military service when calculating the required eight months of full-time service. However, a local correctional officer who served or serve s on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during a period of armed conflict prescribed by presidential proclamation or federal law must receive the cash salary supplement provided pursuant to this bill, if such service prevented or prevents such local correctional officer from attending the in-service training program authorized pursuant to this bill. If a local correctional officer does not complete the required in-service training program due to the death of the officer while in the line of duty, then this bill requires the officer's designated beneficiary to receive the cash salary supplement provided pursuant to this bill despite the failure of the officer to complete the required in-service training. INSTITUTE FUNDS This bill requires the institute funds made available under the provisions above to local units of government to be received, held, and expended in accordance with this bill, including the rules promulgated by the institute, and all of the following restrictions:  Funds provided must be used only as a cash salary supplement to local correctional officers .  Funds provided must not be used to supplant existing salaries or as substitutes for normal salary increases periodically owed to local correctional officers .  The training pay supplement is a bonus for the successful completion of training and is not considered part of the local correctional officer's salary for a subsequent years' determination of supplemental pay or for retirement purposes .  Except in the case of retirement or medical disability, a local correctional officer who terminates employment is not eligible to receive the training supplement regardless of completing the required training .  Local correctional officers certified with the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission and the institute are not eligible for both training supplements. However, e mployees designated as support or non-facility support, as defined by the minimum standards of the institute, are not eligible for the training supplement. COLLABORATION This bill authorizes a county to collaborate with and utilize the board of control of the institute for purposes of carrying out this bill."