Purpose

Explain how the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board is selected and to set up a more diverse, geographically balanced, and professionally representative board.

Main Provisions

• Creates a 17-member POST Board with specified categories of members appointed by the governor.
• Requires appointments to come from a mix of law enforcement representatives, education professionals, city officials, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and members of the general public.
• Establishes that the governor must appoint a chair elected from among the board members.
• Requires the governor to strive for geographic representation across Minnesota.
• Requires certain professional associations to recommend at least two qualified candidates for each applicable appointment.

Board Composition and Appointment Sources

The board must include, appointed by the governor, the following members and sources: - 2 from among county sheriffs (one from the metropolitan area; one from outside), after considering a slate submitted by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association. - 4 from among peace officers in Minnesota municipalities (at least two must be chiefs of police; one from the metropolitan area; one from outside), after considering a slate submitted by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association. - 2 from among peace officers (at least one from the metropolitan area and one from outside), after considering a slate submitted by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. - 2 peace officers who are members of the Minnesota State Patrol Association (after considering a slate from that association). - The superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (or a designee). - 2 members appointed from among peace officers or former peace officers who are currently employed full-time in a professional peace officer education program. - 1 member appointed from among administrators of Minnesota colleges or universities that offer professional peace officer education. - 1 member from among elected city officials in statutory or home rule charter cities with population under 5,000 outside the metropolitan area, after considering a slate from the League of Minnesota Cities. - 4 members from the general public.

Notes: - A chair is appointed by the governor and must be elected from among the board members. - The governor must strive for representation from Minnesota’s geographic areas. - The named associations (Minnesota Sheriffs Association, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, Minnesota State Patrol Association, and the League of Minnesota Cities) must recommend at least two qualified representatives for each applicable appointment.

First Appointments and Term Details

• The initial governor-appointed board members will have staggered terms:

  • Terms for members appointed under some first-set clauses expire January 1, 2028.
  • Terms for members appointed under another set of clauses expire January 1, 2029.
  • Terms for members appointed under additional clauses expire January 1, 2030.
  • Terms for members appointed under the remaining clauses expire January 1, 2031. (Exact expirations depend on the appointment category as specified in the bill.)

• Ineligibility for first appointments:

  • As of January 1, 2027, all current board members other than the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are ineligible for first appointments to the POST Board for four years from the act’s effective date.

• Temporary provision:

  • The ineligibility provision is set to expire July 1, 2031.

Significant Changes Compared to Current Law

• Replaces or reorganizes the POST Board to a 17-member structure with explicit appointment sources from a broader mix of law enforcement groups, education professionals, city officials, and the general public.
• Increases formal involvement of professional associations in recommending candidates for nearly all appointed seats.
• Adds a formal requirement for geographic representation across Minnesota.
• Introduces staggered term dates for initial appointees and a temporary ineligibility rule for current members, creating a phased transition.

How This Affects the POST Board

• More pronounced input from sheriff, police, and patrol associations in selecting board members.
• Clear emphasis on representation from different regions, types of law enforcement, and public governance.
• Establishes a defined, time-limited path for rotating in new board members.

Relevant Terms - Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board) - Minnesota Sheriffs Association - Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association - Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association - Minnesota State Patrol Association - League of Minnesota Cities - Metropolitan area (as defined in Minnesota law) - Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) - professional peace officer education program - elected city officials - general public - geographic representation - governor-appointed chair - first appointment terms - effective date - ineligible for first appointments (four-year rule)