(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares that peace officers of the state correctional system, including youth and adult correctional facilities, fulfill responsibilities that require creation and application of sound selection criteria for applicants and standards for their training prior to assuming their duties. For the purposes of this section, correctional peace officers are peace officers as defined in Section 830.5 and employed or designated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(2) The Legislature further finds that sound applicant selection and training are essential to public safety and in carrying out the missions of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the custody and care of the state’s offender population. The greater degree of professionalism which will result from sound screening criteria and a significant training curriculum will greatly aid the department in maintaining smooth, efficient, and safe operations and effective programs.

(b) There is within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation a Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training, hereafter referred to, for purposes of this title, as the CPOST.

(c) (1) The executive board of the CPOST shall be composed of six voting members.

(A) Three members from, appointed by, and representing the management of, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, one of whom shall represent the Division of Juvenile Justice or the Division of Rehabilitative Programs.

(B) Three members from, and appointed by the Governor upon recommendation by, and representing the membership of, the California Correctional Peace Officers’ Association. Two members shall be rank-and-file persons from State Bargaining Unit 6 and one member shall be supervisory.

(C) Appointments shall be for four years.

(D) Promotion of a member of the CPOST shall invalidate the appointment of that member and shall require the recommendation and appointment of a new member if the member was appointed from rank and file or from supervisory personnel and promoted out of his or her respective rank and file or supervisory position during his or her term on the CPOST.

(2) Each appointing authority shall appoint one alternate member for each regular member who it appoints pursuant to paragraph (1). Every alternate member shall possess the same qualifications as a regular member and shall substitute for, and vote in place of, a regular member who was appointed by the same appointing authority whenever a regular member is absent.

(d) The rules for voting on the executive board of the CPOST shall be as follows:

(1) Decisions shall be made by a majority vote.

(2) Proxy voting shall not be permitted.

(3) Tentative approval of a decision by the CPOST may be taken by a telephone vote. The CPOST members’ decision shall be documented in writing and submitted to the CPOST for confirmation at the next scheduled CPOST meeting so as to become a part of the permanent record.

(e) The executive board of the CPOST shall adopt rules as it deems necessary for efficient operations, including, but not limited to, the appointment of advisory members for forming whatever committees it deems necessary to conduct its business. These rules shall conform to the State Personnel Board’s rules and regulations, the Department of Human Resources’ rules and regulations, and the provisions of the State Bargaining Unit 6 memorandum of understanding.

(f) The executive board shall seek advice from national experts, including university and college institutions and correctional associations, on issues pertaining to adult corrections, juvenile justice, and the training of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff that are relevant to its mission. To this end, the executive board shall seek information from experts with the most specific knowledge concerning the subject matter.

(g) This section shall be operative on July 1, 2015.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 903, Sec. 21. (SB 1504) Effective January 1, 2019.)