(a) Appointment and training.--The executive director, with the approval of the commission, may appoint deputy waterways conservation officers to act anywhere within this Commonwealth. Newly appointed deputy waterways conservation officers, excluding reappointments, shall attend such training programs as may be required by the commission, which shall include at a minimum:

(1) Successful completion of training and obtaining a certificate of qualification under the act of October 10, 1974 (P.L.705, No.235), known as the Lethal Weapons Training Act, or equivalent training as determined by the executive director, prior to appointment.

(2) Successful completion of not less than 250 hours of law enforcement classroom and on-the-job training.

All deputy waterways conservation officers, including reappointments, shall attend all annual in-service training as may be required by the commission. Persons appointed under this section may exercise the powers of their appointments until December 31 of each year unless their appointment is sooner revoked, suspended or withdrawn.

(b) Compensation.--Deputy waterways conservation officers shall not be entitled to any salary, compensation or expenses for their services from the Commonwealth, unless authorized by the executive director of the commission, in which case they shall receive compensation and/or reasonable expenses in accordance with a Statewide pay scale and standards as established by the Executive Board. Deputy waterways conservation officers are volunteers. When acting within the scope of their official duties, deputy waterways conservation officers shall be authorized to operate Commonwealth vehicles and watercraft and shall be treated as employees of the Commonwealth for the purposes of automotive and general liability and the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act.

(c) Powers and duties.--Deputy waterways conservation officers appointed under the authority of this section may exercise the powers and duties of their appointments until December 31 of each year and no longer unless their commissions are sooner revoked, suspended or withdrawn. The powers and duties of deputy waterways conservation officers shall be subject to such limitations as the executive director, with the approval of the commission, shall prescribe. The executive director may authorize deputy waterways conservation officers to exercise the same powers and perform the same duties as waterways conservation officers except that deputy waterways conservation officers shall not exercise the powers and duties set forth in section 901(a)(12) (relating to powers and duties of waterways conservation officers and deputies).

(Jan. 29, 1998, P.L.31, No.7, eff. imd.; Nov. 3, 1999, P.L.447, No.41, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Dec. 20, 2000, P.L.828, No.115, eff. imd.; Nov. 1, 2012, P.L.1716, No.211, eff. 60 days)

2012 Amendment. Act 211 amended subsecs. (a) and (b).

Cross References. Section 305 is referred to in section 102 of this title.