3.2-6556 - Training of animal control officers.
§ 3.2-6556. Training of animal control officers.
A. Every locality employing animal control officers shall require that everyanimal control officer and deputy animal control officer completes thefollowing training:
1. Within two years from the date of hire, a basic animal control course thathas been approved by the State Veterinarian. The basic animal control courseshall include training in recognizing suspected child abuse and neglect andinformation on how complaints may be filed and shall be approved andimplemented; and
2. Every three years, additional training approved by the State Veterinarian,15 hours of which shall be training in animal control and protection.
The State Veterinarian shall develop criteria to be used in approvingtraining courses and shall provide an opportunity for public comment onproposed criteria before the final criteria are adopted.
Subdivision 1 shall not apply to animal control officers or deputy animalcontrol officers hired before July 1, 1998. The State Veterinarian may grantexemptions from the requirements of subdivision 1 to animal control officershired on or after July 1, 1998, based on the animal control officer'sprevious training.
The State Veterinarian shall work to ensure the availability of thesetraining courses through regional criminal justice training academies orother entities as approved by him. Based on information provided byauthorized training entities, the State Veterinarian shall maintain thetraining records for all animal control officers for the purpose ofdocumenting and ensuring that they are in compliance with this subsection.
B. Upon cause shown by a locality, the State Veterinarian may grantadditional time during which the training required by subsection A may becompleted by an animal control officer for the locality.
C. Any animal control officer that fails to complete the training required bysubsection A shall be removed from office, unless the State Veterinarian hasgranted additional time as provided in subsection B.
(1998, c. 817, § 3.1-796.104:1; 2002, c. 418; 2004, c. 181; 2008, c. 860.)