On February 27, 2024, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of HB 1101- Scholarships and Police Officer Recruitment with amendments. This bill seeks to bolster diversity in the public safety workforce and enhance access to higher education for officers through a new scholarship program.
Diversifying the public safety workforce is a major priority that local governments support as well as providing access to higher education for long-term members. With the severity of vacancy levels and staffing shortage, counties appreciate the opportunity to leverage these offerings as recruitment and retention incentive.
From MACo Testimony:
Although the Tier I and Tier II scholarship opportunities outlined in the bill extend more resources for higher education to law enforcement officers, detention center employees take comparable risks and deserve equal consideration for incentives. Additionally, the opportunities outlined are only useful to the degree that they are resourced with appropriate funding. Counties appreciate the expanded opportunity for law enforcement but would encourage both the inclusion of corrections officers, as well as adequate funding for the programs.
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