- (a) Only full-time law enforcement officers who have completed the Division of Law Enforcement Standards and Training-approved training for certified law enforcement officers shall be eligible for certification as a marijuana leaf field test technician.
- (b) Only full-time Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy instructors or Arkansas State Crime Laboratory chemical analysis technicians shall be eligible to instruct the marijuana leaf field test class.
- (c) All applicants for marijuana leaf field test technician certification must attend the eight-hour certification course conducted or coordinated through the academy.
(d)
- (1) All certificates remain the property of the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, and the commission shall have the power to revoke any certificate issued.
- (2) Technicians shall be required to attend any retraining or refresher training as required by the division.
(3) The commission shall revoke certification when it is determined the technician is:
- (A) Unqualified;
- (B) Ineffective; or
- (C) Not complying with:
(i) Standardization;
(ii) Protocol; or
- (iii) Training guidelines.
(e)
(1) The marijuana leaf field test technician will be certified on the basis of minimum qualifications in the areas of:
- (A) Education;
- (B) Training;
- (C) Experience; and
- (D) The ability to perform the task of drug identification according to established protocol.
- (2) It shall be the responsibility of the department head to ensure that the marijuana leaf field test technician is supervised on a regular basis to ensure a professional standard is maintained.
(f) Requirements:
- (1) A minimum of three (3) years of full-time experience in law enforcement is required;
- (2) Possession of a basic certificate;
- (3) New applicants for marijuana leaf field test technician will have completed the certification course; and
- (4) The division shall establish the minimum curriculum requirements for the marijuana leaf field test technician course for law enforcement officers and instructors.
(g) Validation of certificate.
- (1) The marijuana leaf field test technician certificate shall remain valid from the date of issue unless recalled by the department head or the division.
- (2) The marijuana leaf field test technician certificate will be transferable should the officer change law enforcement agencies.