1. (1) POST may provide POST training credit hours to individual public safety officers who submit an application after attending a training which was not approved.

2. (2) To receive POST training credit, a public safety officer must, after successful completion of a course, submit an application for accreditation to the director, or the director's designee, and retain documentation of:

   1. (a) if the instructor was a POST-certified instructor, a copy of the instructor's instructor certificate; or
   2. (b) if the instructor is not a Montana public safety officer, a copy of the instructor's biography;
   3. (c) material showing course content, including an agenda, syllabus and/or lesson plan, and student handouts;
   4. (d) a copy of the course advertisement;
   5. (e) a copy of the officer's certificate of completion; and
   6. (f) an endorsement from the officer's appointing authority, recommending that the POST training credit hours be awarded.
3. (3) Any application for POST training credit hours must be submitted within one year of the end of the course.
4. (4) It is the responsibility of the public safety officer or the appointing authority of the public safety officer to retain the required documentation set forth in these rules and comply with the standards for training, trainee attendance, and performance as set by the council. Records maintained under this rule are subject to audit by the director or the director's designee during normal business hours upon reasonable notice to the agency.

5. (5) When a public safety officer applies for POST training credit, the officer may request a waiver of the following requirements:

   1. (a) the requirement to retain an instructor biography or certification information for the instructor; and
   2. (b) the requirement that the course be open and advertised to all public safety agencies.
6. (6) The officer must retain documentation of its reasons for requesting the waiver, as outlined in (4).
7. (7) The director may approve or reject any waivers requested, as a matter of discretion and based on good cause.
8. (8) The director or the director's designee will review the application and approve or reject the application, unless the director determines, as a matter of discretion, that the council's review is necessary due to extenuating circumstances.

Authorizing statute(s): 2-15-2029, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 2-15-2029, 44-4-403, MCA

History: NEW, 2024 MAR p. 607, Eff. 3/23/24; AMD, 2025 MAR, Notice No. 23-13-284, Eff. 1/11/25.