1. A. Participants shall be selected by the Oklahoma Police Corps Selection Committee. The number of participants selected annually under the Oklahoma Police Corps Program cannot exceed the expected number of officers needed by law enforcement agencies in this state; provided, however, the number of new participants selected each year for the Program shall not exceed twenty-five participants. In addition, the total number of participants in the Program at any one time shall not exceed fifty participants.

2. B. Each participant in the Program:

   1. 1. Shall possess a baccalaureate or higher degree from a college or university which is recognized by and accepted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and whose hours are transferable between such recognized institutions before the participant may enroll in and receive instruction in the training course of the Program;
   2. 2. Shall continue to meet all requirements of an applicant, as prescribed in Section 7 of this act;
   3. 3. Shall not, with regard to participation in the Program, be considered to be an employee of the Department of Public Safety, this state, or any political subdivision of the state and, therefore, is not entitled to any benefits accrued by such employees; provided, when the participant graduates from the Program and is sworn in, commissioned, and employed by a law enforcement agency of this state, the participant shall be entitled to any benefits offered to other commissioned officers of the same rank employed by the law enforcement agency;
   4. 4. Shall be required to carry a firearm during the training course but shall not be considered a law enforcement officer of this state until the participant graduates from the training course of the Program and is sworn in, commissioned, and employed by a law enforcement agency of this state; and
   5. 5. Shall agree to perform at least four (4) consecutive years of commissioned law enforcement service with a law enforcement agency in this state.

3. C. Subject to approval by the Office of Police Corps for the Program to grant scholarships, each participant in the Program may apply to the Director of the Program for educational scholarships; provided, the total of all scholarship payments to any one participant shall not exceed Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00). Such scholarships shall only be used to cover educational expenses as prescribed by 28 C.F.R., Section 92.5, and shall be contingent upon the availability of the federal funding intended for this purpose. The Oklahoma Police Corps Selection Committee shall be responsible for the awarding of scholarships. The scholarships may be used to:

   1. 1. Reimburse the participant for educational expenses incurred by the participant for a baccalaureate degree or graduate study already completed from a college or university which is recognized by and accepted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and whose hours are transferable between such recognized institutions. Reimbursements for past expenses will be made directly to the participant. Fifty percent (50%) of the reimbursement will be paid by the Director to the participant after the participant has graduated from the training course, is sworn in and commissioned by a law enforcement agency in this state, and starts the first year of required service. The remainder of the reimbursement will be paid to the participant by the Director upon successful completion by the participant of the first year of required service;
   2. 2. Pay educational expenses of the participant currently enrolled in and pursuing a baccalaureate degree or graduate study from a college or university which is recognized by and accepted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and whose hours are transferable between such recognized institutions. Payments shall be made by the Director directly to the college or university; and
   3. 3. Pay educational expenses of the participant, after completion of the required four (4) years of commissioned law enforcement service with a law enforcement agency in this state, for graduate study from a college or university which is recognized by and accepted by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and whose hours are transferable between such recognized institutions. Payments shall be made by the Director directly to the college or university.

Added by Laws 2001, HB 1231, c. 167, § 8, emerg. eff. May 2, 2001.