Substitute House Bill 23 Summary

• Creates dementia-related training requirements for peace officers, with maximum 2 hours for basic training and maximum 1 hour for continuing professional training, governed by rules adopted by the Attorney General in consultation with departments of aging and job and family services.

• Requires emergency medical services personnel to complete a minimum 2-hour dementia-related training course as part of initial EMS training programs and minimum 1-hour training in continuing education programs, with curriculum developed by the state board of emergency medical, fire, and transportation services.

• Dementia training for both peace officers and EMS personnel must include instruction on identifying dementia symptoms, respectful communication techniques, behavioral management alternatives to physical restraint, reporting abuse and exploitation, contacting caregivers, and local resources and organizations that assist with locating missing individuals with dementia.

• Increases the maximum allowable age for new state highway patrol trooper appointments from 35 years to 40 years, with applicants attending training school permitted to continue if they reach age 40 during attendance.