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Continuing education program - 22 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3713

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     § 3713.  Continuing education program.
        (a)  Required training.--During each two-year period
     following the date in which an individual has been initially
     appointed as a humane society police officer, the individual
     shall successfully complete the minimum requirements for
     additional training prescribed in the program for continuous
     education of humane society police officers established in
     accordance with subsections (b), (c), (d) and (e).
        (b)  Contracts.--The secretary, with the advice of the board,
     shall contract with an accredited college or university,
     including a community college or other public or private entity,
     for the establishment of a continuing education program for the
     training of individuals to act as humane society police
     officers. The contracted entity shall forward information
     pertaining to an individual's successful completion of the
     continuing education program to the department for the purpose
     of maintaining the Statewide registry established pursuant to
     section 3714 (relating to Statewide registry.)
        (c)  Minimum requirements.--The continuing education program
     for the training of humane society police officers shall include
     at a minimum ten hours of instruction in accordance with
     subsection (d).
        (d)  Curriculum.--The program for the training of humane
     society police officers shall provide instruction in the
     following instructional areas:
            (1)  At least six hours of instruction shall be provided
        on the following:
                (i)  Pennsylvania cruelty to animals laws.
                (ii)  Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
                (iii)  Care and treatment of animals.
                (iv)  Proper completion of search warrants.
                (v)  Proper search and seizure practices.
                (vi)  Any other areas relating to law enforcement
            duties.
            (2)  At least four hours of instruction shall be provided
        on the following:
                (i)  Animal husbandry practices constituting normal
            agricultural operation.
                (ii)  Practices accepted in the agricultural industry
            in the raising, keeping and production of agricultural
            animals.
                (iii)  Characteristics of agricultural animals likely
            evidencing care that is in violation of the cruelty to
            animals laws.
                (iv)  Proper care and handling of agricultural
            animals pursuant to enforcement of the cruelty to animals
            laws.
                (v)  Treatments administered and research conducted
            during the normal scope of veterinarian practices.
        (e)  Automatic suspension.--Failure to complete the
     continuing education program as prescribed in subsection (a)
     shall result in an individual's automatic suspension of the
     powers and authority set forth in section 3708 (relating to
     powers and authority; jurisdiction) until such time as the
     individual successfully completes the continuing education
     requirements.

        Cross References.  Section 3713 is referred to in section
     3714 of this title.

Last modified: November 27, 2007