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SF 65

A bill for an act relating to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Liz Bennett and 1 co-sponsor

The bill requires thorough background checks to establish good moral character before law enforcement training enrollment and for recertification, disqualifying many offenses.

Subcommittee: Schultz, Bousselot, and Petersen.
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Bill Summary · SF 65

Summary of SF 65 — Background Investigations for Certification or Recertification as a Law Enforcement Officer

Overview

SF 65 would establish rigorous background investigation requirements to determine “good moral character” for individuals seeking certification or recertification as law enforcement officers. The bill applies prior to enrollment in certifying training and also requires the same background scrutiny for recertification.

  • Introduced: January 16, 2025
  • Current status: Subcommittee is chaired by Schultz, with members Bousselot and Petersen (as of January 23, 2025). Referred to Judiciary at introduction.
  • Sponsors: Petersen (primary) and Bennett (primary)

What the bill does

  • Before a law enforcement officer can enroll in a certifying training program, the officer must be found to have good moral character. This determination must come from a thorough background investigation.
  • The officer must not have been convicted of any felony, nor of any crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude.
  • Recertification also requires a background investigation, conducted under the same standards as initial certification.
  • The bill defines “moral turpitude” and provides examples to guide what kinds of offenses would disqualify an applicant.

Key provisions and definitions

  • Moral Turpitude (definition): An act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in private and social duties owed to others or society, including conduct contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals.
  • Crimes/adjudications constituting moral turpitude (non-exhaustive list):
    • Domestic violence offenses
    • Adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would be a felony if committed by an adult
    • Any sex crime or any crime listed in Code Chapter 709 (sexual abuse)
    • Any crime committed as an adult that resulted in listing on the sex offender registry
    • An adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult and resulted in listing on the sex offender registry
    • Any crime involving child abuse
  • Scope of background check: Applies to all individuals seeking certification or recertification as law enforcement officers, with the same standards applied to both processes.

Who is affected

  • Prospective law enforcement officers seeking initial certification
  • Officers seeking recertification
  • Entities responsible for certifying or recertifying officers (training programs and certifying authorities) must perform and evaluate the background investigations in accordance with these standards

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill sets the prerequisite of a background investigation before enrollment in certifying training.
  • It requires ongoing or repeat background checks for recertification, using the same criteria as initial certification.
  • As of the latest updates, the bill has been introduced and referred to Judiciary, with a subcommittee hearing held on January 23, 2025.

Potential implications

  • Strengthened screening: The bill codifies explicit standards for moral character and broad categories of conduct that disqualify applicants (e.g., domestic violence, sex offenses, child abuse, and sex offender registry involvement).
  • Impact on applicants: Individuals with disqualifying past offenses or adjudications would be barred from certification or recertification under these criteria.
  • Rehabilitation considerations: The bill does not specify mechanisms for rehabilitation or exemptions, so past offenses with moral turpitude could be continuing barriers unless amended.
  • Administrative impact: Agencies would need to implement or adjust thorough background-investigation processes to meet the defined criteria and to document determinations of moral character.

Notable details

  • The bill explicitly enumerates offenses and adjudications that fall under moral turpitude, including several that intersect with sex offenses and child protection concerns.
  • The policy is prospective, applying to individuals before certifying training enrollment and to those pursuing recertification.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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