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SF 4

State park peace officers-definition and scope of authority.

2025 Regular Session

Wyoming park personnel who qualify as peace officers gain explicit authority to enforce felony statutes when observed or discovered during their official duties, within park bounda

Assigned Chapter Number 54
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Bill Summary · SF 4

Summary — SF 4: State park peace officers — definition and scope of authority (Chapter 54, 2025)

Main purpose

SF 4 clarifies and modestly expands the legal definition and scope of authority of Wyoming state park peace officers (superintendents, assistant superintendents, full‑time district managers, park rangers and reserve park rangers). The bill specifies when those park personnel qualify as "peace officers" and adds a limited authority to enforce felony statutes when a felony is observed or discovered during the performance of their official duties.

Key provisions

  • Amends multiple statutes to revise the definition of “peace officer” to expressly include:
    • Any superintendent, assistant superintendent, full‑time district manager, park ranger or reserve park ranger of any state park, state recreation area, state archaeological site or state historic site who has qualified under W.S. 9‑1‑701 through 9‑1‑707.
    • The above persons are peace officers (a) when acting within the boundaries of the park/site, (b) when responding to requests to assist other peace/law enforcement officers performing their official duties in their jurisdiction, and (c) when enforcing felony statutes following observation or discovery of the commission of a felony which was observed or discovered during the performance of their official duties.
  • Makes conforming amendments in these statutes:
    • W.S. 6‑1‑104(a)(vi)(P)
    • W.S. 7‑2‑101(a)(iv)(G)
    • W.S. 7‑2‑106(e)(ii)
    • W.S. 35‑7‑1002(a)(xxiv)
  • Retains existing limits in W.S. 7‑2‑106 regarding extraterritorial authority and other constraints on peace officers’ actions.

Who is affected

  • Directly affected: state park personnel who qualify under W.S. 9‑1‑701–9‑1‑707 (superintendents, assistant superintendents, full‑time district managers, park rangers, reserve park rangers).
  • Indirectly affected: county sheriffs, municipal police, Wyoming Highway Patrol, university/community college police, and other law enforcement agencies through clarified rules for assistance and limited felony enforcement by park officers; members of the public encountering park officers exercising the clarified authority.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Legislative Service Office fiscal note: no significant fiscal or personnel impact reported. Department of Parks and Cultural Resources provided information for the fiscal note.

Legislative history and effective date

  • Introduced by the Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Interim Committee (primary sponsor listed as Lofgren).
  • Passed the Senate (third reading 21–8–2) and the House (third reading 40–20–2).
  • Governor signed (SEA No. 0024). Assigned Chapter Number 54.
  • Effective immediately upon completion of required acts to make law (enacted in 2025; recorded as Chapter No. 54).

Practical effect / considerations

  • The bill codifies park personnel’s peace‑officer status within park boundaries and while assisting other officers, and it gives them a narrow, explicitly stated authority to enforce felony laws in instances where they observe or discover a felony in the course of their official duties. This should reduce ambiguity about their authority in those circumstances while preserving statutory limits on extraterritorial or broader law‑enforcement powers.

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

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