Bill No.: HB0150                  Drafter:  JHR

LSO No.:  09LSO-0327              Effective Date:  7/1/2009

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0032

Chapter No.:       64

Prime Sponsor:     Representative Lubnau

Catch Title:       Peace officer definition.

Subject:  Amends the definition of "peace officer" as it relates to detention officers.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Under current law, detention officers who meet other qualifications would also meet the definition of "peace officer" if engaged in the performance of duties while supervising a detainee who has been convicted as a felon.

· This bill removes the requirement that for a detention officer to be considered a peace officer, he must be supervising a detainee who has been convicted of a felony.

· The practical effect of this bill is that:

· Detention officers who work in county jails often supervise detainees who may not have been convicted of a felony and, therefore, such detention officers may not have been considered peace officers for a number of purposes in Title 6 of the Wyoming Statutes under current law;

· Detention officers who work in county jails would, as a result of this bill, receive many of the protections, benefits and responsibilities other peace officers have under Title 6, during the performance of their duties, regardless of the status of the detainees being supervised.