§251.4.  Attorney General's Arrest  Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace

A.  The attorney general of the state of Louisiana, within one year from the date any justice of the peace takes office and once a year thereafter, shall conduct courses of training and education on arrest warrants for persons elected to full terms to the offices of justice of the peace.  Such courses of training shall be known as the Attorney General's Arrest Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace, which may be conducted in various sections of the state at places designated by the attorney general.

B.  By December 31, 2010, all justices of the peace shall have attended a special criminal arrest warrants course at any of the annual training conferences presented by the office of the attorney general and receive a certificate of completion before they are authorized to sign arrest warrants.

C.  The attorney general shall continue to work with other organizations to provide quality training and will issue this training in conjunction with the Justices of the Peace Court Association.

D.  Justices of the peace shall be notified of the courses by mail and the information about the courses shall be posted on the website of the attorney general.

E.  The Attorney General's Arrest Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace shall be sponsored by the office of the attorney general, and shall be a course of training included in the Justice of the Peace Training Course.

F.  The courses shall be taught by assistant attorneys general and other qualified professionals experienced in the preparation and issuance of arrest warrants.  Training materials on the subject matter shall be disseminated to the attendees.

G.  The office of the attorney general shall purchase the latest editions of the Louisiana Law Enforcement Handbook from the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and be utilized for the training sessions.  A copy of the Louisiana Law Enforcement Handbook shall be given to each justice of the peace attending the training course.

H.  Each justice of the peace that attends and completes the course shall receive a certificate of completion signed by the attorney general.

I.  The office of the attorney general shall keep a  record of each justice of the peace who completes the Attorney General's Arrest Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace.

J.  The Attorney General's Arrest Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace shall be provided every year along with the Justice of the Peace Training Course.  Each justice of the peace shall have to attend this course every other year and receive a certificate of completion to have the authority to sign and issue criminal arrest warrants after December 31, 2010, as otherwise authorized by law.

K.  Each justice of the peace, justice of the peace pro tempore, justice of the peace ad hoc special appointments, and each newly elected justice of the peace shall have to attend the Attorney General's Arrest Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace and receive a certificate of completion to have the authority to sign and issue criminal arrest warrants after December 31, 2010, as otherwise authorized by law.

L.  The attorney general shall begin implementation of the Attorney General's Arrest Warrants Course for Justices of the Peace by January 31, 2010.

Acts 2009, No. 222, §1.