POST tightens course‑reimbursement rules, requires 80% POST‑participating enrollment and updates subsistence rates

The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training voted March 3 to amend commission regulation 10.15 to reduce per‑student cost variability and update subsistence reimbursement rates.

Staff told commissioners that some presenter reimbursement requests previously included large numbers of attendees who were not eligible for POST reimbursement, which inflated POST's per‑eligible‑student cost. "In one course the cost per eligible student was $1,331.60 because 12 of 22 attendees were ineligible," a staff presenter said, summarizing invoice examples.

To address the problem, the commission adopted a rule requiring presenters to certify that at least 80% of a course’s maximum enrollment will be filled by eligible, full‑time personnel from POST‑participating agencies; presenters must deduct the tuition-equivalent cost for any ineligible attendees before seeking POST reimbursement. The commission amended staff language during debate to clarify "full‑time personnel from POST‑participating agencies who are eligible for reimbursement" and to remove the narrower term "sworn" to ensure non‑sworn eligible roles (for example dispatchers and records supervisors) are covered.

Cheryl Smith, administrative services bureau chief, estimated updating subsistence rates (to more closely align with GSA/DHR county rates and include a $68 meals/incidentals allowance) would add roughly $2 million annually. "We anticipate our existing budget can absorb this increase," she said.

Commissioners discussed enforcement and verification; staff noted presenters must submit rosters for invoice review and POST already audits rosters when processing reimbursement requests. Staff also said the regulation would include an exception process for circumstances outside a presenter’s control (illness, last‑minute cancellations, or cross‑jurisdictional regional classes). Manny Alvarez said regional training partnerships — for example mixed POST and probation attendance — remain permissible if presenters account for the non‑POST portion and adjust invoices accordingly.

The commission approved the changes with a roll‑call vote after committee discussion; staff will publish the final regulatory text and process the OAL steps required for implementation.