1.  Required.  Beginning July 1, 2025, as a condition to the continued employment of any person as a probation and parole officer, that person shall successfully complete in‑service training as prescribed by the board. Failure to successfully complete in-service training by a probation and parole officer as prescribed by the board constitutes grounds to suspend or revoke a certificate issued by the board pursuant to section 2803‑A.  

2.  Role of board.  The board shall establish in-service training requirements, consistent with subsection 1, and coordinate delivery of in-service training. The in-service recertification training requirements must include information on new laws and court decisions. The board shall consider and encourage the use of telecommunications technology in the development and delivery of in-service training programs. In establishing the recertification training requirements, the board shall cooperate with the Department of Corrections to ensure that the standards are appropriate. In-service training may not be applied to satisfy in-service recertification training requirements unless it is approved by the board.  

3.  Provision of in-service training.  In-service training programs that meet the requirements established under subsection 2 or other in-service training may be provided by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy or the Department of Corrections.  

4.  Credit for continuing education.  The board may grant in-service training credits to be applied to in-service recertification training requirements for courses completed at accredited colleges and universities.