1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crime prevention; requiring that all new 
  1.3             chiefs of police of municipal police departments in 
  1.4             cities of the first, second, and third classes and 
  1.5             directors of statewide law enforcement agencies 
  1.6             appointed on or after January 1, 1998, hold a 
  1.7             bachelor's degree; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.8             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 626. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  [626.8625] [CHIEFS OF POLICE AND DIRECTORS OF 
  1.11  LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REQUIRED TO POSSESS BACHELOR'S DEGREE.] 
  1.12     Subdivision 1.  [BACHELOR'S DEGREE REQUIRED.] (a) Except as 
  1.13  provided in subdivision 2, no person may be a chief of police of 
  1.14  a municipal police department or a director of a statewide law 
  1.15  enforcement agency unless the person holds a bachelor's degree. 
  1.16     (b) A person applying for appointment to the position of 
  1.17  chief of police of a municipal police department or director of 
  1.18  a statewide law enforcement agency on or after January 1, 1998, 
  1.19  must hold a bachelor's degree and submit proof that the person 
  1.20  holds the degree as part of the application. 
  1.21     Subd. 2.  [EXCEPTION.] Chiefs of police of municipal police 
  1.22  departments and directors of statewide law enforcement agencies 
  1.23  appointed before January 1, 1998, and chiefs of police in cities 
  1.24  of the fourth class are exempt from the requirement in 
  1.25  subdivision 1.