Statutes and Rules

The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) has direct statutory responsibilities assigned under two Michigan laws. The Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act, Public Act 203 of 1965 ¹, and the Michigan Justice training Commission Act, Public Act 302 of 1982 ².  

On August 30, 2001, under Executive Reorganization Order 2001-2 (MCL 28.621), Governor Engler created the "new Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards." The Executive Order consolidated the former Michigan Justice Training Commission, with MCOLES, creating a 15 member commission and effectively joining standards setting with funding.

On October 15, 2008, Governor Granholm issued  Executive Order 2008-19 , expanding the membership of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to 17 persons. Joining the Commission is one representative from the Police Officers Labor Council and one representative from the Michigan Association of Police. One of the new members will be selected to an appointment term of one year while the other will receive an appointment to a two year term. Thereafter, successive appointments of these and all other appointed Commissioners will be to four year terms. The appointments took effect on December 28, 2008.

Act 203 requires that the Commission prepare and publish mandatory minimum recruitment, selection, training, licensing, and license retention standards for law enforcement officers in Michigan. Act 302 created the Michigan Justice Training Fund, which receives fine assessments on civil infraction findings under the motor vehicle code.

These justice training funds are made available to Michigan criminal justice entities in the following manner. Sixty percent of the funds are distributed to participating Michigan law enforcement agencies in a bi-annual distribution. The remaining funds, less administrative expenses, are awarded to criminal justice agencies participating in a competitive grant process.

In addition to the above major responsibilities, MCOLES has also been assigned responsibility for administration of several other statutes. MCOLES licenses private security police agencies under Public Act 330 of 1968 ³ . Railroad police are also commissioned by MCOLES under authority of Public Act 354 of 1993 ⁴. 

MCOLES also administers the Public Safety Officers Benefit Act, Public Act 46 of 2004 ⁵, which provides a one-time $25,000 benefit to the survivors of public safety officers who die or are totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty.  

 

Documents are provided in Adobe PDF format:

Booklet of Statutes and Rules of MCOLES 

⁽¹⁾ Public Act No. 203 of the Public Acts of 1965, as amended  
     Administrative Rules promulgated pursuant to Public Act 203 of 1965  (Law Enforcement Standards and
     Training)

R 28.14204 of the Michigan Administrative Code has been amended and officially adopted by Executive Director David L. Harvey, by Certificate of Adoption on April 30, 2012.

⁽²⁾ Act No. 302 of the Public Acts of 1982, as amended  
     Administrative Rules promulgated pursuant to Public Act 302 of 1982

⁽³⁾ Public Act No. 330 of the Public Acts of 1968, as amended 

⁽⁴⁾ Public Act No. 354 of the Public Acts of 1993, as amended 

⁽⁵⁾ Public Act No. 46 of the Public Acts of 2004, as amended 
     Administrative Rules promulgated pursuant to Public Act 46 of 2004