|  Senate Bill 1350 (McPherson) was signed into law in September
2002. The bill established the Responders Emergency Act to Combat
Terrorism (REACT). It enacted Government Code 8588.10 to establish
the Emergency Response to Terrorism Training Advisory Committee
(ERTAC) which would recommend the criteria for terrorism awareness
curricula to meet the training needs of state and local response
personnel and volunteers.
The bill also enacted Penal Code 13519.12, which directed POST
to establish training standards and develop a course of instruction
that would include the curriculum content recommended by ERTAC.
This course of instruction was to address the training needs of
peace officers at a managerial or supervisory level and below who
are assigned to field duties. POST was also directed to develop
a companion instructor course.
In August 2004, ERTAC unanimously approved the curriculum for
the Law Enforcement Response to Terrorism (LERT) course
that was developed by POST. This eight-hour course fully complies
with all of the requirements of SB 1350 and includes the 26 law
enforcement tasks outlined in the federal Department of Homeland
Security strategic training plan. ERTAC also approved the 32-hour
instructor course and the requirement for instructors to complete
the instructor course prior to presenting the 8-hour course. The
Commission also approved both courses at its November 2004 meeting.
The Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) has conditionally approved
both courses and final approval is pending.
 The Law Enforcement Response to Terrorism (LERT) course is
the only awareness course that meets the requirements contained
in SB 1350 for California law enforcement personnel. POST
has certified both the eight-hour LERT course and the
32-hour LERT Instructor course for continuing professional
training (CPT). Both courses are now available for use by the
field.
Three (3) additional LERT instructor course presentations are
being scheduled statewide over the next few months to continue
to build a cadre of skilled instructors to present the course.
A list of currently certified LERT course
instructors, by agency,
is on the POST website under the Homeland Security Information
Center section.
Agencies wishing to certify a LERT course should contact their
POST Regional Training Manager at 916.227.4862 for additional information
and certification packages.
Questions about the course requirements and curriculum should
be directed to Ken Whitman, Special Consultant, 916.227.5561, Ken.Whitman@post.ca.gov.
Linked to this overview are the following documents:
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