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The GACE Certificate Program offers three levels. All of the courses in each level of training are taught on a rotating schedule. Based on course selections, a participant can earn up to 15 hours of credit from the “required” curriculum toward a certificate at each of the two conferences annually, one in the spring and one in the fall. Upon successful completion of the certificate levels, a formal presentation of certificates to GACE members will be held at the two conferences each year. • Level I: participant must complete 45 hours of course work and pass a written exam after each course with a grade of 70 or better. Time frame invested in earning a Level I Certificate is three conferences. • Level II: participants must complete an additional 45-hours of course work with the same requirement of successfully passing a written exam for each course with a grade of 70 or better. Time frame invested in earning a Level II Certificate is three conferences after completing Level I. • Level III: participants must complete 75 hours in a separate curriculum consisting of technical and leadership courses. Upon successful completion of all course work, participants must complete a final assignment. The courses are taught on a rotating basis and the time frame invested in earning a Level III certificate is five consecutive conferences and completing the final assignment. All courses in the “required curriculum” for a Level I or Level II certificate are taught at each conference. Based on course selections, a participant can earn up to 15 hours of credit toward a certificate at each of the two conferences annually, one in the spring and one in the fall. Upon successful completion of the certificate levels, a formal presentation of certificates to GACE members will be held at the two conferences each year. If a person completed the curriculum at the fall conference, then the certificate will be presented at the spring conference, the same goes for a person completing at the spring conference, then they will be presented with their certificate at the fall conference. Each conference consists of 15 hours over two and half days at the conference. Courses range from six hours to fifteen hours in length. Courses taught over a two-day or three-day period will require the participant to attend all days. To earn Level I and Level II certificates, a participant must complete six two and a half day conferences (six conferences over three years, completing two conferences per year). Example of how to determine your continuing education status: Certificate Presented Continuing Education Should be Completed By Fall 2015 → Fall 2018 Spring 2016 → Spring 2019 Fall 2016 →Fall 2019 Spring 2017 →Spring 2020 Fall 2017 →Fall 2020 Spring 2018 → Spring 2021 Fall 2018 → Fall 2021 Spring 2019 → Spring 2022 Fall 2019 →Fall 2022 Spring 2020 → Spring 2023 Fall 2020 → Fall 2023 Spring 2021 → Spring 2024 Fall 2021 → Fall 2024 Spring 2022 → Spring 2025 Fall 2022 → Fall 2025 Spring 2023 → Spring 2026 Fall 2023 → Fall 2026 Spring 2024 → Spring 2027 Code Enforcement Certificate Program Required Courses REQUIRED CURRICULUM • Level I: participant must complete 45 hours of course work and pass a written exam after each course with a grade of 70 or better. Time frame invested in earning a Level I Certificate is three conferences. • Level II: participant must complete an additional 45 hours of course work with the same requirement of successfully passing a written exam for each course with a grade of 70 or better. Time frame invested in earning a Level II Certificate is three conferences after completing Level I. Communication (6 hours)Each week, code officers encounter and communicate with coworkers, supervisors, and members of the public. This course demonstrates how to communicate in a way that enhances workplace effectiveness. Participants will learn skills for communicating better in the workplace, and they will engage in exercises to access their present skills and practice new ones. Cultural Differences in Code Enforcement (6 hours)Georgia has a very diverse population, many segments of which are unfamiliar with the property maintenance expectations of the local governments where they live. The work of the code enforcement officer can be significantly enhanced by knowing more about the languages and cultures of diverse groups. This session will give participants tools and insights to interact with greater cultural sensitivity, and to do so in a manner that is more likely to result in cooperation with code officers and compliance with their requests. Customer Service (3 hours)In this course, participants will learn that providing high-quality service to external customers begins with effective internal processes. They will learn how to examine the needs of internal customers within their places of work in order to achieve better working relationships and more efficient processes, all of which will enhance the services provided to their external customers. In addition, techniques for handling difficult customers will be addressed. Dealing with Difficult Situations (3 hours)Code enforcement officers are faced with difficult situations with co-workers, citizens, and others. These situations can be upsetting to all those involved. In this course, officers will learn different methods, strategies, and communication tactics for managing and diffusing difficult situations. Staying calm, diffusing conflict, and maintaining dignity will be the central concepts in this course. Enforcement Techniques and Investigation (6 hours)Code officers must use the most effective enforcement techniques possible to bring property owners into compliance with code ordinances and proper investigative processes when property owners refuse to comply. In this class, participants will learn methods for making and resolving enforcement cases including standard procedures, proper documentation, public education concerning code issues, non-regulatory enforcement techniques for accomplishing code enforcement policy goals, and ways to create opportunities for compliance. Participants will also learn fundamentals of building a defensible case based on properly executed investigation processes. Topics will include investigation, evidence, search warrants and inspection warrants, statements, Subpoenas Duces Tecum, and legal processes. Georgia Litter Laws and Applied Laws (9 hours) This course is designed to familiarize the Georgia Code Enforcement Officer with the current official statutes outlined in Title 16, Chapter 7, of the official Code of the State of Georgia. While participating in this workshop style setting the Georgia Code Officer will learn tactics and skills necessary to improve community standards while reaching across jurisdictional lines and networking with neighboring colleagues. Participants will become familiar with Title 6, Chapter 7, of the Official Code of Georgia; Learn tactics/skills to apprehend violations and apply state law where applicable; learn to identify and deter areas of opportunistic and behavioral littering. Participants will develop networking skills through inter-agency cooperation and shared intelligence; and develop skills to deter criminal activity, Broken Windows encroachment, and community blight. Housing and the ICC Property Maintenance Code (6 hours)This course provides an overview of the housing rehabilitation process. Topics include identifying and estimating deterioration, providing notification to owners and tenants, coordinating work between agencies, and working with owners and tenants to obtain compliance. Inspecting, Permitting, and Planning Duties of the Code Enforcement Officer (3 hours) While knowing laws and code ordinances is a must for CEOs, much of the officer’s job takes place in the field. This class will focus on learning how to look for zoning and property maintenance code violations. Additionally, basic processes and guidelines for permitting will be introduced. This course will also tie fundamental planning concepts and code enforcement work together to coordinate planning and zoning within a jurisdiction. Legal Aspects in Code Enforcement (9 hours)This class will provide an understanding of the legal foundation upon which code enforcement rests. Participants will learn many of the legal parameters in which they must work, including the history of ordinances and their enforcement, the hierarchy of laws and courts, the structure of local government, constitutional provisions relating to enforcement cases, “home rule,” state laws relevant to enforcement cases, common ordinance provisions, types of court proceedings and the courts in which they are brought, and legal procedures. Managing the Daily Operations of a Code Enforcement Officer (6 hours) Code enforcement officers must use their time, energy, and resources to maximize their daily production. Organizational skills can assist officers with maintaining records, prioritizing tasks, and planning for the future. While managing time and workplace demands, officers may feel the negative effects of stress. This course will address specific organizational skills and stress management techniques to help officers be successful in the workplace. Medical Awareness (6 hours) This course is designed to provide basic general awareness of and ability to recognize medical emergencies. This knowledge will enable one to respond in an effective and efficient manner with life-saving skills. Whether you are providing care or comfort, the information gained here will make your role as a rescuer a great one. Politics in Code Enforcement and Building Community Support (6 hours) ** The word “politics” often carries a negative connotation. Further, some people feel that politics interfere with their work. This course will help code officers understand the unique perspective of elected officials. Also, the course will explore how code officers can work productively with elected officials. Building Citizen Support for Code Enforcement Programs will focus on strategies for engaging citizens, agencies, and organizations to support and promote local code enforcement initiatives. The course will include a look at how to use personal and professional attributes to foster relationships and to create a proactive code enforcement department. The best practices for proactive code enforcement programs will be reviewed. Participants will have the opportunity to analyze their current department and consider new strategies. Preparing a Case for Court (6 hours)In some cases, code officers are unable to get code violators to come into compliance with ordinances without taking their cases to court. In such situations, code officers must do their jobs in such a way as to aid in preparing these cases for court. In this course, code officers will learn key information that will assist them in preparing a case for court, including important factors to consider, case strategy, tips for drafting citations, legal options, and using sentencing or other remedies available to obtain compliance. Public Service Ethics (6 hours)Public service ethics are driven by a set of values that are distinct from ethics practiced in everyday private life. Participants will examine the importance of ethical conduct in the administration of their public duties in this essential course. Also, they will gain knowledge about ethical practices that apply to public employees and will analyze ethical dilemmas that code officers might face during the discharge of their duties. Differences between compliance with law and ethical practice will also be explored. Safety Tactics in Code Enforcement (6 hours)A code enforcer’s interactions with community members can turn hostile. Learn how to spot the early warning signs of hostility and how to deal with hostile situations when you find yourself in the midst of them. Also, field inspections can go bad. Learn about preparing for inspections with an emphasis on code officer safety. Learn to anticipate danger and develop steps to enhance the safety of inspection sites such as overgrown fields, dilapidated buildings, derelict trailers, and old industrial sites. Self-Preservation Tactics in Communication (15 hours) 3-day course, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday This three-day course is designed for the code enforcement officer to become a better communicator, increase awareness of personal safety concerns, and develop strategies for self-preservation. Routinely code enforcement officers encounter information that can help them communicate with others and maintain personal safety. Unfortunately, many officers are unaware of these information clues or what to do if that information is received. This workshop style class discusses these verbal and non-verbal clues, how to use them, and outlines strategies for the future. Some topics included are personality types, body language, culture, and the future of communication. Officer safety is discussed throughout the course. Inter-agency networking is strongly encouraged. Signage and Right of Way Encroachments (3 hours)Right-of-way encroachments come in many forms including signs, trailers, landscaping, vehicles, drainage structures, and more. In addition, adjoining property owners often do not realize where their property ends and where public property begins. They consider the public right-of-way to be theirs to use as they please. Regardless of the types of ordinances cities and counties may adopt to regulate public rights-of-way, local governments have liability for what goes on in these areas. Consequently, encroachment and right-of-way issues must be addressed. This course will focus on how to treat these issues fairly, uniformly, and in a manner that complies with current statutes and case law. Level III (Leadership and Management)The Level III certificate program requires the completion of 75 hours in a separate curriculum consisting of technical and leadership/management courses. The courses in the Level III program are taught on a rotating basis. Upon successful completion of course work, participants must complete a final assignment. Time frame invested in earning a Level III certificate is five consecutive conferences and completing a final assignment. The courses in the Level III program are taught on a rotating basis. If you are unable to attend several conferences, then your time will be longer. Budgeting (6 hours)Each year code enforcement officers serving as department heads are required to prepare, submit, and administer their departmental budgets. The successful development and presentation of a code enforcement budget will have much to do with the success of the code enforcement office from which it originates. In this course, participants will develop goals, objectives, and performance measures for departmental budgets. The course will also include a discussion of the best practices for budget building, budget terms, financially mandated requirements, and processes for preparing and managing budgets. Business Writing II (9 hours)This course will review the foundations of writing from Business Writing including grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. In addition, the class will focus on drafting documents such as letters, emails, memoranda, and short reports. Coaching and Positive Discipline (9 hours)As a manager, the ability to effectively coach employees is both a responsibility and a critical skill. This course will focus on the basics of supportive communication, the difference between coaching and counseling, and strategies to decrease unproductive behavior and maximize performance. Participants will practice coaching and positive discipline methods that have proven to be effective. Conflict Management and Resolution (6 hours)In this course, participants will identify sources of conflict and consider their implications. Conflict resolution strategies will be described, compared, and practiced. In this way, the code enforcement manager will be better equipped to resolve or diffuse commonplace workplace conflict by enacting the most appropriate resolution strategy. Continuous Improvement (6 hours)Continuous improvement is a path to more efficient and effective operational processes. This course will introduce concepts of learning organizations and systems thinking, and basic quality tools will be presented and practiced. In addition, practical possibilities for continuous improvement in code enforcement work will be identified. Effective Communication (6 hours)The ability to communicate effectively is a core management competency. Although communication may seem like a simple concept, miscommunication creates confusion, conflict, and frustration and can diminish a code enforcer’s capacity for effective leadership. Course participants will focus on enhancing workplace communication skills through practice, exercises, and an increased understanding of the components of effective communication. Ethical Use of Power (9 hours)This course provides an overview of governmental ethics by highlighting the principles and issues most relevant to local governments. Participants will increase their understanding of public sector ethics and recognize the need to continuously clarify and reinforce organizational values. Ethical decision-making and power and its sources will be addressed, along with the potential for abuse of power. Participants will analyze some ethical dilemmas that code enforcement and other local government managers might encounter. In addition, transforming power into influence, selecting an appropriate influence strategy, and acting assertively will be discussed. ICC Legal Management (15 hours)This course provides an overview of the material covered in the 2012 ICC Legal/Management Module Certification Examination. The following materials will be reviewed: 2012 International Building Code, 2012 International Fire Code, 2012 International Property Maintenance Code, 2012 International Residential Code, 2002 Legal Aspects of Code Administration, 2007 Building Department Administration Manual, 3d Ed., Basic Code Enforcement manual (2002 or newer ed.), Human Resource Management: An Essential Guide, 3d Ed., and A Budgeting Guide for Local Government, 2d Ed. ICC Property Maintenance (15 hours)This course provides an overview of the material covered on the ICC Property Maintenance Certification Examination. The class will review and provide a greater understanding of the Legal Aspects of Code Enforcement as well as basic 2012 Property Maintenance Code. Also, it will include a brief review of material found in the 2012 International Residential Code that impacts the ICC Property Maintenance Code. ICC Zoning (9 hours)The ICC Zoning Code promotes uniformity and consistency in zoning for city planners, code officials, and developers. This course provides an overview of the material covered on the ICC Zoning Certification Examination, including legal aspects of zoning, use districts, the duties of Zoning officials and planning commissions, and how the zoning process works. Leading Teams and Group Dynamics (9 hours)One requirement of an effective team leader is to possess a fundamental understanding of group dynamics. This course will explore the notion that diversity in team member experience, talent, and personality preference is a key determinant of productive, effective workplace teams. It will also examine the appropriate use of teams in the workplace, the challenges that many face, and ways to overcome those challenges. Course participants will gain an understanding of the team leader’s facilitation responsibilities and how successful, productive teams develop and promote organizational success. Managing Performance (9 hours)Effectively managing the performance of an entire work unit or an individual employee requires multiple competencies but is significantly enhanced through the use of objective measurement. In other words, quantitative measures, qualitative measures, and productivity measures as well as understanding financial and human resources help determine the effectiveness and efficiency of an organization or department. In this course, performance management as an ongoing effort and an important tool of effective managers will be explored. Performance evaluations and appraisals will be considered as one component of performance management. Motivation and Delegation (6 hours)Cultivating a motivating work environment is but one of a manager’s many responsibilities. Yet successfully fulfilling this single responsibility yields many organizational benefits in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, and reduced costs. Understanding job satisfaction and assessing the workplace environment to determine the factors that might motivate and demotivate employees will be considered. In this course, participants will explore the Situational Leadership® Model and acquire knowledge about how to apply it, its relevance to delegation, and the benefits that can be accrued through its application. Code enforcement managers will gain additional tools and strategies for increasing employee motivation, thereby enhancing performance. Navigating Change (9 hours)This course will provide an overview of the changes that code officers may face in local government currently and into the future. Participants will learn about a model for navigating change effectively that may be used whether responding to changing conditions or leading positive change efforts. Classroom activities will include the opportunity to put this model to action, using its steps on actual examples and considering how it could be applied in various situations. Although the effects of change cannot be predicted, applying these steps can help one prepare to effectively and positively navigate change. Negotiation and Mediation (6 hours)From interpersonal relationships with co-workers and employees to working with citizen groups, managers are negotiating either informally or formally, to some degree, on a daily basis. During this course, negotiation and mediation will be defined and compared. The factors that enable and hinder effective negotiation will be explored. Recommended alternatives to resolving complex and difficult issues will be presented. The steps to a successful negotiation process will be outlined and practiced with common code enforcement manager situations considered. Ordinances (6 hours)This course will provide an overview of topics that should be addressed in the ordinances that make up a local government code with emphasis on differences between various jurisdictions—rural, suburban, and metropolitan—as well as jurisdictions with different needs based on things such as topography and land features. Specifically, the course will address the following: (a) zoning and how it works; (b) the requirements of minimum standard codes; (c) subdivision regulations; (d) considerations that arise in drafting ordinances regulating certain specific, unique uses such as signs, adult businesses, landfills, churches and religious institutions, etc.; (e) statutory rules of construction and interpretation and their effect on the creation of ordinances; and (f) code enforcement. In addition, participants will examine sample ordinances to see how they are written. Powerful Presentations (9 hours)While interpersonal communication is a critical managerial skill, managers must also present ideas, concepts, projects, recommendations, and reports to groups. Through practice activities, participants will gain skills in developing presentation content and delivering highly effective presentations to various audiences encountered in the workplace. Tips for addressing the media will also be addressed. Public Sector Leadership (6 hours)While some characteristics are shared, leading in the public sector is different from leading in the private sector. Code enforcers become public leaders by virtue of their employment; therefore, a broad understanding of public sector leadership is critical to the code enforcement manager’s organizational success and effectiveness. This course will explore foundational public service values in the context of the fundamental challenges experienced when leading in the public sector. Managing and leading in today’s code enforcement environment will be considered. Role of the Manager (9 hours)Occupying an organizational place between employees and executive leadership, managers can be found at various organizational levels. While specific manager duties may differ by organization, any local government manager fills a broad range of roles in their day-to-day activities. Using a competing values framework, the course outlines and explores managerial roles that are shared by most managers, though exercised to varying degrees. Course activities will highlight the skills and abilities needed for effective management and clarify the responsibilities of the code enforcement manager. Strategic Planning (6 hours)Strategic planning is a disciplined effort to determine where you are, where you need or want to be, and how to get there. This course will teach code enforcers how to exercise appropriate discretion in the areas under their control to ensure responsiveness to citizens and stakeholders, to develop good strategies to deal with changed and changing circumstances, and to develop a basis for decision- making. During this interactive course, participants will explore the key components and processes of sound strategic planning. Continuing Education(36 hours every three years from receipt of last certificate achieved) Airborne Viruses, Mold, and Bacteria (3 hours)The scope of local enforcement activity as it pertains to airborne viruses, mold, and bacteria continues to expand as more and more information about these human hazards becomes known. Although the responsibility for enforcement matters relating to these hazards may be shared with environmental, public health, and other government offices, the science, enforcement tenets, and practices are similar. This course provides information on airborne viruses, mold, and bacteria for the code officer who is called upon to monitor situations involving these substances. Basic Supervisory Skills (3 hours)Many code officers are responsible for supervising and directing others. As such, proper supervision is important. In fact, some studies show that many resignations occur because the person leaving his/her position is dissatisfied with the quality of supervision he/she receives. This course discusses some of the most important aspects of good supervision, including motivation, delegation, task alignment, and teamwork. Building Fire Regulations (3 hours) This course will cover the basics of Title 25 Chapter 2 as it pertains to jurisdiction and those buildings and structures that constitute a special hazard to property or to the life and safety of people on account of fi re or panic from fear of fire. It will also cover The Rules and Regulations of The Safety Fire Commissioner Chapter 120-3-3 and an update on the proposed code adoptions to be effective January 1, 2025. CAVE (6 hours) AKA: Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly This course explores the incidents of abuse and neglect of patients in personal care homes through the Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly (CAVE) task force. The task force was established to investigate possible crimes against elderly and vulnerable adults and has expanded to include civilian agencies that might see abuse and neglect but have not been able to talk about suspicions because of confidentiality requirements. Participants will be able to examine case studies and discuss trends as well as learn what powers the CAVE Task Force has and does not have. Change Management (6 hours)In this course, the realities of a rapidly changing work environment will be discussed. The dynamics of change and why people tend to resist change will be considered along with appropriate responses to change. Using actual examples, code enforcers will prepare a personal mission statement as a way to address their response to current, evolving, or probable changes in their work environment. Code Enforcement and Georgia Land Banks (6 hours) Land banking in Georgia has a history of almost thirty years. Since 1990 land banks through Legislation have had the core power to extinguish liens for delinquent property taxes on any property owned by the land bank. The enactment of the Georgia Land Bank Act in 2012 opened the door to an era of regional collaboration, focused initiatives on problem properties, and the conversion of vacant spaces into vibrant places. Code Enforcement divisions have played important roles in the identification of properties which devalue the communities we serve. This course provides an overview of the history of land banking in Georgia, review of the 2012 Georgia Land Bank Act, how land banks are established, the relationship of code enforcement and land banks, and presentation by the Albany/Dougherty County Land Bank. Code Enforcement and Mobile Homes (6 hours)This course will provide an overview of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 as well as Georgia laws regulating the installation of homes without installation manuals. Also, it will cover manufacturers’ installation instructions, regulations pertaining to siding and roofing installation and completion, and laws pertaining to demolition and disposal. Codes and Fire Suppression (3 hours)Code officers are required to deal with a wide range of enforcement issues. Some concern fire hazards. This course will address rules, procedures, and practices relevant to burning, fire prevention and suppression, and NFPA resources available to code officers. Creative Problem Solving (6 hours)Are you ever faced with a problem and you are just not sure what to do? As a code enforcement officer, you are often faced with problem solving. During this session, you will learn about two different methods of problem solving— The Osborne-Parnes Creative Problem-Solving Method and the De Bono Six Thinking Hats Method. The session will allow participants plenty of time to practice these methods in groups. Current Diversions with Power Theft (3 hours) The class will discuss and show examples of many ways that theft of electricity is found in the field. Disaster Recovery and Debris Removal (6 hours)Learn best practices for preparing and planning for the code officer’s role in these situations. In the aftermath of natural disasters or when simply dealing with the removal of debris, code enforcement officers must work closely with public works employees and, sometimes, with state and federal officials to ensure safe and efficient clean-up and recovery. Drugs, Chemicals, and Other Contraband (3 hours)Persons who may, coincidentally, be in possession of illegal substances may receive an unrelated visit from a local code officer or be the subject of a citizen complaint. This course will help code enforcement officers learn more of the signs and evidence of illegal activity that can be turned over to sheriff/police officers—possibly resulting in help obtaining compliance regarding the violations originally investigated. The session will offer strategies for enhancing interdepartmental cooperation with law enforcement agencies. Effectively Managing Projects (3 hours) Code enforcement professionals are required to manage large and small projects in the performance of their jobs. The course will familiarize the code enforcement professional with effective project management techniques including understanding scope creep, managing risk, and using the PERT method to plan projects. Hoarding (6 hours)In this course, participants will learn what hoarding is and why some people become hoarders. The class will also explore the dangers of hoarding and how to work with hoarders to resolve dangerous situations. Homeland Security in Code Enforcement (3 hours)The course will address the topic of Homeland Security. It will focus on how federal, state, and local security issues impact the work of code enforcement. Participants will learn how to stay vigilant and alert in order to spot the warning signs of a potential security breach as well as which federal, state, and local organizations or agencies to contact in the face of an actual or suspected security-related situation. Human Resource Issues in the Workplace (6 hours)While the human resources department is responsible for the benefits, salary administration, recruitment, selection, and overall training of employees, the code enforcement officer manages direct reports and works with a variety of employees in the organization. This course, designed specifically for code enforcement officers, provides a solid understanding of the interview and hiring processes, employee performance appraisals, and basic legal issues related to government employment. Manufactured Housing Review (3 hours) This course will provide an overview of the Manufactured Housing Georgia laws regulating the installation of homes. The course will cover manufacturers’ installation instructions. New Technologies in Code Enforcement (3 hours)Technology can make the job of code enforcement more effective and efficient if it is understood and compatible with other technology already in place. The course will review technologies currently being used by code enforcement officers, new technologies available for use, how to justify the acquisition of technology for code enforcement, and how to use technology for the maximum benefit of your local jurisdiction. Principles of Leadership (3 hours)Code officers occupy positions of leadership, perhaps because of the staff they supervise, but also because they enforce policies that bring about change in communities. Understanding the role of the code officer as a local leader places the job of code enforcement and the value of the service provided by code officers in a larger context. This course will help code enforcers better understand the impact of the service they provide to local government and its citizens, and it will encourage a new commitment to the ideals of public service. Self Defense for the Code Enforcement Officer (6 hours)Code Enforcement Officers face a wide variety of dangers in the field each day. The course provides an opportunity to learn a system of practical, proven self-defense techniques and educate the participants in the strategies of personal safety and awareness. During class, participants will learn how to use appropriate maneuvers to counter an immediate threat of violence from armed and unarmed individuals, how to use and break free of basic holds, how to safely subdue an attacker, learn the vulnerable parts of the body, and learn to de-escalate or escape potentially violent situations through assertiveness, confrontation and self-defense techniques. Use of Force (6 hours) This course will cover the basics of what is an assault and what is a battery in code enforcement situations. This is not a physical defense class. This class deals more with the legal aspects and will explore and train officers/ citizens on WHEN they are statutorily supported to use such force. Laws covered include OCGA 16-5-20 Simple Assault, OCGA 16-5-21 Aggravated Assault, OCGA 16-5-23 Simple Battery, OCGA 16-5-23.1 Battery, OCGA 16-5- 24 Aggravated Battery, OCGA 16-3-21 Use of Force/Deadly Force as Self-Defense, and OCGA 17-4-20 Use of Force/ Deadly Force by Sheriffs/Peace Officers. This course would satisfy the mandatory 1-hour POST requirement (pending POST Approval).

The goals of the Certificate of the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement are to: Encourage professionalism in public code enforcement administration throughout Georgia. Increase knowledge of the major aspects of code enforcement administration. Develop skills necessary for the enforcement of environmental, housing, and land use codes. The GACE Certificate Program offers three levels of training. Six core courses and a selection of electives totaling nine hours form the basic framework of Level I. Level II includes an additional five core courses and an additional 24 hours of electives. REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM: The GACE Certificate Program offers three levels of training. To receive a Level I certificate, participants must complete 45 hours of course work (36 hours of required courses and nine hours of electives) and pass a written exam after each required course with a grade of 70 or better. Requirements for the Level II certificate consist of an additional 45 hours of coursework (30 hours of required courses and 15 hours of electives) with the same requirement of successfully passing a written exam for each required course with a grade of 70 or better. The Level III certificate program requires the completion of 75 hours in a separate curriculum consisting of technical and leadership courses. Upon successful completion of all coursework, participants must write a reflection paper on selected courses taken. All of the classes are taught on a rotating schedule. Based on your choice of class selections, you can earn up to 18 hours of credit toward your certificate level at the annual conference and an additional six or twelve hours by attending the workshop training. ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible to participate in the certificate program, an individual must: Be a G.A.C.E. Member throughout the entire program Be willing to uphold the by-laws of the organization Be an honest member and ethical person REQUIRED CURRICULUM: Communication (6 hours) Cultural Differences in Code Enforcement (6 hours) Enforcement Techniques and Investigative Process and Court Procedures (6 hours) Environmental Protection and Environmental Nuisance Abatement (6 hours) Handling Special and Hazardous Materials (6 hours) Housing and the ICC Property Maintenance Code (6 hours) Legal Aspects of Code Enforcement (9 hours) Planning Concepts and Dealing with Citizen Boards (3 hours) Preparing Your Case for Court (6 hours) Public Service Ethics (6 hours) Safety Tactics and In-Field Safety for Code Officers (6 hours) Signage and Right-of-Way Encroachments (3 hours) ELECTIVE COURSES: Administering Flood Plain Regulations and Stream Buffer Rules Airborne Viruses, Mold and Bacteria Basic Supervisory Skills Business Writing Change Management Code Enforcement and Mobile Homes Codes and Fire Suppression Conflict and Anger Management Customer Service Developing and Administering the Code Enforcement Budget Disaster Recovery and Debris Removal Drugs, Chemicals, and Other Contraband Financially Troubled and Abandoned Properties Homeland Security in Code Enforcement Making Public Presentations New Technologies in Code Enforcement Politics in Code Enforcement Principles of Leadership for the Code Enforcement Officer Stormwater Management and Control Time and Stress Management Zoning Code Enforcement LEVEL III COURSES: Technical Rotation — Course Descriptions: Budgeting Business Writing II ICC Legal Management ICC Property Maintenance ICC Zoning Ordinances Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Leadership Rotation — Course Descriptions Coaching and Positive Discipline Conflict Management and Resolution Continuous Improvement Effective Communication Ethical Use of Power Leading Teams and Group Dynamics Managing Performance Motivation and Delegation Navigating Change Negotiation and Mediation Powerful Presentations Public Sector Leadership Role of the Manager Strategic Planning Continuing Education: Every three years, those who have attained Level I or Level II certification must complete 36 hours of continuing education. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking electives not previously taken or by taking courses in the Level III curriculum. Attendees may be able to receive POST credit for some of the courses offered at the conferences. Please contact POST in order to determine the process for requesting credit from the Peace Officers Training Council for classes taken through GACE. A special Annual Update class is being added to the course offerings at the annual conference. This class is designed to satisfy the continuing education requirements for individuals who have completed Level I and II. The topic(s) for the Annual Update will differ at each annual conference.

“The plain view doctrine is another exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement. While consent is required to inspect a building or property, this doctrine holds that if an inspector observes a violation while at a location where he or she is legally entitled to be, no violation of the Fourth Amendment results. In other words, if the alleged violation is observable from a place where any member of the public may be, the privacy interest of the owner must be considered insubstantial. Therefore, no warrant is required. This exception is vitally important to the building official. Many violations are visible from the exterior of a building. An official may discover a number of code violations merely by standing on the sidewalk or other public right-of-way and observing the exterior of a structure. This exception also allows the building official to look through windows to discover violations which may be present “within plain view”. Naturally, if the occupant objects to a further inspection, the building official should immediately depart. An inspector should not attempt to inspect the rear of any property under the exception unless it backs up on a public alley. Frequently, someone who is upset about a problem on his or her neighbor’s property will allow the building official to view it from his or her home. Anything the inspector sees may be used as evidence, even if the building official stands at a secondary window or in the backyard. Using a ladder to peer over a fence, however, is not permissible. The area surrounding a house, the curtilage, is an area in which a defendant has a reasonable expectation of privacy and is not subject to a general search. The rules for commercial property are somewhat different. Those portions of a business open to the public are considered public area and are open to visual inspection without consent of the owner. Anything observed from an airplane flying over this type of land may be used in court. An inspector who finds a violation under the plain view exception must still get a warrant in order to search other areas which are not in plain view and for which the occupant has refused consent. Citing one violation is not grounds to undertake a more thorough inspection, at least not without a warrant. In a case involving a health inspector, the failure of the inspector to secure a warrant before entering a number of units in an apartment complex led the court to reverse a dismissal of a civil rights lawsuit by a lower court. The inspector argued that the units were open and completely unsecured and therefore not reasonably within the owner’s expectation of privacy. The court disagreed. Merely because the units were open and unsecured did not necessarily mean that the owner had no privacy interest in them: The fact that members of the public could have discovered these alleged violations by affirmatively trespassing upon {the} properties, of course, fails to legitimize an otherwise invalid search, and the fact that portions of the interiors may have been visible to tenants and their guests and invitees does not mean that {the owner} necessarily “threw open” the interiors of his premise to general public scrutiny. In short, the inspector’s failure to recognize and respect the owner’s Fourth Amendment rights gave rise to a valid cause of action against the inspector for a violation of the owner’s civil rights. Out in the field, the building official must guard against the temptation of carrying an inspection further than the law will allow. Code violations that are “in plain view” do not give the building official any authority to explore the premises searching for other violations.” * ICC Legal Aspects of Code Administration Definition: Cornell Law School Information originally posted by Keith Colquitt here. Edited October 13, 2023 at 03:51 PM by @dmaidon