(a) Certifications issued by TJJD expire upon failure to submit a renewal application before the end of the certification period plus any applicable grace period or extension.     
      (b) A certification period is the 24-month period that starts on the first day of the month following the officer's birth month and ends on the last day of the officer's birth month.     
      (c) The first certification period also includes the time between the date of certification and the officer's next birth month.     
      (d) The grace period is the one-month period following the end of an officer's certification period.     
      (e) Extensions may be granted in accordance with §344.870 of this title.     
      (f) An officer whose certification is expired:      
        (1) may not perform the duties of a certified officer;       
        (2) may not count toward any staff-to-juvenile ratio; and       
        (3) may begin performing the duties of a certified officer and count toward staff-to-juvenile ratios only after a new application for certification has been approved by TJJD.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §344.862 adopted to be effective February 1, 2018, 42 TexReg 5688