(a) During calendar year 1999 and during each calendar year thereafter, any person employed or appointed as a peace officer shall complete 20 hours of training as provided in this Code section; provided, however, that any peace officer serving with the Department of Public Safety who is a commissioned officer shall receive annual training as specified by the commissioner of public safety.

(b) The training required by subsection (a) of this Code section shall be completed in sessions approved or recognized by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

(c) Peace officers who satisfactorily complete the basic course of training in accordance with the provisions of this chapter after April 1 in any calendar year shall be excused from the minimum annual training requirement for the calendar year during which the basic course is completed.

(d) Any peace officer who does not fulfill the training requirements of this Code section shall lose his power of arrest.

(e) A waiver of the requirement of training provided in this Code section may be granted by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, in its discretion, upon the presentation of evidence by a peace officer that he was unable to complete such training due to medical disability, providential cause, or other reason deemed sufficient by the council.

(f) Any person who is registered or certified with the council as a retired peace officer is excused and exempt from compliance with this Code section. A retired peace officer may voluntarily comply with the requirements of this Code section. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to grant an exemption to persons required to complete the annual training requirement of this Code section.