(a) A peace officer trainee who, based on the commission’s investigative findings, knowingly cheats, assists in cheating, or aids, abets, or knowingly conceals efforts by others to cheat in any manner on a basic course examination mandated by the commission shall be liable for a civil fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) per occurrence.
(b) For purposes of this section, “cheating” means any attempt or act by a peace officer trainee to gain an unfair advantage or give an unfair advantage to another peace officer trainee or group of trainees taking a POST-mandated basic course examination.
(c) For purposes of this section, “peace officer trainee” means an applicant for a basic course examination who has not been hired by a department or agency and who has not been sworn as a peace officer.