The Senate Finance Committee was forced to suspend its session scheduled for this Tuesday, stalling the debate on a bill intended to modernize Chile's Carabineros. The session was interrupted following the absence of Security Minister Jeannette Steinert and Undersecretary Andrés Jouannet.
The meeting lasted only 22 minutes before being declared failed. According to biobiochile.cl, the absence of the security officials caused widespread frustration among lawmakers, affecting members of both the government and the opposition.
The bill, introduced in May 2025 by the Gabriel Boric administration, seeks to amend various legal frameworks to update the institution's incentive system, the career paths of new officers, and its management tools.
“This initiative seeks to establish improvements to the professional career path in order to incentivize merit, promote internal mobility, and strengthen the standards for entry, tenure, and promotion within the institution,” the legal text details, according to the report by biobiochile.cl.
Career changes and new incentives
The legislative proposal introduces structural changes regarding service duration. For instance, Supreme Appointment officers could remain with the institution until age 41, while the limit for non-commissioned officers would be set at 38.
The plan also includes an increase in the years of service required to access retirement pensions, rising from 20 to 23 years. Additionally, the time required for voluntary retirement with a full pension would extend from 30 to 35 years of service.
On the economic front, the bill establishes benefits linked to performance and territorial risk. Starting in 2027, personnel working in communes classified as high-risk could receive an increase of up to 10 percentage points in their risk bonus.
Bulletin 17535-25 also proposes a retention incentive bonus for officers who, after completing 23 years of service, decide to continue their careers until reaching 33, 34, or 35 years.
Regarding training, the initiative aims to streamline professional development. Applicants with university degrees of at least eight semesters could complete their training in just three semesters, while higher technicians would see their training period reduced to two semesters.
Finally, the bill tightens entry requirements. Individuals who are formally charged in criminal investigations or are under alternative dispute resolution processes in criminal proceedings will no longer be eligible to join the force.
