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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to peace officers and law enforcement agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 180.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 180.010. REQUIRED PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS |
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FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS. (a) A law enforcement agency of a |
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municipality or county shall adopt a policy requiring a peace |
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officer to participate in at least eight hours of community events |
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in the municipality or county not later than the 60th day after the |
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date the peace officer begins employment with the agency. |
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(b) The law enforcement agency may grant extensions of the |
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period described by Subsection (a) based on reasonable grounds. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 1701.165 and 1701.166 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 1701.165. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN AGENCIES. (a) The |
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commission shall establish and administer a grant program through |
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which eligible municipalities and counties may apply for a grant to |
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provide increased compensation to peace officers employed by the |
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law enforcement agency of the municipality or county based on |
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criteria described by Subsection (b) and any additional criteria |
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the commission adopts by rule. |
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(b) In awarding grants under the grant program, the |
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commission shall consider the extent to which the peace officers |
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employed by the law enforcement agency of the applicant |
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municipality or county: |
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(1) hold bachelor's degrees or higher from an |
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accredited public or private institution of higher education; |
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(2) reside in the applicable municipality or county; |
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and |
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(3) have received certificates of distinction under |
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Section 1701.4025. |
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(c) The commission may establish: |
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(1) additional eligibility criteria for grant |
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applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of a grant. |
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(d) The commission may use any revenue available for |
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purposes of this section. |
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Sec. 1701.166. ANNUAL EVALUATION OF CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT |
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AGENCIES. (a) The commission shall annually evaluate each law |
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enforcement agency of a municipality or county for professionalism |
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based on criteria described by Subsection (b) and any additional |
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criteria the commission adopts by rule. |
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(b) In conducting an evaluation of a law enforcement agency |
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under Subsection (a), the commission shall consider whether: |
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(1) at least half of the peace officers of the agency |
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reside in the applicable municipality or county; |
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(2) the peace officers of the agency in supervisory |
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positions hold bachelor's degrees or higher from an accredited |
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public or private institution of higher education; |
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(3) the peace officers of the agency each perform 30 or |
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more hours of community service annually; |
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(4) the agency has a citizens academy or youth |
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enrichment program; and |
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(5) the peace officers of the agency are certified as |
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special officers for offenders with mental impairments under |
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Section 1701.404. |
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(c) The commission shall make available on the commission's |
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Internet website the results of the evaluations. |
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(d) The commission may establish and administer a grant |
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program and use any revenue available for purposes of this |
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subsection to award grants to agencies that receive positive |
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evaluations. The commission may adopt rules to administer the |
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grant program. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows: |
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(q) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
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commission shall require an officer to complete a training program |
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on implicit bias that consists of not less than eight hours of |
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training. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-3) to read as follows: |
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(a-3) As part of the continuing education programs under |
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Subsection (a), a peace officer must complete a training and |
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education program developed by the commission that includes not |
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less than: |
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(1) four hours of training on implicit bias; and |
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(2) eight hours of training on de-escalation and |
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crisis intervention techniques. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter I, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.4025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.4025. CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION FOR CERTAIN |
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ACHIEVEMENTS. (a) The commission shall issue a certificate of |
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distinction to an officer who: |
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(1) performs more than 40 hours of community service |
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during a continuing education training period described by Section |
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1701.351(a); |
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(2) completes more than 50 hours of continuing |
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education programs approved by the commission during a continuing |
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education training period described by Section 1701.351(a); or |
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(3) provides more than 25 hours of instruction in |
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continuing education programs approved by the commission in a |
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calendar year. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration |
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of this section, including rules for reporting community service |
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hours and hours providing instruction in continuing education |
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programs. |
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(c) The commission may use the employment records of an |
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employing law enforcement agency in determining whether an officer |
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qualifies for a certificate of distinction. |
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SECTION 6. Section 180.010, Local Government Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a peace officer first employed on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 7. Not later than September 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall: |
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(1) begin conducting evaluations under Section |
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1701.166, Occupations Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) adopt rules necessary to implement that section. |
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SECTION 8. Section 1701.253(q), Occupations Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a person who submits an application for |
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a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on or |
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after January 1, 2022. A person who submits an application for a |
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peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, before |
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January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 9. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop the training and |
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education program required by and adopt rules necessary to |
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implement Section 1701.351(a-3), Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |