By: Reynolds H.B. No. 49

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to peace officers and law enforcement agencies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 180.010 to read as follows:

Sec. 180.010. REQUIRED PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS. (a) A law enforcement agency of a municipality or county shall adopt a policy requiring a peace officer to participate in at least eight hours of community events in the municipality or county not later than the 60th day after the date the peace officer begins employment with the agency.

(b) The law enforcement agency may grant extensions of the period described by Subsection (a) based on reasonable grounds.

SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Sections 1701.165 and 1701.166 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.165. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN AGENCIES. (a) The commission shall establish and administer a grant program through which eligible municipalities and counties may apply for a grant to provide increased compensation to peace officers employed by the law enforcement agency of the municipality or county based on criteria described by Subsection (b) and any additional criteria the commission adopts by rule.

(b) In awarding grants under the grant program, the commission shall consider the extent to which the peace officers employed by the law enforcement agency of the applicant municipality or county:

(1) hold bachelor's degrees or higher from an accredited public or private institution of higher education;

(2) reside in the applicable municipality or county; and

(3) have received certificates of distinction under Section 1701.4025.

(c) The commission may establish:

(1) additional eligibility criteria for grant applicants;

(2) grant application procedures;

(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts;

(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and

(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any conditions of a grant.

(d) The commission may use any revenue available for purposes of this section.

Sec. 1701.166. ANNUAL EVALUATION OF CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. (a) The commission shall annually evaluate each law enforcement agency of a municipality or county for professionalism based on criteria described by Subsection (b) and any additional criteria the commission adopts by rule.

(b) In conducting an evaluation of a law enforcement agency under Subsection (a), the commission shall consider whether:

(1) at least half of the peace officers of the agency reside in the applicable municipality or county;

(2) the peace officers of the agency in supervisory positions hold bachelor's degrees or higher from an accredited public or private institution of higher education;

(3) the peace officers of the agency each perform 30 or more hours of community service annually;

(4) the agency has a citizens academy or youth enrichment program; and

(5) the peace officers of the agency are certified as special officers for offenders with mental impairments under Section 1701.404.

(c) The commission shall make available on the commission's Internet website the results of the evaluations.

(d) The commission may establish and administer a grant program and use any revenue available for purposes of this subsection to award grants to agencies that receive positive evaluations. The commission may adopt rules to administer the grant program.

SECTION 3. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:

(q) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the commission shall require an officer to complete a training program on implicit bias that consists of not less than eight hours of training.

SECTION 4. Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-3) to read as follows:

(a-3) As part of the continuing education programs under Subsection (a), a peace officer must complete a training and education program developed by the commission that includes not less than:

(1) four hours of training on implicit bias; and

(2) eight hours of training on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.

SECTION 5. Subchapter I, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.4025 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.4025. CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION FOR CERTAIN ACHIEVEMENTS. (a) The commission shall issue a certificate of distinction to an officer who:

(1) performs more than 40 hours of community service during a continuing education training period described by Section 1701.351(a);

(2) completes more than 50 hours of continuing education programs approved by the commission during a continuing education training period described by Section 1701.351(a); or

(3) provides more than 25 hours of instruction in continuing education programs approved by the commission in a calendar year.

(b) The commission shall adopt rules for the administration of this section, including rules for reporting community service hours and hours providing instruction in continuing education programs.

(c) The commission may use the employment records of an employing law enforcement agency in determining whether an officer qualifies for a certificate of distinction.

SECTION 6. Section 180.010, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a peace officer first employed on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 7. Not later than September 1, 2022, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall:

(1) begin conducting evaluations under Section 1701.166, Occupations Code, as added by this Act; and

(2) adopt rules necessary to implement that section.

SECTION 8. Section 1701.253(q), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a person who submits an application for a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on or after January 1, 2022. A person who submits an application for a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, before January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 9. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop the training and education program required by and adopt rules necessary to implement Section 1701.351(a-3), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.