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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required training on trauma-impacted veterans for |
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certain peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.352(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission shall require a state, county, special |
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district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs peace |
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officers to provide each peace officer with a training program at |
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least once every 48 months that is approved by the commission and |
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consists of: |
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(1) topics selected by the agency; and |
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(2) for an officer holding only a basic proficiency |
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certificate, not more than 20 hours of education and training that |
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contain curricula incorporating the learning objectives developed |
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by the commission regarding: |
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(A) civil rights, racial sensitivity, and |
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cultural diversity; |
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(B) de-escalation and crisis intervention |
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techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental |
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impairments, including training on identifying and interacting |
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with trauma-impacted veterans and training on diverting those |
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veterans to available community resources; |
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(C) de-escalation techniques to facilitate |
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interaction with members of the public, including techniques for |
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limiting the use of force resulting in bodily injury; and |
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(D) unless determined by the agency head to be |
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inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties: |
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(i) the recognition, documentation, and |
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investigation of cases that involve child abuse or neglect, family |
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violence, and sexual assault, including the use of best practices |
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and trauma-informed techniques to effectively recognize, document, |
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and investigate those cases; and |
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(ii) issues concerning sex offender |
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characteristics. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt |
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rules necessary to implement Section 1701.352(b), Occupations |
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Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |