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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement on |
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mental health services provided to peace officers in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.165 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.165. STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PEACE |
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OFFICERS. (a) The commission shall study the provision, |
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availability, and accessibility of mental health services for peace |
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officers. |
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(b) In studying the mental health services, the commission |
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shall collect information from: |
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(1) law enforcement agencies in this state regarding |
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any mental health programs provided by the agencies, and to the |
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extent available, the use of mental health services by the peace |
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officers of the agencies; and |
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(2) the governor's office regarding the office's |
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implementation of the grant programs under Sections 772.0073 and |
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772.0074, Government Code, and the impact of those programs. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the commission shall |
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submit a written report to the legislature with recommendations on: |
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(1) increasing the effectiveness and availability of |
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mental health services for peace officers; |
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(2) establishing a mental health program, including a |
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peer mentoring program, within a state agency or political |
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subdivision that employs peace officers to improve access to mental |
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health services for the peace officers; |
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(3) developing sources of funding for programs that |
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provide peace officers with access to effective mental health |
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services; and |
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(4) any other related issue the commission considers |
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appropriate. |
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(d) This section expires January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |