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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a mental health program that includes peer-to-peer |
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counseling for certain law enforcement personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter I-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I-1. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT |
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Sec. 1001.231. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Law enforcement officer" means a person |
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identified as a peace officer under Article 2.12(1), (2), (3), or |
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(4), Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(2) "Peer" means a person who is a law enforcement |
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officer or a law enforcement officer's family member. |
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Sec. 1001.232. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The |
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executive commissioner shall develop a mental health intervention |
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program for law enforcement officers. The program must include: |
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(1) peer-to-peer counseling; |
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(2) access to licensed mental health professionals for |
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peer service coordinators and peers; |
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(3) training approved by the commission for peer |
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service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and |
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peers; |
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(4) technical assistance for peer service |
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coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, and peers; |
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(5) identification, retention, and screening of |
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community-based licensed mental health professionals; |
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(6) suicide prevention training for peer service |
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coordinators and peers; and |
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(7) coordination of mental health first aid for law |
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enforcement officers and immediate family members of law |
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enforcement officers. |
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(b) As part of the mental health intervention program the |
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executive commissioner shall develop a mental health initiative for |
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law enforcement officers serving in rural jurisdictions. |
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(c) The commission shall solicit and ensure that |
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specialized training is provided to persons who are peers and who |
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want to provide peer-to-peer counseling or other peer-to-peer |
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services under the program. |
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(d) The executive commissioner may adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this subchapter. |
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Sec. 1001.233. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each year, the executive commissioner shall submit a report to the |
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governor and the legislature that includes: |
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(1) the number of law enforcement officers who |
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received services through the mental health intervention program |
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for law enforcement officers; |
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(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators |
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trained; |
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(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this |
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subchapter; and |
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(4) recommendations for program improvements. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the executive |
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commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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develop the mental health intervention program for law enforcement |
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officers, as required under Subchapter I-1, Chapter 1001, Health |
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and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |