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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a peer support network for certain law enforcement |
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personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter M-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER M-1. PEER SUPPORT NETWORK FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS |
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Sec. 1701.621. 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 retired law enforcement officer. |
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Sec. 1701.622. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The |
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commission shall develop a peer support network for law enforcement |
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officers. The network must include: |
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(1) peer-to-peer support; |
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(2) training for peer service coordinators and peers |
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that includes suicide prevention training; |
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(3) technical assistance for program development, |
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peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, |
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and peers; and |
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(4) identification, retention, and screening of |
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licensed mental health professionals. |
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(b) As part of the peer support network for law enforcement |
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officers, the commission shall ensure law enforcement officers have |
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support in both urban and 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 support and other peer-to-peer |
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services under the network. |
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(d) The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this subchapter. |
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Sec. 1701.623. CONTRACT WITH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER |
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EDUCATION. The commission may contract with an institution of |
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higher education that has appropriate expertise in mental health or |
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law enforcement to develop the peer support network under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 1701.624. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PARTICIPANT INFORMATION. |
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Information relating to a law enforcement officer's participation |
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in peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer services under the |
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network is confidential and may not be disclosed under Chapter 552, |
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Government Code, by: |
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(1) the commission; |
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(2) a law enforcement agency that employs a law |
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enforcement officer participant; or |
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(3) any other state agency or political subdivision in |
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this state that employs a law enforcement officer participant. |
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Sec. 1701.625. PROTECTIONS RELATED TO LICENSURE. A law |
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enforcement officer's participation in peer-to-peer support and |
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other peer-to-peer services under the network may not: |
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(1) serve as the basis for a revocation, suspension, |
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or denial of a license issued under this chapter; or |
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(2) be considered in any proceeding related to the |
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officer's licensure under this chapter. |
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Sec. 1701.626. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each year, the commission shall submit a report to the governor and |
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the legislature that includes: |
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(1) the number of law enforcement officers who |
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received peer support through the peer support network for law |
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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 Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop the peer support |
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network for law enforcement officers, as required under Subchapter |
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M-1, Chapter 1701, Occupations 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. |
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