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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to education and training for peace officers on |
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interacting with persons with Alzheimer's disease and other |
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dementias. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.253(j), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(j) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
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commission shall require an officer to complete a 40-hour statewide |
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education and training program on de-escalation and crisis |
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intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons |
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with mental impairments. The program must include instruction on |
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interacting with persons with Alzheimer's disease and other |
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dementias, including instruction on techniques for recognizing |
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symptoms, communicating effectively, employing alternatives to |
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physical restraints, and identifying signs of abuse, neglect, or |
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exploitation. An officer shall complete the program not later than |
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the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under |
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this chapter or the date the officer applies for an intermediate |
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proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. An officer may |
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not satisfy the requirements of this subsection or Section |
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1701.402(g) by taking an online course on de-escalation and crisis |
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intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons |
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with mental impairments. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than April 1, 2024, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall revise the commission's |
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education and training programs as necessary to implement the |
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changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1701.253(j), Occupations Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies only to a person who submits an |
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application for a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, |
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Occupations Code, on or after April 1, 2024. A person who submits |
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an application for a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, |
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Occupations Code, before April 1, 2024, is governed by the law in |
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effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |