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Senate Bill 1473 |
Senate Author: Lindsay |
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Effective: 9-1-05 |
House Sponsor: Coleman |
Senate Bill 1473 amends the Education Code and the Occupations Code to enact the Bob Meadours Act. The bill amends the Education Code to require the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas to establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as part of the initial training and continuing education of police chiefs. The bill requires a police chief to complete the training and education and prohibits a police chief from satisfying the requirement by taking an online course. Additionally, Senate Bill 1473 amends the Occupations Code to provide that the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education must require a peace officer, reserve law enforcement officer, or county jailer (officer), within a certain timeframe, to complete an education and training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. An officer may not satisfy the requirement by taking an online course. The bill also requires such a program to be completed by an officer as a requirement for an intermediate or advanced proficiency certificate.