By: West S.B. No. 473
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to training for persons licensed by the Commission on Law
1-2 Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 415.032, Government Code, is amended by
1-5 amending Subsection (b), as amended by Section 1, Chapter 469, and
1-6 Section 1, Chapter 773, Acts of the 71st Legislature, Regular
1-7 Session, 1989, and by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-8 (b) In establishing requirements under this section, the
1-9 commission shall require courses and programs to provide training
1-10 in the investigation of cases that involve one or more of the
1-11 following:
1-12 (1) <involving> child abuse;
1-13 (2) child <or> neglect;
1-14 (3) <,> family violence; and
1-15 (4) <, or> sexual assault<. In addition to this
1-16 training, the commission shall direct law enforcement agencies to
1-17 provide continuing in-house instruction for its officers in the
1-18 recognition of cases involving child abuse or neglect, family
1-19 violence, or sexual assault>.
1-20 (c) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
1-21 commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education and
1-22 training program on civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural
1-23 diversity for individuals licensed under this chapter.
1-24 SECTION 2. Section 415.034, Government Code, is amended to
2-1 read as follows:
2-2 Sec. 415.034. Continuing Education. (a) The commission
2-3 shall <may> recognize, prepare, or administer <voluntary>
2-4 continuing education programs for officers and county jailers.
2-5 (b) The commission shall <may> require a state, county,
2-6 special district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs
2-7 peace officers to provide each peace officer with a training
2-8 program every 24 months <during a 24-month period>. The course
2-9 must:
2-10 (1) be approved by the commission; and
2-11 (2) <, must> include education and training in:
2-12 (A) civil rights, racial sensitivity, and
2-13 cultural diversity; and
2-14 (B) the recognition of cases that involve one or
2-15 more of the following:
2-16 (i) <involving> child abuse;
2-17 (ii) child <or> neglect;
2-18 (iii) family violence; and
2-19 (iv) sexual assault.
2-20 (c) The course provided under Subsection (b)<, and> may not
2-21 exceed 40 hours.
2-22 (d) A peace officer appointed as a supervisor must receive
2-23 in-service training on supervision as part of the course provided
2-24 under Subsection (b) during the 24-month period after the date of
2-25 appointment as a supervisor.
2-26 (e) An honorably retired commissioned officer of the
2-27 Department of Public Safety who is a special ranger under Section
3-1 411.023 may not be required to undergo training under Subsection
3-2 (b) <this subsection>.
3-3 (f) The commission shall require a state, county, special
3-4 district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs a reserve
3-5 law enforcement officer, county jailer, or public security officer
3-6 to provide each of those individuals with education and training in
3-7 civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity every 24
3-8 months.
3-9 SECTION 3. (a) The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
3-10 Standards and Education shall establish the new education and
3-11 training programs required by this Act not later than January 1,
3-12 1994.
3-13 (b) For persons who are officers on September 1, 1993, the
3-14 first set of courses required under Section 415.034, Government
3-15 Code, as amended by this Act, must be completed before September 1,
3-16 1995.
3-17 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
3-18 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.