By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 225
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to requiring law enforcement officers to receive training
1-2 in documentation techniques for certain cases.
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) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 (b) In establishing requirements under this section, the
1-8 commission shall require courses and programs to provide training
1-9 in the investigation and documentation of cases that involve the
1-10 following:
1-11 (1) child abuse;
1-12 (2) child neglect;
1-13 (3) family violence; and
1-14 (4) sexual assault.
1-15 (d) Training in documentation of cases required by
1-16 Subsection (b) shall include instruction in:
1-17 (1) making a written account of the extent of injuries
1-18 sustained by the victim of an alleged offense;
1-19 (2) recording by photograph or videotape the area in
1-20 which an alleged offense occurred and any injuries sustained by the
1-21 victim; and
1-22 (3) recognizing and recording any statement of a
1-23 victim that may be admissible as evidence in a future proceeding
1-24 concerning the matter about which the statement was made.
2-1 SECTION 2. Section 415.034, Government Code, is amended by
2-2 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
2-3 follows:
2-4 (b) The commission shall require a state, county, special
2-5 district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs peace
2-6 officers to provide each peace officer with a training program
2-7 every 24 months. The course must:
2-8 (1) be approved by the commission; and
2-9 (2) include education and training in:
2-10 (A) civil rights, racial sensitivity, and
2-11 cultural diversity; and
2-12 (B) unless determined by the agency head to be
2-13 inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties, the recognition
2-14 and documentation of cases that involve the following:
2-15 (i) child abuse;
2-16 (ii) child neglect;
2-17 (iii) family violence; and
2-18 (iv) sexual assault.
2-19 (g) Training in documentation of cases required by
2-20 Subsection (b) shall include instruction in:
2-21 (1) making a written account of the extent of injuries
2-22 sustained by the victim of an alleged offense;
2-23 (2) recording by photograph or videotape the area in
2-24 which an alleged offense occurred and any injuries sustained by the
2-25 victim; and
2-26 (3) recognizing and recording any statement of a
2-27 victim that may be admissible as evidence in a future proceeding
3-1 concerning the matter about which the statement was made.
3-2 SECTION 3. (a) The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
3-3 Standards and Education shall establish the new courses and
3-4 programs required under Sections 415.032 and 415.034, Government
3-5 Code, as amended by this Act, not later than January 1, 1996.
3-6 (b) For persons who are peace officers on September 1, 1995,
3-7 the first set of courses required under Section 415.034, Government
3-8 Code, as amended by this Act, must be completed before September 1,
3-9 1997.
3-10 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-15 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-16 passage, and it is so enacted.