By:  Luna                                               S.B. No. 12

         97S1070/1                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the certification of certain police officers as special

 1-2     officers for mental health assignment.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 415.037, Government Code,

 1-5     is amended to read as follows:

 1-6           (a)  The commission may certify a sheriff, sheriff's deputy,

 1-7     justice of the peace, constable, [or] municipal police officer, or

 1-8     police officer commissioned by a school district or institution of

 1-9     higher education as a special officer for mental health assignment

1-10     if the peace officer has:

1-11                 (1)  successfully completed a training course in

1-12     emergency first aid and lifesaving techniques approved by the

1-13     commission;

1-14                 (2)  successfully completed a training course in mental

1-15     health issues administered by the commission; and

1-16                 (3)  passed an examination administered by the

1-17     commission that is designed to test the officer's:

1-18                       (A)  knowledge and recognition of the symptoms of

1-19     mental illness and mental disabilities; and

1-20                       (B)  knowledge of mental health crisis

1-21     intervention strategies.

1-22           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-23           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.