1-1     By:  Luna                                               S.B. No. 12

 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed April 14, 1997; April 18, 1997, read

 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice;

 1-4     April 30, 1997, reported adversely, with favorable Committee

 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 30, 1997,

 1-6     sent to printer.)

 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 12                    By:  Nelson

 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-9                                   AN ACT

1-10     relating to the certification of peace officers as special officers

1-11     for mental health assignment.

1-12           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

1-13           SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 415.037, Government Code,

1-14     is amended to read as follows:

1-15           (a)  The commission may certify a sheriff, sheriff's deputy,

1-16     justice of the peace, constable, or other peace [municipal police]

1-17     officer as a special officer for mental health assignment if the

1-18     peace officer has:

1-19                 (1)  successfully completed a training course in

1-20     emergency first aid and lifesaving techniques approved by the

1-21     commission;

1-22                 (2)  successfully completed a training course in mental

1-23     health issues administered by the commission; and

1-24                 (3)  passed an examination administered by the

1-25     commission that is designed to test the officer's:

1-26                       (A)  knowledge and recognition of the symptoms of

1-27     mental illness and mental disabilities; and

1-28                       (B)  knowledge of mental health crisis

1-29     intervention strategies.

1-30           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-31           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-32     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-33     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-34     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-35     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

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