By Keel                                               H.B. No. 2881
         77R7290 YDB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to continuing education programs for peace officers and
 1-3     county jailers.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 1701.351(a), Occupations Code, is amended
 1-6     to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  Each peace officer shall complete at least 40 hours of
 1-8     [a] continuing education programs [program at least] once every 24
 1-9     months.  The commission may suspend the license of a peace officer
1-10     who fails to comply with this requirement.
1-11           SECTION 2. Sections 1701.352(b), (c), and (e), Occupations
1-12     Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-13           (b)  The commission shall require a state, county, special
1-14     district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs peace
1-15     officers to provide each peace officer with a training program at
1-16     least once every 48 [24] months that is approved by the commission
1-17     and consists of[.  At least 20 hours of the instruction must be on
1-18     topics selected by the agency.  The course must]:
1-19                 (1)  topics selected by the agency [be approved by the
1-20     commission]; and
1-21                 (2)  not more than 20 hours of education and training
1-22     that contain curricula incorporating [that incorporate] the
1-23     learning objectives developed by the commission regarding[; and]
1-24                 [(3)  include education and training in]:
 2-1                       (A)  civil rights, racial sensitivity, and
 2-2     cultural diversity; and
 2-3                       (B)  unless determined by the agency head to be
 2-4     inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties:
 2-5                             (i)  the recognition and documentation of
 2-6     cases that involve child abuse or neglect, family violence, and
 2-7     sexual assault; and
 2-8                             (ii)  issues concerning sex offender
 2-9     characteristics[; and]
2-10                 [(4)  include other education and training only if
2-11     determined by the agency head to be consistent with the officer's
2-12     assigned duties].
2-13           (c)  A course provided under Subsection (b)[:]
2-14                 [(1)  may not exceed 40 hours; and]
2-15                 [(2)]  may use instructional materials developed by the
2-16     agency or its trainers or by entities having training agreements
2-17     with the commission in addition to materials included in curricula
2-18     developed by the commission.
2-19           (e)  The commission may require a state, county, special
2-20     district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs a reserve
2-21     law enforcement officer, county jailer, or public security officer
2-22     to provide each of those persons with education and training in
2-23     civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity at least
2-24     once every 48 [24] months.
2-25           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.