1-1 By: Keel (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister) H.B. No. 2881
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2001;
1-3 May 1, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal
1-4 Justice; May 10, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 10, 2001, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to continuing education programs for peace officers and
1-9 county jailers.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended by
1-12 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
1-13 follows:
1-14 (a) Each peace officer shall complete at least 40 hours of
1-15 [a] continuing education programs [program at least] once every 24
1-16 months. The commission may suspend the license of a peace officer
1-17 who fails to comply with this requirement.
1-18 (c) The commission shall credit a peace officer with meeting
1-19 the continuing education requirements of this section if during the
1-20 relevant 24-month period the peace officer serves as an elected
1-21 member of the legislature. Credit for continuing education under
1-22 this subsection does not affect any requirement to demonstrate
1-23 continuing weapons proficiency under Section 1701.355.
1-24 SECTION 2. Sections 1701.352(b), (c), and (e), Occupations
1-25 Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-26 (b) The commission shall require a state, county, special
1-27 district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs peace
1-28 officers to provide each peace officer with a training program at
1-29 least once every 48 [24] months that is approved by the commission
1-30 and consists of[. At least 20 hours of the instruction must be on
1-31 topics selected by the agency. The course must]:
1-32 (1) topics selected by the agency [be approved by the
1-33 commission]; and
1-34 (2) not more than 20 hours of education and training
1-35 that contain curricula incorporating [that incorporate] the
1-36 learning objectives developed by the commission regarding[; and]
1-37 [(3) include education and training in]:
1-38 (A) civil rights, racial sensitivity, and
1-39 cultural diversity; and
1-40 (B) unless determined by the agency head to be
1-41 inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties:
1-42 (i) the recognition and documentation of
1-43 cases that involve child abuse or neglect, family violence, and
1-44 sexual assault; and
1-45 (ii) issues concerning sex offender
1-46 characteristics[; and]
1-47 [(4) include other education and training only if
1-48 determined by the agency head to be consistent with the officer's
1-49 assigned duties].
1-50 (c) A course provided under Subsection (b)[:]
1-51 [(1) may not exceed 40 hours; and]
1-52 [(2)] may use instructional materials developed by the
1-53 agency or its trainers or by entities having training agreements
1-54 with the commission in addition to materials included in curricula
1-55 developed by the commission.
1-56 (e) The commission may require a state, county, special
1-57 district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs a reserve
1-58 law enforcement officer, county jailer, or public security officer
1-59 to provide each of those persons with education and training in
1-60 civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity at least
1-61 once every 48 [24] months.
1-62 SECTION 3. The change in law made by Section 1701.351(c),
1-63 Occupations Code, as added by this Act, applies to any 24-month
1-64 period under Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, that ends after
2-1 the effective date of this Act.
2-2 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-3 * * * * *