BILL ANALYSIS
By: Lindsay
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) included CIT as part of its basic peace officer course curriculum. Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is a program that provides law enforcement officers with a basic understanding of how to use communication skills to de-escalate situations that involve individuals with mental illness, in order to limit the harm to both individual and officer.
However, such training is not required of veteran officers. This training is critical to officers, who frequently encounter mentally ill individuals, and helps promote the safety of both officers and those who are mentally ill during their interactions with one another. C.S.S.B. 1473 establishes the Bob Meadours Act that requires veteran officers to complete a CIT course as part of their continuing education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.S.B. 1473 requires this act to be known as the "Bob Meadours Act."
The bill amends Section 96.641, Education Code, by adding Subsection (l), which requires the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (Institute), as part of the initial training and continuing education for police chiefs, to establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. Requires the program to include an examination of the best practices for policy agency policies, and states that a police chief may not satisfy the requirements of the subsection (1) by taking an online course on de-escalation crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments.
The bill amends Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (j) that requires the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (Commission), as the part of the minimum curriculum requirements, to require an officer to complete a statewide education and training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. Requires an officer to complete the program no later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter or the date the officer applies for an intermediate proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. An officer may not satisfy the requirements of Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, Subsection (g) by taking an online course on de-escalation crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments.
The bill amends Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (g) by requiring an officer to complete an education and training program described by Section 1701.253 regarding de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments, as a requirement for an intermediate proficiency certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate.
The bill requires the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, no later than January 1, 2006, to establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as required by Section 96.641(1), Education Code, as added by this Act.
The bill requires an individual appointed or elected as a police chief before the effective date of this Act to complete a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as established by Section 96.641(l), Education Code, as added by this Act, no later than September 1, 2009.
The bill requires a person who, on September 1, 2005, holds an intermediate proficiency certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate issued under Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, or has held a peace officer license issued by the Commission for more than two years to complete an educational training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as required by Sections 1701.253 and 1701.402, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, no later than September 1, 2009.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
Senate Bill 1473 did not amend Section 96.641, Education Code, by adding Subsection (m), which states that a police chief may not satisfy the requirements of the Subsection (1) by taking an online course on de-escalation crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. C.S.S.B. 1473 does make said amendment to Section 96.641, Education Code.
Senate Bill 1473 requires an individual appointed or elected as a police chief before the effective date of this Act to complete a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as established by Section 96.641(l), Education Code, as added by this Act, no later than September 1, 2007. C.S.S.B. 1473 establishes the said date as no later than September 1, 2009.
Senate Bill 1473 requires a person who, on September 1, 2005, holds an intermediate proficiency certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate issued under Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, or has held a peace officer license issued by the Commission for more than two years to complete an educational training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as required by Sections 1701.253 and 1701.402, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, no later than September 1, 2007. C.S.S.B. 1473 establishes the said date as no later than September 1, 2009.