BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1473
By: Lindsay
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current Texas law requires a law enforcement officer to complete courses on asset forfeiture, racial profiling, and identity theft prior to receiving a proficiency certificate. Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is a program that was developed to provide 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 use of force. In January 2005, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education included CIT as part of its basic peace officer course curriculum. However, this training does not apply to those officers who were certified prior to that date.
As proposed, S.B. 1473 requires intermediate and veteran officers to complete a CIT course as part of their continuing education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, by adding Subsections (g) and (h), as follows:
(g) Requires an officer to complete an education and training program established by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (commission) on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques with persons with mental impairments, as a requirement for an intermediate proficiency certificate.
(h) Requires an officer to obtain a certification established by the commission under Section 1701.404 (Certification of Officers for Mental Health Assignments) for officers for mental health assignments, as a requirement for an advanced or a master proficiency certificate.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.