BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1473
Committee Report (Substituted)
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.
C.S.S.B. 1473 establishes the Bob Meadours Act which requires intermediate and veteran officers to complete a CIT course as part of their continuing education.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Requires this act to be known as the "Bob Meadours Act."
SECTION 2. Amends Section 96.641, Education Code, by adding Subsection (l), to require the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, as part of the initial training and continuing education for police chiefs required under this section, 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 certain peace officer policies.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (j), as follows:
(j) Requires the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, 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 not 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.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (g), as follows:
(g) Requires 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.
SECTION 5. Requires the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, not 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(l), Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 6. (a) 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, not later than September 1, 2007.
(b) 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 on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education 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, not later than September 1, 2007.
SECTION 7. Effective date: September 1, 2005.