79R14034 RMB-D


By:  Coleman                                                      H.B. No. 2524

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2524:                                   

By:  Burnam                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 2524



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of education and training programs for 
law enforcement officers regarding persons with mental 
impairments.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the "Bob Meadours 
Act."               
	SECTION 2.  Section 96.641, Education Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (l) and (m) to read as follows:
	(l)  As part of the initial training and continuing education 
for police chiefs required under this section, the institute shall 
establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention 
techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental 
impairments.  The program must include an examination of the best 
practices for:
		(1)  monitoring peace officers' compliance with 
internal agency policies relating to de-escalation and crisis 
intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons 
with mental impairments; and
		(2)  implementing internal agency policies relating to 
those techniques.
	(m)  A police chief may not satisfy the requirements of 
Subsection (l) by taking an online course on de-escalation and 
crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with 
persons with mental impairments.
	SECTION 3.  Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
	(j)  As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the 
commission shall 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.  An officer shall 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.  
An officer may not satisfy the requirements of this section or 
Section 1701.402(g) by taking an online course on de-escalation and 
crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with 
persons with mental impairments.
	SECTION 4.  Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is amended 
by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  As a requirement for an intermediate proficiency 
certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate, an officer must 
complete the education and training program described by Section 
1701.253 regarding de-escalation and crisis intervention 
techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental 
impairments.
	SECTION 5.  Not later than January 1, 2006, the Bill 
Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas shall 
establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention 
techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental 
impairments as required by Subsection (l), Section 96.641, 
Education Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 6.  (a)  An individual appointed or elected as a 
police chief before the effective date of this Act shall complete a 
program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to 
facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments 
established under Subsection (l), Section 96.641, Education Code, 
as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2009.
	(b)  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 
shall 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, 2009.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.