79R14034 RMB-D
By: Lindsay S.B. No. 1473
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1473:
By: Frost C.S.S.B. No. 1473
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.