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AN ACT
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relating to persons certified as peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.404, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.404. CERTIFICATION OF OFFICERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH |
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ASSIGNMENTS. (a) The commission by rule may establish minimum |
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requirements for the training, testing, and certification of |
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special officers for offenders with mental impairments. |
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(b) The commission may certify a sheriff, sheriff's deputy, |
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constable, [or] other peace officer, county jailer, or [a] justice |
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of the peace[,] as a special officer for offenders with mental |
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impairments if the person [officer]: |
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(1) completes a training course in emergency first aid |
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and lifesaving techniques approved by the commission; |
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(2) completes a training course administered by the |
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commission on mental health issues and offenders with mental |
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impairments; and |
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(3) passes an examination administered by the |
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commission that is designed to test the person's [officer's]: |
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(A) knowledge and recognition of the |
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characteristics and symptoms of mental illness, mental |
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retardation, and mental disabilities; and |
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(B) knowledge of mental health crisis |
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intervention strategies for people with mental impairments. |
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(c) The commission may issue a professional achievement or |
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proficiency certificate to an officer, county jailer, or justice of |
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the peace who meets the requirements of Subsection (b). |
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SECTION 2. (a) The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer |
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Standards and Education may certify a county jailer as a special |
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officer for offenders with mental impairments and may issue a |
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certificate to the county jailer if the county jailer meets the |
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requirements of Section 1701.404(b), Occupations Code, as amended |
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by this Act, regardless of whether the county jailer completed the |
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required training and passed the examination before, on, or after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and |
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Education may issue a certificate under Section 1701.404(c), |
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Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, to a justice of the peace |
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who is certified as a special officer for offenders with mental |
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impairments regardless of whether the justice of the peace was |
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certified before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2093 was passed by the House on May |
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11, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
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H.B. No. 2093 on May 29, 2009, and requested the appointment of a |
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conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
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houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
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on H.B. No. 2093 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, |
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Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2093 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 25, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference |
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committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and |
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that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. |
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2093 on June 1, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |