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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the certification of a county jailer as a special |
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officer for offenders with mental impairments. |
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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 Subsection (b), Section 1701.404, Occupations |
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Code, as amended by this Act, regardless of whether the county |
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jailer completed the required training and passed the examination |
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before, on, or after 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 Subsection (c), Section |
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1701.404, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, to a justice of |
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the peace who is certified as a special officer for offenders with |
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mental impairments regardless of whether the justice of the peace |
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was certified before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |