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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to education and training for school district peace |
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officers, school resource officers, and school security personnel |
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employed by a school district. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter M, Chapter 1701, |
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Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER M. SCHOOL [VISITING] RESOURCE OFFICERS AND [OFFICER IN
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PUBLIC] SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter M, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 1701.604 and 1701.605 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 1701.604. EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) A peace |
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officer may not serve as a school resource officer unless the |
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officer has completed a 20-hour education and training program |
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administered by the commission. |
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(b) The Texas Education Agency, in consultation with the |
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commission, shall develop the curriculum for the education and |
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training program. The commission must approve the curriculum |
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before the commission administers the program. |
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(c) The curriculum for the education and training program |
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must incorporate learning objectives regarding: |
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(1) child and adolescent development and psychology; |
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(2) positive behavioral interventions and supports, |
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conflict resolution techniques, and restorative justice |
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techniques; |
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(3) force usage limitations, including physical |
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restraint, and de-escalation techniques; |
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(4) children with disabilities or special needs; and |
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(5) cultural competency. |
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(d) The education and training program may be provided as an |
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online course. The commission may offer the education and training |
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program as part of the training program maintained under Subchapter |
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F. |
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(e) The Texas Education Agency, in consultation with the |
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commission, shall review the education and training program, |
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including the curriculum developed under Subsection (b), at least |
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once every 24 months. |
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(f) A school district may provide additional, |
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commission-approved preparatory education or training to its |
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school resource officers and school district peace officers. |
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Sec. 1701.605. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) As part of the |
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continuing education required by Section 1701.351, each school |
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resource officer and school district peace officer shall complete |
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at least eight hours of continuing education described by this |
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section. |
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(b) The commission shall provide to school resource |
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officers or school district peace officers continuing education |
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that incorporates the learning objectives specified under Section |
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1701.604(c). The continuing education may be provided online. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Section 1701.351(a), the commission may |
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not suspend the license of a peace officer solely because the peace |
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officer fails to meet the requirements of this section. |
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(d) Notwithstanding Section 1701.351(c), a school resource |
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officer or school district peace officer who serves at least 12 |
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months in the United States military or as an elected member of the |
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legislature during a period for which the officer is required to |
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complete continuing education under this section must complete the |
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required continuing education not later than the second anniversary |
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of the date the officer returns to work at a school district. |
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SECTION 3. Section 37.081, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows: |
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(i) A person may not be employed as security personnel for a |
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school district unless the person has successfully completed the |
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education and training program under Section 1701.604, Occupations |
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Code. |
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(j) Except as provided by Section 1701.605(d), Occupations |
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Code, a person employed or under contract as security personnel |
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under this section must successfully complete the continuing |
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education described by Section 1701.605, Occupations Code, to |
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continue to serve as security personnel for a school district. |
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SECTION 4. Not later than December 31, 2011, the Texas |
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Education Agency shall develop the curriculum for the education and |
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training program as required by Section 1701.604(b), Occupations |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. Not later than March 31, 2012, the Commission on |
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Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education shall adopt rules |
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for the administration of the education and training program |
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required by Section 1701.604, Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act, and for providing continuing education required by Section |
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1701.605, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 6. (a) Section 1701.604, Occupations Code, as |
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added by this Act, and Section 37.081, Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, apply only to a school district peace officer, school |
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resource officer, or security personnel member who is initially |
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appointed, commissioned, or employed by a school district to serve |
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in that capacity on or after March 31, 2012. |
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(b) A school district peace officer or school resource |
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officer serving in that capacity immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act is not required to comply with the continuing |
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education requirements described by Section 1701.605, Occupations |
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Code, as added by this Act, for any license renewal that occurs |
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before January 1, 2014. |
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(c) A person employed by a school district as security |
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personnel immediately before the effective date of this Act is not |
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required to comply with Section 37.081(j), Education Code, as added |
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by this Act, as a condition of continued employment in that capacity |
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before January 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |