BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2279

By: Walle

Emerging Issues In Texas Law Enforcement, Select

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, the Occupations Code mandates certain training for peace officers to complete as a part of basic training. Although the training reaches abused children, it does not require training for youth in general. Interested parties contend that because all officers will encounter some adolescents in the line of duty during their career, there should be proper and adequate training for this.

CSHB 2279 would expand current training modules for peace officers to reach subject areas such as youth development and psychology, disabilities, special needs, and conflict resolution to help peace officers respond appropriately when dealing with children and adolescents. CSHB 2279 will not require a new, separate mandatory training, but will make sure that the current ones are up-to-date. The goal is to help peace officers to be better equipped to deal with youth and avoid unfortunate circumstances that harm everyone involved.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase

the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility

of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking

authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 2279 amends the Occupations Code to include youth development and psychology as a

component of the statewide comprehensive education and training program on civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity that the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) is required to establish as part of the minimum curriculum requirements for law enforcement training programs and schools and that an officer is required to complete as a requirement for an intermediate proficiency certificate.

 

C.S.H.B. 2279 changes the techniques that are the basis of the statewide education and training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques that TCOLE must require an officer to complete as part of the minimum curriculum requirements and that an officer must complete as a requirement for an intermediate or advanced proficiency certificate from techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments to techniques to facilitate interaction with persons, including children and adolescents, with mental and behavioral health needs. The bill authorizes the program to include training on positive behavioral interventions and supports,

conflict resolution techniques, and restorative justice techniques.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2279 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED                                 HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

 

SECTION      1.            Section      1701.253,

Occupations  Code,  is  amended  by  adding Subsections (m) and (n) to read as follows:

 

(See Subsection (m)(1) below.)

SECTION 1. Sections 1701.253(c) and (j), Occupations Code, are amended to read as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education and training program on civil rights, racial sensitivity, [and] cultural diversity, and youth development and psychology for persons licensed under this chapter. (m) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the commission shall require an officer to complete a statewide education and training program on techniques to facilitate interaction with children, adolescents, and teenagers, including training on: (1) youth development and psychology; (2) positive behavioral interventions and supports, conflict resolution techniques, and restorative justice techniques; and (3) children with disabilities or special needs, including mental or behavioral health needs. (n) An officer shall complete the program under Subsection (m) 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. (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, including children and adolescents, with mental and behavioral health needs. The program may include training on positive behavioral interventions and supports, conflict resolution techniques, and restorative justice techniques [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 subsection [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 and behavioral health needs [impairments].

 

 

SECTION      2.            Section      1701.402,

(m) As a requirement for an intermediate or advanced proficiency certificate, an officer must complete an education and training program on techniques to facilitate interaction with children, adolescents, and Occupations  Code,  is  amended  by  adding Subsection (m) to read as follows:

SECTION 2. Sections 1701.402(g) and (i), Occupations Code, are amended 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, including children and adolescents, with mental and behavioral health needs [impairments]. (i) As a requirement for an intermediate proficiency certificate, an officer must complete an education and training program on civil rights, racial sensitivity, [and] cultural diversity, and youth development and psychology established by the commission under Section 1701.253(c). teenagers under Section 1701.253(m).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3. Not later than March 31, 2016, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall approve the curriculum for the education and training program described by Section 1701.253(m), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

No equivalent provision.

 

 

SECTION 4. Notwithstanding Section 1701.253(n), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, an officer licensed under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on the effective date of this Act must complete the education and training program described by Section 1701.253(m), Occupations Code, as  added by this Act, not later than March 31, 2018, as a condition for continuing to hold  the license.

SECTION   5.        This    Act    takes    effect September 1, 2015.

 

No equivalent provision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.