By: Giddings, Walle (Senate Sponsor - Whitmire) H.B. No. 2684
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 18, 2015;
  May 21, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal
  Justice; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the creation of a model training curriculum and to the
  required training for certain school district peace officers and
  school resource officers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 37.0812 to read as follows:
         Sec. 37.0812.  TRAINING POLICY: SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE
  OFFICERS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. A school district with an
  enrollment of 5,000 or more students that commissions a school
  district peace officer or at which a school resource officer
  provides law enforcement shall adopt a policy requiring the officer
  to complete the education and training program required by Section
  1701.263, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 1701.262 and 1701.263 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 1701.262.  TRAINING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS
  AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Center" means the Texas School Safety Center at
  Texas State University.
               (2)  "Institute" means an institute dedicated to
  providing training to law enforcement and the development of law
  enforcement policies, such as the Law Enforcement Management
  Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University or the Caruth
  Police Institute.
               (3)  "School district peace officer" means a peace
  officer commissioned under Section 37.081, Education Code.
               (4)  "School resource officer" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 1701.601.
         (b)  The commission, in consultation with an institute or the
  center, shall create, adopt, and distribute a model training
  curriculum for school district peace officers and school resource
  officers.
         (c)  The curriculum developed under this section must
  incorporate learning objectives regarding:
               (1)  child and adolescent development and psychology;
               (2)  positive behavioral interventions and supports,
  conflict resolution techniques, and restorative justice
  techniques;
               (3)  de-escalation techniques and techniques for
  limiting the use of force, including the use of physical,
  mechanical, and chemical restraints;
               (4)  the mental and behavioral health needs of children
  with disabilities or special needs; and
               (5)  mental health crisis intervention.
         (d)  Before adopting and distributing any curriculum under
  this section, the commission shall provide a 30-day period for
  public comment.
         (e)  The commission shall provide the curriculum developed
  under this section and any supplemental education materials created
  for the curriculum to:
               (1)  school district police departments;
               (2)  law enforcement agencies that place peace officers
  in a school as school resource officers under a memorandum of
  understanding; and
               (3)  any entity that provides training to school
  district peace officers or school resource officers.
         (f)  The commission shall review curriculum developed and
  adopted under this section and update subject matter contained in
  the curriculum as needed at least once every four years.
         Sec. 1701.263.  EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL
  DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "School district peace officer" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 1701.262.
               (2)  "School resource officer" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 1701.601.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall require a school district
  peace officer or a school resource officer who is commissioned by or
  who provides law enforcement at a school district with an
  enrollment of 5,000 or more students to successfully complete an
  education and training program described by this section before or
  within 120 days of the officer's commission by or placement in the
  district or a campus of the district. The program must:
               (1)  consist of at least 16 hours of training;
               (2)  be approved by the commission; and
               (3)  provide training in accordance with the curriculum
  developed under Section 1701.262 in each subject area listed in
  Subsection (c) of that section.
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b) or a rule adopted
  under that section, a school district peace officer or school
  resource officer is not required to successfully complete the
  education and training program required by this section if the
  officer has successfully completed the advanced training course
  conducted by the National Association of School Resource Officers
  or a training course equivalent to that advanced training course,
  as determined by the commission.
         (c)  The education and training program required under this
  section may not require a peace officer to pass an examination,
  except that the commission shall administer an examination to
  qualify officers to provide the education and training to other
  officers. The examination to qualify officers to provide the
  education and training must test the officer's knowledge and
  recognition of the subject areas listed in Section 1701.262(c).
         (d)  The commission shall issue a professional achievement
  or proficiency certificate to a peace officer who completes the
  education and training program under this section.
         SECTION 3.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement shall create the model training
  curriculum for school district peace officers and school resource
  officers required by Section 1701.262, Occupations Code, as added
  by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than February 1, 2016, the Texas Commission on
  Law Enforcement shall make available to school district peace
  officers and school resource officers the training required by
  Section 1701.263, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Section 1701.263(b), Occupations Code,
  as added by this Act, a school district peace officer or school
  resource officer who commences employment with or commences
  providing law enforcement at a school district with an enrollment
  of 10,000 or more students on a date occurring before February 1,
  2016, shall complete the training required by Section 1701.263,
  Occupations Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable and
  not later than June 1, 2016.  This subsection does not apply to an
  officer who is exempt from the training established under Section
  1701.263, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, because the
  officer has completed the training described by Subsection (b-1) of
  that section.
         (d)  Not later than February 1, 2016, a school district with
  an enrollment of 5,000 or more students shall adopt the training
  policy for school district peace officers and school resource
  officers required by Section 37.0812, Education Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
 
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