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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program administered by the governor's criminal |
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justice division to implement programs, practices, and services to |
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maintain peace officers' mental health. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 772.0073 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 772.0073. PEACE OFFICER MENTAL HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state |
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authorized by law to employ peace officers. |
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(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal |
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justice division established under Section 772.006. |
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(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and |
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administer a grant program through which a law enforcement agency |
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may apply for a grant to implement programs, practices, and |
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services designed to address the direct or indirect emotional harm |
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suffered by peace officers employed by the law enforcement agency |
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in the course of the officers' duties or as the result of the |
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commission of crimes by other persons. |
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(c) Grant money awarded under this section may be used to |
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pay for: |
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(1) mental health counseling and other mental health |
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care; |
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(2) personnel costs incurred by the department as a |
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result of providing direct services and supporting activities under |
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an implemented program, practice, or service; |
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(3) skills training for department personnel related |
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to providing direct services under an implemented program, |
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practice, or service; and |
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(4) evaluation of an implemented program, practice, or |
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service to determine its effectiveness. |
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(d) Information obtained in the administration of a |
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program, practice, or service funded by a grant made under this |
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section is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under |
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Chapter 552. |
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(e) A law enforcement agency may not use against a peace |
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officer in a departmental proceeding any information obtained in |
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the administration of a program, practice, or service funded by a |
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grant made under this section. |
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(f) The criminal justice division shall establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of a grant. |
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(g) The criminal justice division shall evaluate and |
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compare the programs, practices, and services implemented by each |
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law enforcement agency that receives a grant under this section to |
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determine the most successful programs, practices, and services for |
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maintaining the mental health of peace officers. |
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(h) The criminal justice division may contract with a third |
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party to conduct the evaluations and comparison described by |
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Subsection (g). |
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(i) The criminal justice division shall include in the |
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biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) a detailed |
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reporting of the results and performance of the grant program |
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administered under this section. |
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(j) The criminal justice division may use any available |
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funds to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |