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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to inclusion of instruction regarding interaction with |
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peace officers in the required curriculum for certain public school |
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students and in driver education courses and to civilian |
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interaction training for peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.012. INSTRUCTION ON INTERACTION WITH LAW |
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ENFORCEMENT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Board" means the State Board of Education. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement. |
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(3) "Driver training school" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 1001.001. |
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(b) The board and the commission shall enter into a |
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memorandum of understanding that establishes each agency's |
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respective responsibilities in developing instruction, including |
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curriculum and instructional modules, on proper interaction with |
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peace officers during traffic stops and other in-person encounters. |
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The instruction must include information regarding: |
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(1) the role of law enforcement and the duties and |
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responsibilities of police officers; |
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(2) a person's rights concerning interactions with |
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police officers; |
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(3) proper behavior for civilians and police officers |
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during interactions; |
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(4) laws regarding questioning and detention by police |
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officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of |
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identity to a police officer, and the consequences for a person's or |
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officer's failure to comply with those laws; and |
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(5) how and where to file a complaint against or a |
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compliment on behalf of a police officer. |
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(c) In developing the instruction under this section, the |
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board and the commission may consult with any interested party, |
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including a volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making |
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recommendations regarding the instruction. |
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(d) Before finalizing any instruction under this section, |
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the board and the commission shall provide a reasonable period for |
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public comment. |
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(e) Subject to rules adopted by the board, a school district |
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or open-enrollment charter school may tailor the instruction |
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developed under this section as appropriate for the district's or |
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school's community. In tailoring the instruction, the district or |
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school shall solicit input from local law enforcement agencies, |
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driver training schools, and the community. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.025, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-20) to read as follows: |
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(b-20) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to |
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include the instruction developed under Section 28.012 in one or |
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more courses in the required curriculum for students in grade |
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levels 9 through 12. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 1001, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1001.109 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1001.109. INFORMATION RELATING TO TRAFFIC STOPS. |
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(a) The commission by rule shall require that information relating |
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to law enforcement procedures for traffic stops be included in the |
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curriculum of each driver education course and driving safety |
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course. The curriculum must include: |
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(1) a demonstration of the proper actions to be taken |
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during a traffic stop; and |
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(2) information regarding: |
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(A) the role of law enforcement and the duties |
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and responsibilities of police officers; |
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(B) a person's rights concerning interactions |
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with police officers; |
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(C) proper behavior for civilians and police |
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officers during interactions; |
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(D) laws regarding questioning and detention by |
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police officers, including any law requiring a person to present |
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proof of identity to a police officer, and the consequences for a |
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person's or officer's failure to comply with those laws; and |
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(E) how and where to file a complaint against or a |
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compliment on behalf of a police officer. |
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(b) In developing the curriculum under this section, the |
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commission may consult with any interested party, including a |
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volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making |
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recommendations regarding the curriculum. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows: |
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(n) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
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commission shall require an officer to complete the civilian |
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interaction training program developed under Section 1701.268. An |
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officer shall complete the program not later than the second |
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anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter |
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unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer's |
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basic training course. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.268 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.268. CIVILIAN INTERACTION TRAINING PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section, "board" means the State Board of Education. |
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(b) The commission and the board shall enter into a |
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memorandum of understanding that establishes each agency's |
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respective responsibilities in developing a training program, |
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including training and testing materials, on proper interaction |
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with civilians during traffic stops and other in-person encounters. |
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The training program must include information regarding: |
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(1) the role of law enforcement and the duties and |
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responsibilities of police officers; |
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(2) a person's rights concerning interactions with |
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|
police officers; |
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(3) proper behavior for civilians and police officers |
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during interactions; |
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(4) laws regarding questioning and detention by police |
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officers, including any law requiring a person to present proof of |
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identity to a police officer, and the consequences for a person's or |
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officer's failure to comply with those laws; and |
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(5) how and where to file a complaint against or a |
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compliment on behalf of a police officer. |
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(c) In developing the training program under this section, |
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the commission and the board may consult with any interested party, |
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including a volunteer work group convened for the purpose of making |
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recommendations regarding the training program. |
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(d) Before finalizing a training program under this |
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section, the commission and the board shall provide a reasonable |
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period for public comment. |
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SECTION 6. (a) Not later than September 1, 2018: |
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(1) the State Board of Education and the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop: |
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(A) the instruction required under Section |
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28.012, Education Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(B) the training program required under Section |
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1701.268, Occupations Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation |
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shall adopt rules regarding the curriculum required under Section |
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1001.109, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Section 28.025(b-20), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. |
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(c) A peace officer or reserve law enforcement officer who |
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holds a license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, issued on or |
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before January 1, 2018, shall complete a training program |
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established under Section 1701.268, Occupations Code, as added by |
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this Act, not later than January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |