Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB30 by West (Relating to inclusion of instruction regarding interaction with peace officers in the required curriculum for certain public school students and in driver education courses and to civilian interaction training for peace officers.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would direct the State Board of Education and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to develop instructional materials concerning proper interaction with law enforcement officials and to develop training for peace officers concerning proper interaction with civilians. The bill would require the Board and Commission to convene a Stakeholder Task Force on Police and Citizen Interactions to make recommendations relating to the instructional materials and training program.
Instruction relating to interaction with law enforcement would be included in the required curriculum for public school students in grades 9-12. Instruction and testing concerning specific information relating to law enforcement practices would also be required in driver education and driving safety courses provided to individuals. The bill would require development of a training program including instruction and testing materials for peace officers and reserve law enforcement officers pertaining to proper interaction with civilians during traffic stops and other in-person encounters.
The bill would require development of all materials by September 1, 2018. Instruction for public school students would be required beginning with school year 2018-19. Peace officers and reserve law enforcement officers would be required to complete training by January 1, 2020. The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
The Texas Education Agency expects to convene the required Stakeholder Task Force on Police and Citizen Interactions for two meetings to make recommendations; associated costs associated are not anticipated to be significant. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement estimates no additional fiscal implications.
Local Government Impact
The Texas Education Agency indicates that school districts could incur local costs associated with training appropriate staff to effectively provide the required instruction and with providing instructional materials.
Source Agencies:
407 Commission on Law Enforcement, 701 Texas Education Agency