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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required mental health awareness training for first |
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responders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 786 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 786. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING |
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FOR FIRST RESPONDERS |
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Sec. 786.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 421.095, Government Code. |
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(2) "First responder training program" means a program |
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that provides training required for certification or licensure as a |
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first responder, including the training required under: |
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(A) Chapter 773; |
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(B) Chapter 419, Government Code; and |
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(C) Chapter 1701, Occupations Code. |
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Sec. 786.0002. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING REQUIRED. |
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(a) A person who provides to first responders and first responder |
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trainees a first responder training program shall: |
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(1) include as part of the program at least six hours |
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of training on mental health awareness that covers: |
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(A) basic mental health issues for first |
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responders; |
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(B) the impact of chronic trauma on a first |
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responder's duties; |
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(C) signs and symptoms of mental illness; and |
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(D) strategies for first responders to attain |
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wellness and resiliency; and |
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(2) require first responders and first responder |
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trainees to complete the training described by Subdivision (1) as |
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part of the training program. |
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(b) In providing the training described by Subsection (a), a |
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person who provides a first responder training program must use a |
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mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted |
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under Section 786.0003. |
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Sec. 786.0003. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING |
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CURRICULUM. (a) The Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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develop or adopt a curriculum for the first responder mental health |
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awareness training required by Section 786.0002. The commission |
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shall collaborate with agencies that license or certify first |
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responders in the development or adoption of the curriculum. |
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(b) Each state agency that licenses or certifies first |
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responders shall ensure that the applicable first responder |
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training programs provided to first responders and first responder |
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trainees use the mental health awareness training curriculum |
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developed or adopted by the commission under this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act: |
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(1) the Health and Human Services Commission shall |
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develop or adopt the first responder mental health awareness |
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training curriculum required by Section 786.0003, Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) each state agency that licenses or certifies first |
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responders subject to Chapter 786, Health and Safety Code, as added |
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by this Act, shall ensure that: |
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(A) each first responder training program |
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subject to the chapter includes the mental health awareness |
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training and curriculum required by that chapter; and |
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(B) each first responder and first responder |
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trainee subject to the chapter completes the required training. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |