86R6612 JCG-D
 
  By: Watson S.B. No. 586
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the training of peace officers for family violence and
  sexual assault assignments.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1701.352(b), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The commission shall require a state, county, special
  district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs peace
  officers to provide each peace officer with a training program at
  least once every 48 months that is approved by the commission and
  consists of:
               (1)  topics selected by the agency; and
               (2)  for an officer holding only a basic proficiency
  certificate, not more than 20 hours of education and training that
  contain curricula incorporating the learning objectives developed
  by the commission regarding:
                     (A)  civil rights, racial sensitivity, and
  cultural diversity;
                     (B)  de-escalation and crisis intervention
  techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental
  impairments;
                     (C)  de-escalation techniques to facilitate
  interaction with members of the public, including techniques for
  limiting the use of force resulting in bodily injury; and
                     (D)  unless determined by the agency head to be
  inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties:
                           (i)  the recognition, [and] documentation,
  and investigation of cases that involve child abuse or neglect,
  family violence, and sexual assault, including the use of best
  practices and trauma-informed techniques to effectively recognize,
  document, and investigate those cases; and
                           (ii)  issues concerning sex offender
  characteristics.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter I, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1701.4045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.4045.  CERTIFICATION OF OFFICERS FOR FAMILY
  VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ASSIGNMENTS. (a)  The commission by
  rule shall establish minimum requirements for the training,
  testing, and certification of special officers for responding to
  allegations of family violence or sexual assault.
         (b)  The commission may certify a peace officer as a special
  officer for responding to allegations of family violence or sexual
  assault if the person:
               (1)  completes an advanced training course
  administered by the commission on recognizing, documenting, and
  investigating family violence and sexual assault using best
  practices and trauma-informed techniques; and
               (2)  passes an examination administered by the
  commission that is designed to test the person's:
                     (A)  knowledge and recognition of the signs of
  family violence and sexual assault; and
                     (B)  skill at documenting and investigating
  family violence and sexual assault using best practices and
  trauma-informed techniques.
         (c)  The commission may issue a professional achievement or
  proficiency certificate to a peace officer who meets the
  requirements of Subsection (b).
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt
  rules necessary to implement Section 1701.4045, Occupations Code,
  as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.