87S10200 JCG-F
 
  By: Reynolds H.B. No. 43
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to peace officers and law enforcement agencies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 180, Local Government Code, is amended
  by adding Section 180.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 180.010.  REQUIRED PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY EVENTS
  FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS. (a)  A law enforcement agency of a
  municipality or county shall adopt a policy requiring a peace
  officer to participate in at least eight hours of community events
  in the municipality or county not later than the 60th day after the
  date the peace officer begins employment with the agency.
         (b)  The law enforcement agency may grant extensions of the
  period described by Subsection (a) based on reasonable grounds.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 1701.165 and 1701.166 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 1701.165.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN AGENCIES. (a)  The
  commission shall establish and administer a grant program through
  which eligible municipalities and counties may apply for a grant to
  provide increased compensation to peace officers employed by the
  law enforcement agency of the municipality or county based on
  criteria described by Subsection (b) and any additional criteria
  the commission adopts by rule.
         (b)  In awarding grants under the grant program, the
  commission shall consider the extent to which the peace officers
  employed by the law enforcement agency of the applicant
  municipality or county:
               (1)  hold bachelor's degrees or higher from an
  accredited public or private institution of higher education;
               (2)  reside in the applicable municipality or county;
  and
               (3)  have received certificates of distinction under
  Section 1701.4025.
         (c)  The commission may establish:
               (1)  additional eligibility criteria for grant
  applicants;
               (2)  grant application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
               (5)  procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
  awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
  conditions of a grant.
         (d)  The commission may use any revenue available for
  purposes of this section.
         Sec. 1701.166.  ANNUAL EVALUATION OF CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT
  AGENCIES. (a) The commission shall annually evaluate each law
  enforcement agency of a municipality or county for professionalism
  based on criteria described by Subsection (b) and any additional
  criteria the commission adopts by rule.
         (b)  In conducting an evaluation of a law enforcement agency
  under Subsection (a), the commission shall consider whether: 
               (1)  at least half of the peace officers of the agency
  reside in the applicable municipality or county;
               (2)  the peace officers of the agency in supervisory
  positions hold bachelor's degrees or higher from an accredited
  public or private institution of higher education;
               (3)  the peace officers of the agency each perform 30 or
  more hours of community service annually;
               (4)  the agency has a citizens academy or youth
  enrichment program; and
               (5)  the peace officers of the agency are certified as
  special officers for offenders with mental impairments under
  Section 1701.404. 
         (c)  The commission shall make available on the commission's
  Internet website the results of the evaluations.
         (d)  The commission may establish and administer a grant
  program and use any revenue available for purposes of this
  subsection to award grants to agencies that receive positive
  evaluations.  The commission may adopt rules to administer the
  grant program.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:
         (q)  As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
  commission shall require an officer to complete a training program
  on implicit bias that consists of not less than eight hours of
  training.
         SECTION 4.  Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a-3)  As part of the continuing education programs under
  Subsection (a), a peace officer must complete a training and
  education program developed by the commission that includes not
  less than:
               (1)  four hours of training on implicit bias; and
               (2)  eight hours of training on de-escalation and
  crisis intervention techniques.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter I, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1701.4025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.4025.  CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION FOR CERTAIN
  ACHIEVEMENTS. (a)  The commission shall issue a certificate of
  distinction to an officer who:
               (1)  performs more than 40 hours of community service
  during a continuing education training period described by Section
  1701.351(a);
               (2)  completes more than 50 hours of continuing
  education programs approved by the commission during a continuing
  education training period described by Section 1701.351(a); or
               (3)  provides more than 25 hours of instruction in
  continuing education programs approved by the commission in a
  calendar year. 
         (b)  The commission shall adopt rules for the administration
  of this section, including rules for reporting community service
  hours and hours providing instruction in continuing education
  programs.
         (c)  The commission may use the employment records of an
  employing law enforcement agency in determining whether an officer
  qualifies for a certificate of distinction.
         SECTION 6.  Section 180.010, Local Government Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a peace officer first employed on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 7.  Not later than September 1, 2022, the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement shall:
               (1)  begin conducting evaluations under Section
  1701.166, Occupations Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  adopt rules necessary to implement that section.
         SECTION 8.  Section 1701.253(q), Occupations Code, as added
  by this Act, applies only to a person who submits an application for
  a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on or
  after January 1, 2022. A person who submits an application for a
  peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, before
  January 1, 2022, is governed by the law in effect immediately before
  the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 9.  Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop the training and
  education program required by and adopt rules necessary to
  implement Section 1701.351(a-3), Occupations Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.