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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training for certain peace officers regarding |
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trauma-informed techniques to facilitate interactions with |
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homeless individuals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.352, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: |
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(j) A peace officer who is employed by the law enforcement |
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agency of a political subdivision with a homeless population of 25 |
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or more, as determined by the commission, must complete as part of |
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the course provided for the officer under Subsection (b) a one-time |
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training program established by the commission on trauma-informed |
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techniques to facilitate interactions with homeless youth and |
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adults and on the resources available to those individuals. The |
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training program must be completed not later than the second |
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anniversary of the date the officer was hired. The commission shall |
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determine and notify, for each 48-month training cycle described by |
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Subsection (b), each law enforcement agency to which this |
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subsection applies. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall: |
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(1) establish the training program required by Section |
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1701.352(j), Occupations Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) determine and notify the law enforcement agencies |
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to which Section 1701.352(j), Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies. |
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SECTION 3. Notwithstanding Section 1701.352(j), |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act, a peace officer who on |
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January 1, 2022, is employed by a law enforcement agency to which |
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that section applies must complete the training required by that |
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section not later than January 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |