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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to county jailers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.310, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.310. APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY JAILER; TRAINING |
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REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person may |
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not be appointed as a county jailer, except on a temporary basis, |
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unless the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory |
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training program, as required by the commission, in the operation |
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of a county jail at a school operated or licensed by the commission. |
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The training program must consist of at least eight hours of mental |
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health training approved by the commission and the Commission on |
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Jail Standards. |
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(b) A county jailer appointed on a temporary basis who does |
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not satisfactorily complete the preparatory training program |
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before the first anniversary of the date that the person is |
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appointed shall be removed from the position. A county jailer |
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appointed on a temporary basis shall be enrolled in the preparatory |
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training program on or before the 90th day after their temporary |
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appointment. A temporary appointment may not be renewed. |
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(c) A county jailer serving under permanent appointment |
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before September 1, 1979, regardless of whether the person's |
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employment was terminated before that date because of failure to |
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satisfy standards adopted under Chapter 511, Government Code, is |
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not required to meet a requirement of this section as a condition of |
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continued employment or promotion unless: |
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(1) in an attempt to meet the standards the person took an |
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examination and failed or was not allowed to finish the examination |
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because the person acted dishonestly in regard to the examination; |
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(2) the person forged a document purporting to show that the |
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person meets the standards; or |
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(3) the person seeks a new appointment as a county jailer on |
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or after September 1, 1984. |
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(d) A county jailer serving under permanent appointment |
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before September 1, 1979, is eligible to attend training courses in |
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the operation of a county jail, subject to commission rules. |
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(e) A person trained and certified by the Texas Department |
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of Criminal Justice to serve as a corrections officer in that |
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agency's correctional institutions division is not required to |
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complete the training requirements of this section to be appointed |
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a part-time county jailer. Examinations under Section 1701.304 and |
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psychological examinations under Section 1701.306 apply. |
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(f) A county jailer appointed on a temporary basis may not |
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be promoted to a supervisory position in a county jail. |
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(g) The commission and the Commission on Jail Standards may |
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develop additional training for county jailers serving under |
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permanent appointments to promote health and safety in county |
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jails. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |