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AN ACT
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relating to adoption by law enforcement agencies of a mental health |
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leave policy for peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 614, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter A-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A-1. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE |
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Sec. 614.015. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS. (a) |
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In this section, "law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state |
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authorized by law to employ peace officers. |
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(b) Each law enforcement agency shall develop and adopt a |
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policy allowing the use of mental health leave by the peace officers |
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employed by the agency who experience a traumatic event in the scope |
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of that employment. |
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(c) The mental health leave policy adopted under this |
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section must: |
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(1) provide clear and objective guidelines |
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establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer is |
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granted mental health leave and may use mental health leave; |
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(2) entitle a peace officer to mental health leave |
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without a deduction in salary or other compensation; |
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(3) enumerate the number of mental health leave days |
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available to a peace officer; and |
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(4) detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer |
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who takes mental health leave. |
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(d) The mental health leave policy adopted under this |
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section may provide a list of mental health services available to |
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peace officers in the area of the law enforcement agency. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, each law enforcement agency shall develop the mental |
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health leave policy required by Section 614.015, Government Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1359 passed the Senate on |
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April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1359 passed the House on |
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May 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 5, two present |
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not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |