BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2600

By: Frazier

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is an ongoing concern among some peace officers that they may end up losing their jobs for seeking mental health care. This fear discourages officers from seeking help necessary to cope with the extremely stressful circumstances under which they work. H.B. 2600 seeks to assuage these concerns by preventing peace officers from being terminated for seeking or receiving mental health care.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2600 amends the Government Code to prohibit a law enforcement agency from terminating the employment of a peace officer solely because the officer sought or received mental health care. This prohibition applies to mental health care regardless of whether the care was sought or received by a peace officer before, on, or after the bill's effective date.

H.B. 2600 repeals Section 614.015(a), Government Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.