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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to required mental health awareness training for first |
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responders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 786 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 786. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING |
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FOR FIRST RESPONDERS |
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Sec. 786.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Extension service" means the Texas A&M |
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Engineering Extension Service. |
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(2) "First responder" means a public safety employee |
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whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency. The term |
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includes: |
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(A) a peace officer whose duties include |
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responding rapidly to an emergency; |
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(B) fire protection personnel as defined by |
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Section 419.021, Government Code; |
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(C) an individual certified as emergency medical |
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services personnel by the Department of State Health Services; |
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(D) an emergency response operator or emergency |
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services dispatcher who provides communication support services |
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for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in |
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emergencies, including a telecommunicator as defined by Section |
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1701.001, Occupations Code; and |
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(E) other emergency response personnel employed |
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by a state agency. |
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(3) "First responder training program" means a program |
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that provides training required for certification or licensure as a |
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first responder, including the training required under: |
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(A) Chapter 773; |
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(B) Chapter 419, Government Code; and |
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(C) Chapter 1701, Occupations Code. |
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Sec. 786.002. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING REQUIRED. |
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(a) A person who provides to first responders and first responder |
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trainees a first responder training program shall: |
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(1) include as part of the program at least six hours |
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of training on mental health awareness that covers: |
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(A) the most common mental health issues |
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experienced by first responders; |
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(B) the impact of chronic trauma on a first |
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responder's duties; |
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(C) signs and symptoms of mental illness; and |
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(D) strategies for first responders to attain |
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mental wellness and resiliency; and |
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(2) require first responders and first responder |
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trainees to successfully complete the training described by |
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Subdivision (1) as part of the training program. |
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(b) In providing the training described by Subsection (a), a |
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person who provides a first responder training program must use a |
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mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted |
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under Section 786.003. |
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Sec. 786.003. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING CURRICULUM. |
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(a) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall develop or |
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adopt a curriculum for the first responder mental health awareness |
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training required by Section 786.002. In developing or adopting |
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the curriculum, the extension service shall collaborate with state |
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agencies that certify or license first responders, including the |
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Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement, and the Department of State Health Services. |
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(b) Each state agency that certifies or licenses first |
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responders shall ensure that the applicable first responder |
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training program required for certification or licensure as a first |
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responder uses the mental health awareness training curriculum |
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developed or adopted by the extension service under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows: |
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(q) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
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commission shall require an officer to complete the mental health |
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awareness training curriculum developed or adopted by the Texas A&M |
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Engineering Extension Service under Section 786.003, Health and |
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Safety Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1701.3071, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a-2) The training required by Subsection (a)(2) must |
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include the mental health awareness training curriculum developed |
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or adopted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service under |
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Section 786.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act: |
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(1) the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall |
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develop or adopt the first responder mental health awareness |
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training curriculum required by Section 786.003, Health and Safety |
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Code, as added by this Act; and |
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(2) each state agency that certifies or licenses first |
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responders subject to Chapter 786, Health and Safety Code, as added |
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by this Act, shall ensure that: |
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(A) each first responder training program |
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subject to the chapter includes the mental health awareness |
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training and curriculum required by that chapter; and |
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(B) each first responder and first responder |
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trainee subject to the chapter completes the required training. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |