88R21117 SCP-F

By: Howard, Guillen, Neave Criado H.B. No. 2650

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2650:

By: J. Johnson of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 2650

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the continuation and duties of the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force and establishment of a mandatory training program for peace officers on responding to reports of child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 772.0064(m), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(m) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the composition or duration of the task force or to the designation of the task force's presiding officer [This section expires September 1, 2023].

SECTION 2. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:

(q) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the commission shall require an officer to complete the basic education and training program developed under Section 1701.272. An officer shall complete the program not later than the last day of the first full continuing education training period after the date the officer is licensed under this chapter unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer's basic training course.

SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.272 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.272. TRAINING PROGRAM ON RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ABUSE OR ASSAULT. (a) The commission shall, in consultation with the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force established under Section 772.0064, Government Code, establish a basic education and training program on child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault, including the use of best practices and trauma-informed response techniques to effectively recognize, investigate, and document those cases. The training program must consist of at least eight hours of instruction.

(b) The commission shall require an officer to complete the training program unless the officer has completed the training under Section 1701.253(q) or other training equivalent to the training program as determined by the commission.

SECTION 4. Section 1701.253(b-2), Occupations Code, is repealed.

SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2024, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall establish the training program required by Section 1701.272, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. The minimum curriculum requirements under Section 1701.253(q), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply only to an officer who first begins to satisfy those requirements on or after January 1, 2024.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.