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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a peer support network for law enforcement officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 105, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter K, and a heading is added to that subchapter to |
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read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. CARUTH POLICE INSTITUTE |
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SECTION 2. Sections 1701.621, 1701.622, 1701.624, and |
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1701.626, Occupations Code, are transferred to Subchapter K, |
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Chapter 105, Education Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as |
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Sections 105.601, 105.602, 105.603, and 105.604, Education Code, |
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respectively, and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 105.601 [1701.621]. DEFINITIONS. In this |
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subchapter: |
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(1) "Institute" means the Caruth Police Institute |
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located at the University of North Texas at Dallas. |
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(2) "Law enforcement officer" means a person |
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identified as a peace officer under Article 2.12(1), (2), (3), or |
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(4), Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(3) [(2)] "Peer" means a person who is a law |
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enforcement officer or retired law enforcement officer. |
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Sec. 105.602 [1701.622]. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) |
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The institute [commission] shall develop a peer support network for |
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law enforcement officers. The network must include: |
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(1) peer-to-peer support; |
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(2) training for peer service coordinators and peers |
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that includes suicide prevention training; |
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(3) technical assistance for program development, |
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peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals, |
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and peers; and |
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(4) identification, retention, and screening of |
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licensed mental health professionals. |
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(b) As part of the peer support network for law enforcement |
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officers, the institute [commission] shall ensure law enforcement |
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officers have support in both urban and rural jurisdictions. |
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(c) The institute [commission] shall solicit and ensure |
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that specialized training is provided to persons who are peers and |
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who want to provide peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer |
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services under the network. |
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[(d) The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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this subchapter.] |
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Sec. 105.603 [1701.624]. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PARTICIPANT |
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INFORMATION. Information relating to a law enforcement officer's |
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participation in peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer |
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services under the network is confidential and [may] not subject to |
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disclosure [be disclosed] under Chapter 552, Government Code[, by: |
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[(1) the commission; |
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[(2) a law enforcement agency that employs a law |
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enforcement officer participant; or |
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[(3) any other state agency or political subdivision |
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in this state that employs a law enforcement officer participant]. |
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Sec. 105.604 [1701.626]. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than |
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December 1 of each year, the institute [commission] shall submit a |
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report to the governor and the legislature that includes: |
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(1) the number of law enforcement officers who |
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received peer support through the peer support network for law |
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enforcement officers; |
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(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators |
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trained; |
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(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this |
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subchapter; and |
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(4) recommendations for program improvements. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1701.625, Occupations Code, is |
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transferred to Subchapter K, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, |
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redesignated as Section 1701.5015, Occupations Code, and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.5015 [1701.625]. PROTECTIONS RELATED TO |
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LICENSURE. The commission may not take disciplinary action under |
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Section 1701.501 against an officer based solely on the [A law |
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enforcement] officer's participation in peer-to-peer support and |
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other peer-to-peer services and [under the network] may not |
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consider the officer's participation during [: |
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[(1) serve as the basis for a revocation, suspension, or |
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denial of a license issued under this chapter; or |
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[(2) be considered in] any disciplinary proceeding [related |
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to the officer's licensure] under this chapter. |
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SECTION 4. The following provisions of the Occupations Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 1701.623; and |
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(2) the heading to Subchapter M-1, Chapter 1701. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |