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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to training for peace officers on interacting with persons |
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with autism spectrum disorder. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (u) to read as follows: |
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(u) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
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commission shall require an officer to complete the training |
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program established under Section 1701.273. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.273 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.273. TRAINING PROGRAM ON INTERACTING WITH PERSONS |
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WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. (a) In this section, "autism |
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spectrum disorder" means: |
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(1) a neurobiological disorder or developmental |
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disability that significantly affects verbal communication, |
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nonverbal communication, and social interaction and that meets the |
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diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder specified by the |
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, |
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or a later edition; or |
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(2) a diagnosis made using a previous edition of the |
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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of autism, |
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Asperger's syndrome, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder--Not |
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Otherwise Specified. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall establish and maintain a |
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training program for officers on interacting with a person with |
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autism spectrum disorder. |
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(c) The training program must be not less than two hours. |
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(d) The training program must be evidence-based and include |
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the following topics: |
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(1) understanding the nature of autism spectrum |
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disorder and the differing manifestations of the disorder in a |
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person, including: |
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(A) identifying a person with autism spectrum |
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disorder and differentiating that person from another person who |
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does not have the disorder and who may be uncooperative or intending |
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to commit a criminal offense; |
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(B) knowing how age, gender, and ethnicity affect |
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a person with autism spectrum disorder; and |
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(C) understanding the relationship between |
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autism spectrum disorder and criminal or otherwise antisocial |
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behavior; |
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(2) effectively communicating with a person with |
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autism spectrum disorder, including best practices on: |
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(A) communicating without causing the person |
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unnecessary stress; |
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(B) interviewing and interrogating the person; |
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and |
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(C) de-escalating an interaction with the |
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person; |
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(3) locating a person with autism spectrum disorder |
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who has run away and may be in danger; |
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(4) recognizing the circumstances under which a person |
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with autism spectrum disorder may be abused, coerced, or criminally |
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exploited, including radicalization of the person; |
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(5) ensuring the safety of a person with autism |
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spectrum disorder who is confined in a correctional facility; and |
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(6) understanding the laws on taking a person into |
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custody and applying for emergency detention under Subtitle C, |
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Title 7, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt |
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rules necessary to implement the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. The minimum curriculum requirements under |
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Section 1701.253(u), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply |
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only to an officer who first begins to satisfy those requirements on |
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or after January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |