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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain mental health policies and services for peace |
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officers, fire fighters, and telecommunicators. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614, |
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Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER A-1. MENTAL HEALTH OF PEACE OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS, |
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AND TELECOMMUNICATORS [LEAVE] |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 614.014 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 614.014. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Employer" means a governmental entity that |
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employs or appoints a peace officer, fire fighter, or |
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telecommunicator or that the peace officer or fire fighter is |
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elected to serve. |
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(2) "Fire fighter" and "peace officer" have the |
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meanings assigned by Section 614.001. |
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(3) "Telecommunicator" means a person authorized to |
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act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 614.015, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 614.015. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS, FIRE |
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FIGHTERS, AND TELECOMMUNICATORS. (a) [In this section: |
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[(1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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state or of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law |
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to employ peace officers. |
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[(2) "Telecommunicator" means a person authorized to |
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act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code. |
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[(b)] Each employer [law enforcement agency, and each |
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agency of the state or of a political subdivision of the state that |
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employs a full-time telecommunicator,] shall develop and adopt a |
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policy allowing the use of mental health leave by the employer's |
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peace officers, fire fighters, and full-time telecommunicators, as |
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applicable, [employed by the agency] who experience a traumatic |
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event in the scope of performing their duties as peace officers, |
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fire fighters, and telecommunicators for the employer [that |
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employment]. |
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(b) [(c)] A mental health leave policy adopted under this |
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section must: |
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(1) provide clear and objective guidelines |
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establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer, fire |
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fighter, or telecommunicator is granted and may use mental health |
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leave; |
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(2) entitle a peace officer, fire fighter, or |
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telecommunicator to mental health leave without a deduction in |
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salary or other compensation; |
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(3) enumerate the number of mental health leave days |
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available to a peace officer, fire fighter, or telecommunicator; |
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and |
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(4) detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer, |
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fire fighter, or telecommunicator who takes mental health leave. |
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(c) [(d)] A mental health leave policy adopted under this |
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section may provide a list of mental health services available to |
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peace officers, fire fighters, and telecommunicators in the area |
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where the employer is located [of the law enforcement or employing |
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agency]. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 614.016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 614.016. MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS FOR PEACE OFFICERS |
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AND FIRE FIGHTERS. (a) In this section, "peer support advisor" |
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means an individual appointed by the individual's employer to |
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provide confidential support and assistance to a peace officer or |
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fire fighter who experiences a traumatic event in the scope of |
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performing their duties as a peace officer or fire fighter for the |
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employer. |
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(b) Each employer shall ensure that a mental health |
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professional or peer support advisor performs an annual mental |
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health evaluation of each of the employer's peace officers and fire |
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fighters as part of the peace officer's or fire fighter's |
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performance review. |
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(c) Each employer shall provide a peace officer or fire |
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fighter who experiences a traumatic event in the scope of |
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performing their duties as a peace officer or fire fighter for the |
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employer: |
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(1) a mental health evaluation performed by a mental |
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health professional or peer support advisor; and |
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(2) an opportunity to receive mental health |
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counseling. |
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SECTION 5. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, each employer, as defined by Section 614.014, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, shall develop a mental health |
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leave policy required by Section 614.015, Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act. |
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(b) Section 614.016(b), Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a performance review of a peace officer or fire |
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fighter conducted on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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(c) Section 614.016(c), Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies only to a traumatic event that occurs on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |