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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a first responder peer support network for certain |
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firefighters and law enforcement personnel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 115 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 115. FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT NETWORK |
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Sec. 115.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Law enforcement officer" means a person |
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identified as a peace officer under Article 2A.001(1), (2), (3), or |
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(4), Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(2) "Peer" means a person who is: |
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(A) a firefighter or retired firefighter; or |
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(B) a law enforcement officer or retired law |
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enforcement officer. |
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(3) "Peer support network" means the first responder |
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peer support network for firefighters and law enforcement officers |
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established under this chapter. |
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Sec. 115.002. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The Texas |
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Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement shall jointly develop a first responder peer support |
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network for firefighters and law enforcement officers. The network |
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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 incorporates suicide prevention training; |
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(3) technical assistance for program development and |
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the provision of technical assistance to peer service coordinators, |
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licensed mental health professionals, 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) The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall ensure firefighters and law |
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enforcement officers are provided support through the peer support |
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network in both urban and rural jurisdictions. |
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(c) The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall solicit and ensure the |
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provision of specialized training to peers who want to provide |
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peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer services under the peer |
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support network. |
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(d) The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement may adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this chapter. |
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Sec. 115.003. CONTRACT WITH INSTITUTION OF HIGHER |
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EDUCATION. The Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement may contract with an institution of |
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higher education in this state that has appropriate expertise in |
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mental health, firefighting, or law enforcement to develop the peer |
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support network. |
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Sec. 115.004. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PARTICIPANT INFORMATION. |
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Information relating to a firefighter's or law enforcement |
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officer's participation in peer-to-peer support and other |
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peer-to-peer services under the peer support network is |
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confidential and may not be disclosed under Chapter 552, Government |
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Code, by: |
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(1) the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement; |
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(2) a fire department that employs a firefighter |
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participant; |
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(3) a law enforcement agency that employs a law |
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enforcement officer participant; or |
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(4) any other state agency or political subdivision in |
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this state that employs a firefighter or law enforcement officer |
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participant. |
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Sec. 115.005. LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION PROTECTIONS. A |
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firefighter's or law enforcement officer's participation in |
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peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer services under the peer |
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support network may not: |
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(1) serve as the basis for a revocation, suspension, |
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or denial of a license or certification; or |
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(2) be considered in any proceeding related to the |
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firefighter's certification or the officer's licensure. |
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Sec. 115.006. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each year, the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall jointly prepare and submit to |
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the governor and the legislature a written report that includes: |
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(1) the number of firefighters and law enforcement |
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officers who received peer support through the peer support |
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network; |
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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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chapter; and |
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(4) recommendations for program improvements. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter M-1, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, |
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is repealed. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Texas |
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Commission on Fire Protection and Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement shall develop the first responder peer support network |
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for firefighters and law enforcement officers required by Chapter |
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115, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |