California Senate Bill SB11 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 11AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE FEBRUARY 26, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Senator Beall DECEMBER 1, 2014 An act  to add Sections 13515.26 and 13515.27 to the Penal Code,  relating to peace officer training standards. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 11, as amended, Beall. Peace officer training: mental health.  Existing law requires specified categories of law enforcement officers to meet training standards pursuant to courses of training certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Existing law requires POST to include in its basic training course adequate instruction in the handling of persons with developmental disabilities or mental illness, or both. Existing law also requires POST to establish and keep updated a continuing education classroom training course relating to law enforcement interaction with developmentally disabled and mentally ill persons.   This bill would require POST to include in its basic training course an evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course to train law enforcement officers to recognize, deescalate, and refer persons with mental illness or intellectual disability who are in crisis. The bill would require that this evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course be 20 hours long and be in addition to the basic training course's current hour requirement.   The bill would also require POST to establish and keep updated an evidence-based behavioral health training course as part of its perishable skills training under its continuing professional training requirement. The bill would require that this evidence-based behavioral health training course be a minimum of 4 consecutive hours of the total hours required in each 4-year period for perishable skills training.   By imposing additional training costs on local law enforcement agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.   Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish and keep updated a continuing education classroom training course for peace officer interactions with persons with mental disabilities. Under existing law, this course consists of classroom instruction and utilizes interactive training methods to ensure that training is as realistic as possible. Under existing law, this course includes training in identifying indicators of mental disability, conflict resolution techniques, and alternatives to lethal force.   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase the minimum mental health training standard for California peace officers.  Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program:  no   yes  . THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 13515.26 is added to the   Penal Code   , to read:   13515.26. (a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training shall establish and keep updated an evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course relating to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness as part of its basic training course for law enforcement officers. This evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course shall train officers to recognize, deescalate, and refer persons with mental illness or intellectual disability who are in crisis. (b) This evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course shall address issues relating to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics: (1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities. (2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for potentially dangerous situations. (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially emotionally distressed persons. (5) Community and state resources available to serve persons with mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these resources can be best utilized by law enforcement. (6) The perspective of individuals and families with lived experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (c) This evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course shall be 20 hours long and shall be in addition to the basic training course's current hour requirement.   SEC. 2.   Section 13515.27 is added to the   Penal Code   , to read:   13515.27. (a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training shall establish and keep updated an evidence-based behavioral health training course relating to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness as part of its perishable skills training under its continuing professional training requirement. (b) Of the total hours required in each four-year period for perishable skills training, a minimum of four consecutive hours shall be dedicated to the evidence-based behavioral health training course. (c) This evidence-based behavioral health training course shall address issues related to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics: (1) The cause and nature of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for potentially dangerous situations. (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially emotionally distressed persons. (5) Community and state resources available to serve persons with mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these resources can be best utilized by law enforcement. (6) The perspective of individuals and families with lived experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.   SEC. 3.   If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to increase the minimum mental health training standard for California peace officers in order to address officer and community safety and achieve better outcomes when interacting with persons with mental illness.