83R9551 VOO-D
By: Deshotel H.B. No. 3491
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to education and training for certain school district
peace officers and school resource officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter M, Chapter 1701,
Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER M. SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS AND SCHOOL [VISITING]
RESOURCE OFFICERS [OFFICER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL]
SECTION 2. Subchapter M, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.604 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.604. EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) Except
as provided by Subsection (b), this section applies only to:
(1) a school district peace officer commissioned under
Section 37.081, Education Code; or
(2) a school resource officer, as defined by Section
1701.601.
(b) This section does not apply to a peace officer while the
peace officer is assigned to a school-sponsored event at which
formal classroom instruction is not offered.
(c) A peace officer may not serve as a school district peace
officer or as a school resource officer for more than 180 days
unless the peace officer has completed a 12-hour or longer
education and training program approved by the commission under
this section, except as provided by Subsection (d), and has
received a certificate under Subsection (e). This subsection
applies only after the commission determines that regular and
online education and training courses are available in the major
regions of this state.
(d) A peace officer who has received comparable education
and training through the Bexar County children's crisis
intervention training program or the Texas School Safety Center at
Texas State University is not required to complete the education
and training program approved by the commission under this section
to serve as a school district peace officer or school resource
officer.
(e) The commission shall issue a professional achievement
or proficiency certificate to a peace officer on successful
completion of an education and training program:
(1) approved by the commission under this section; or
(2) described by Subsection (d).
(f) The commission shall develop the curriculum for the
education and training program under this section based on:
(1) the model curriculum used for the Bexar County
children's crisis intervention training program;
(2) Strategies for Youth police officer training; or
(3) CIT for Youth training curriculum available
through the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
(g) The commission may review and revise the curriculum for
the program annually or as the commission determines necessary.
(h) The education and training program under this section
may be provided:
(1) as a collaborative model within a community that:
(A) involves local stakeholders; and
(B) incorporates didactic and experiential
training using the best practice model of the Bexar County
children's crisis intervention training program;
(2) by a school determined appropriate for operation
under Section 1701.251; or
(3) as an online training program sponsored by an
online training provider if the training provider also provides
training under Section 1701.251.
(i) A school district may offer additional
commission-approved preparatory education or training to its
school district peace officers and school resource officers.
(j) The superintendent of a school district that employs a
peace officer or to which a school resource officer is assigned
shall maintain on file the certification issued to the officer
under Subsection (e).
(k) Notwithstanding Section 1701.351(a), the commission may
not suspend the license of a peace officer solely because the peace
officer fails to meet the requirements of this section.
SECTION 3. Not later than March 31, 2014, the Commission on
Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education shall approve the
curriculum for the education and training program as required by
Section 1701.604, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. Section 1701.604, Occupations Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to a school district peace officer or school
resource officer who is serving or has been assigned, appointed,
commissioned, or employed by a school district to serve in that
capacity on or after March 31, 2014.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.