By: Naishtat (Senate Sponsor - Menéndez) H.B. No. 1338
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2015;
May 7, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal
Justice; May 21, 2015, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0;
May 21, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1338 By: Whitmire
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to training for peace officers and first responders on
certain persons affected by trauma.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Sections 1701.261 and 1701.262 to read as
follows:
Sec. 1701.261. ACQUIRED AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
TRAINING. (a) In this section, "first responder" has the meaning
assigned by Section 421.095, Government Code.
(b) The commission, in collaboration with the office of
acquired brain injury of the Health and Human Services Commission
and the Texas Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council, shall
establish and maintain a training program for peace officers and
first responders that provides information on:
(1) the effects of an acquired brain injury and of a
traumatic brain injury; and
(2) techniques to interact with persons who have an
acquired brain injury or a traumatic brain injury.
Sec 1701.262. TRAUMA AFFECTED VETERANS TRAINING. (a) In
this section, "veteran" means a person who has served in:
(1) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine
corps of the United States; or
(2) the Texas National Guard as defined by Section
431.001, Government Code.
(b) The commission, in collaboration with the Texas
Veterans Commission, shall establish and maintain a training
program for peace officers that provides information on veterans
with combat-related trauma, post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic
stress disorder, or a traumatic brain injury. An officer may not
complete the training under this subsection by taking an online
course.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2015, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall approve the curriculum for the
training programs described by Sections 1701.261 and 1701.262,
Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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