H.B. No. 1855
AN ACT
relating to training, continuing education, and weapons
proficiency standards for correctional officers employed by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Sections 493.032, 493.033, and 493.034 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.032. REQUIRED TRAINING FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS.
(a) The department shall require each correctional officer
employed by the department to complete, during the correctional
officer's first 24 months of service, not less than 280 hours of
training, including:
(1) 140 hours of on-the-job training; and
(2) mental health crisis intervention training.
(b) The department, in consultation with the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement, shall develop mental health crisis
intervention training to be part of the training required by
Subsection (a)(2).
(c) The department by rule shall provide temporary
exceptions to the requirements of this section for a correctional
officer who cannot complete the training required by Subsection (a)
due to:
(1) a medical emergency involving the officer or a
member of the officer's family;
(2) the officer's active military service; or
(3) the officer's unit or facility being unable to
provide training in a timely manner due to severe weather or a
catastrophic event.
(d) An exception created by the department under Subsection
(c) must ensure compliance with the training requirements of this
section as soon as practicable after the period required by this
section.
(e) The department shall indicate in the correctional
officer's personnel file that the officer has completed the
training required by this section.
(f) A correctional officer is not required to complete
training under this section if the officer's personnel file
indicates that the officer has completed the training required by
this section during a previous period of employment as a
correctional officer during the preceding 36 months.
(g) The department may suspend or otherwise discipline a
correctional officer who fails to comply with the requirements of
this section.
Sec. 493.033. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED FOR
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. (a) The department shall require each
correctional officer employed by the department to complete at
least 80 hours of continuing education programs once every 24
months. The department may suspend or otherwise discipline a
correctional officer who fails to comply with this requirement.
(b) As part of the continuing education requirement under
Subsection (a), a correctional officer must complete a training and
education program that covers the core requirements designated by
the department.
(c) The department shall develop specialized training for
correctional officers that may be credited toward continuing
education requirements.
(d) The department by rule shall provide temporary
exceptions to the continuing education requirements of this section
for a correctional officer who cannot meet the continuing education
requirements of this section due to:
(1) a medical emergency involving the officer or a
member of the officer's family;
(2) the officer's active military service; or
(3) the officer's unit or facility being unable to
provide training in a timely manner due to severe weather or a
catastrophic event.
(e) An exception created by the department under Subsection
(d) must ensure compliance with the continuing education
requirements of this section as soon as practicable after the
period required by this section.
Sec. 493.034. CONTINUING DEMONSTRATION OF WEAPONS
PROFICIENCY. (a) The department shall designate one or more
firearms proficiency officers and require each correctional
officer employed by the department to demonstrate weapons
proficiency to a firearms proficiency officer at least annually.
The department shall maintain records of the weapons proficiency of
correctional officers.
(b) The department by rule shall define weapons proficiency
for purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall adopt rules as required by
Sections 493.032, 493.033, and 493.034, Government Code, as added
by this Act.
SECTION 3. (a) Section 493.032, Government Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to a correctional officer hired by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice on or after the effective date
of this Act. A correctional officer hired before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
(b) Sections 493.033 and 493.034, Government Code, as added
by this Act, apply to a correctional officer employed by the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice on or after the effective date of
this Act, regardless of whether the officer is hired before, on, or
after that date.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1855 was passed by the House on May 6,
2015, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 17, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1855 was passed by the Senate on May
26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor