Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Texas House Bill HB593 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	By: Collier, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Whitmire) H.B. No. 593
2		-	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 21, 2015;
3		-	April 23, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
4		-	Criminal Justice; April 29, 2015, reported favorably by the
5		-	following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 29, 2015, sent to printer.)
6		-	Click here to see the committee vote
	1	+	H.B. No. 593
7	2
8	3
9		-	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
10	4		AN ACT
11	5		relating to canine encounter training for peace officers.
12	6		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	7		SECTION 1. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended
14	8		by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
15	9		(l) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
16	10		commission shall require an officer licensed by the commission on
17	11		or after January 1, 2016, to complete a canine encounter training
18	12		program established by the commission under Section 1701.261. An
19	13		officer shall complete the program not later than the second
20	14		anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter
21	15		unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer's
22	16		basic training course.
23	17		SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
24	18		amended by adding Section 1701.261 to read as follows:
25	19		Sec. 1701.261. CANINE ENCOUNTER TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The
26	20		commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education and
27	21		training program on canine encounters and canine behavior. The
28	22		training program must consist of at least four hours of classroom
29	23		instruction and practical training, developed and approved by the
30	24		commission, that addresses:
31	25		(1) handling canine-related calls, anticipating
32	26		unplanned encounters with canines, and using humane methods and
33	27		tools in handling canine encounters;
34	28		(2) recognizing and understanding canine behavior;
35	29		(3) state laws related to canines;
36	30		(4) canine conflict avoidance and de-escalation;
37	31		(5) use of force continuum principles in relation to
38	32		canines;
39	33		(6) using nonlethal methods, tools, and resources to
40	34		avoid and defend against a canine attack; and
41	35		(7) a general overview of encounters with other
42	36		animals.
43	37		(b) At least once every four years, the commission shall
44	38		review the content of the training program under this section and
45	39		update the program as necessary.
46	40		(c) Notwithstanding Sections 1701.253(l) and 1701.402(l),
47	41		an officer who has completed at least four hours of a canine
48	42		encounter training program is not required to complete the program
49	43		under this section.
50	44		SECTION 3. Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is amended
51	45		by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
52	46		(l) As a requirement for an intermediate or advanced
53	47		proficiency certificate issued by the commission on or after
54	48		January 1, 2016, an officer must complete the canine encounter
55	49		training program established by the commission under Section
56	50		1701.261.
57	51		SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas
58	52		Commission on Law Enforcement shall establish the canine encounter
59	53		training program as required by Section 1701.261, Occupations Code,
60	54		as added by this Act.
61	55		SECTION 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
62	56		an officer employed by a county with a population of less than
63	57		125,000 is not required to comply with Sections 1701.253(l) and
64	58		1701.402(l), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, before January
65	59		1, 2017.
66	60		SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
67		-	* * * * *
	61	+	______________________________ ______________________________
	62	+	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
	63	+	I certify that H.B. No. 593 was passed by the House on April
	64	+	20, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 12, 1 present, not
	65	+	voting.
	66	+	______________________________
	67	+	Chief Clerk of the House
	68	+	I certify that H.B. No. 593 was passed by the Senate on May 4,
	69	+	2015, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
	70	+	______________________________
	71	+	Secretary of the Senate
	72	+	APPROVED: _____________________
	73	+	Date
	74	+	_____________________
	75	+	Governor