| 1 | 1 | | 84R15007 TSR-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Whitmire S.B. No. 1637 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to canine encounter training for peace officers. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended |
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| 10 | 10 | | by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (l) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
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| 12 | 12 | | commission shall require an officer licensed by the commission on |
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| 13 | 13 | | or after January 1, 2016, to complete a canine encounter training |
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| 14 | 14 | | program established by the commission under Section 1701.261. An |
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| 15 | 15 | | officer shall complete the program not later than the second |
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| 16 | 16 | | anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter |
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| 17 | 17 | | unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer's |
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| 18 | 18 | | basic training course. |
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| 19 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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| 20 | 20 | | amended by adding Section 1701.261 to read as follows: |
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| 21 | 21 | | Sec. 1701.261. CANINE ENCOUNTER TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The |
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| 22 | 22 | | commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education and |
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| 23 | 23 | | training program on canine encounters and canine behavior. The |
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| 24 | 24 | | training program must consist of at least four hours of classroom |
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| 25 | 25 | | instruction and practical training that the commission develops and |
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| 26 | 26 | | approves in: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (1) handling canine-related calls, anticipating |
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| 28 | 28 | | unplanned encounters with canines, and using humane methods and |
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| 29 | 29 | | tools in handling canine encounters; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (2) recognizing and understanding canine behavior; |
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| 31 | 31 | | (3) state laws related to canines; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (4) canine conflict avoidance and de-escalation; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (5) use of force continuum principles in relation to |
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| 34 | 34 | | canines; and |
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| 35 | 35 | | (6) using nonlethal methods, tools, and resources to |
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| 36 | 36 | | avoid and defend against a canine attack. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (b) At least once every four years, the commission shall |
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| 38 | 38 | | review the content of the training program under this section and |
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| 39 | 39 | | update the program as necessary. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (c) Notwithstanding Sections 1701.253(l) and 1701.402(l), |
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| 41 | 41 | | an officer who has completed at least four hours of a canine |
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| 42 | 42 | | encounter training program is not required to complete the program |
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| 43 | 43 | | under this section. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 3. Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is amended |
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| 45 | 45 | | by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | (l) As a requirement for an intermediate or advanced |
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| 47 | 47 | | proficiency certificate issued by the commission on or after |
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| 48 | 48 | | January 1, 2016, an officer must complete the canine encounter |
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| 49 | 49 | | training program established by the commission under Section |
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| 50 | 50 | | 1701.261. |
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| 51 | 51 | | SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas |
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| 52 | 52 | | Commission on Law Enforcement shall establish the canine encounter |
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| 53 | 53 | | training program as required by Section 1701.261, Occupations Code, |
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| 54 | 54 | | as added by this Act. |
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| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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