86R26312 EAS-D
By: Bell of Montgomery, Bailes H.B. No. 2404
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2404:
By: Clardy C.S.H.B. No. 2404
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishment of the office of first responder training
support within the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management
Institute of Texas and to the provision of critical incident
support training services to first responders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 96, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 96.642 to read as follows:
Sec. 96.642. OFFICE OF FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING SUPPORT.
(a) In this section:
(1) "Critical incident stress management team" means a
trained team of peer support responders and mental health
professionals who provide support to first responders using an
integrated multicomponent crisis intervention system.
(2) "Department" means Disaster Behavioral Health
Services within the Health and Human Services Commission.
(3) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by
Section 421.095, Government Code.
(4) "Institute" means the Bill Blackwood Law
Enforcement Management Institute of Texas.
(5) "Office" means the office of first responder
training support established by this section.
(6) "Peer support responder" means an individual
member of a peer support team who, as an employee, contractor, or
volunteer of a public agency, provides services designed to give
compassionate or coping support to a first responder involved in,
witness to, or otherwise affected by a traumatic event.
(7) "President" means the president of Sam Houston
State University.
(8) "Public agency" has the meaning assigned by
Section 2257.002, Government Code.
(b) The president shall establish an office of first
responder training support within the institute.
(c) The president shall appoint a training support
coordinator as the administrative head of the office. Except as
provided by Subsection (d), the training support coordinator must:
(1) have at least five years of experience as a first
responder;
(2) have successfully completed training in providing
critical incident stress management to first responders; and
(3) demonstrate a professional ability to provide
emotional and moral support to first responders.
(d) If the training support coordinator has not completed
the training required by Subsection (c)(2), the training support
coordinator must complete the training as soon as practicable.
(e) The office may coordinate with the department to
establish a program for training individuals to serve on a critical
incident stress management team. An individual may not serve on a
critical incident stress management team before the individual
completes training in critical incident stress management at least
as comprehensive as that provided by the International Critical
Incident Stress Foundation.
(f) The office shall provide assistance in gaining access to
training at least as comprehensive as that provided by the
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation for critical
incident stress management teams. The training courses may include
instruction about:
(1) suicide awareness;
(2) suicide prevention;
(3) suicide intervention for first responders; and
(4) other behavioral health topics.
(g) The office shall provide information about the
department's critical incident stress management teams to an
individual who completes the office's training.
(h) The office and department shall share with first
responders who have been involved in a critical incident
information regarding the availability of the Post Critical
Incident Seminar.
(i) The office shall coordinate with qualified
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation instructors to
provide International Critical Incident Stress Foundation training
to peer support responders.
(j) The office may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations to implement this section.
(k) The president shall adopt rules necessary to implement
this section.
(l) This section does not place any restrictions on the type
of training provided by or to any critical incident stress
management team or peer support program outside of the institute.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the president of Sam Houston State University shall
adopt rules necessary to implement Section 96.642, Education Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.