| 1 | 1 | | 87R339 JCG-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Collier H.B. No. 313 |
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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 the requirements for certification as a special officer |
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| 8 | 8 | | for offenders with mental impairments. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 1701.404(b), Occupations Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (b) The commission may certify a sheriff, sheriff's deputy, |
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| 13 | 13 | | constable, other peace officer, county jailer, or justice of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | peace as a special officer for offenders with mental impairments if |
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| 15 | 15 | | the person: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) completes a training course in emergency first aid |
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| 17 | 17 | | and lifesaving techniques approved by the commission; |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) completes a training course administered by the |
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| 19 | 19 | | commission on mental health issues and offenders with mental |
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| 20 | 20 | | impairments; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (3) completes the training program established under |
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| 22 | 22 | | Section 1701.264 on acquired and traumatic brain injuries; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (4) completes the training program established under |
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| 24 | 24 | | Section 1701.265 on veterans with combat-related trauma, |
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| 25 | 25 | | post-traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a |
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| 26 | 26 | | traumatic brain injury; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (5) [(3)] passes an examination administered by the |
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| 28 | 28 | | commission that is designed to test the person's: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (A) knowledge and recognition of a person with |
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| 30 | 30 | | the characteristics and symptoms of mental illness or an |
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| 31 | 31 | | intellectual or developmental disability[, mental retardation, and |
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| 32 | 32 | | mental disabilities]; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | (B) knowledge of mental health crisis |
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| 34 | 34 | | intervention strategies for people with mental impairments. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 36 | 36 | | of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall: |
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| 37 | 37 | | (1) adopt rules necessary to implement Sections |
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| 38 | 38 | | 1701.404(b)(3) and (4), Occupations Code, as added by this Act; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2) modify as necessary the examination required under |
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| 40 | 40 | | Section 1701.404(b)(5), Occupations Code, as amended by this Act. |
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| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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