| 1 | 1 | | 87R11154 EAS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Hughes S.B. No. 1358 |
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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 mental health resources for law enforcement agencies. |
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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. Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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| 10 | 10 | | by adding Subchapter M to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SUBCHAPTER M. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 1001.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state |
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| 15 | 15 | | authorized by law to employ a law enforcement officer. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (2) "Law enforcement officer" means a person |
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| 17 | 17 | | identified as a peace officer under Article 2.12(1), (2), (3), or |
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| 18 | 18 | | (4), Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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| 19 | 19 | | Sec. 1001.302. RESOURCES. (a) The executive commissioner |
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| 20 | 20 | | may develop resources to provide to the heads of law enforcement |
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| 21 | 21 | | agencies to assist in addressing mental health issues experienced |
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| 22 | 22 | | by a law enforcement officer. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) The materials developed under Subsection (a) may |
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| 24 | 24 | | include: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) resources to assist the head of a law enforcement |
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| 26 | 26 | | agency in identifying a law enforcement officer who would benefit |
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| 27 | 27 | | from mental health services; |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) methods to reduce the stigma associated with a law |
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| 29 | 29 | | enforcement officer experiencing mental health issues; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | (3) local resources to assist the head of a law |
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| 31 | 31 | | enforcement agency in locating and contacting a licensed mental |
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| 32 | 32 | | health professional. |
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| 33 | 33 | | (c) The executive commissioner may post the resources on the |
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| 34 | 34 | | commission's Internet website. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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