S.B. No. 1359
AN ACT
relating to adoption by law enforcement agencies of a mental health
leave policy for peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 614, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter A-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER A-1. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE
Sec. 614.015. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS. (a)
In this section, "law enforcement agency" means an agency of the
state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state
authorized by law to employ peace officers.
(b) Each law enforcement agency shall develop and adopt a
policy allowing the use of mental health leave by the peace officers
employed by the agency who experience a traumatic event in the scope
of that employment.
(c) The mental health leave policy adopted under this
section must:
(1) provide clear and objective guidelines
establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer is
granted mental health leave and may use mental health leave;
(2) entitle a peace officer to mental health leave
without a deduction in salary or other compensation;
(3) enumerate the number of mental health leave days
available to a peace officer; and
(4) detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer
who takes mental health leave.
(d) The mental health leave policy adopted under this
section may provide a list of mental health services available to
peace officers in the area of the law enforcement agency.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, each law enforcement agency shall develop the mental
health leave policy required by Section 614.015, Government Code,
as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1359 passed the Senate on
April 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1359 passed the House on
May 23, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 5, two present
not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor