H.B. No. 1486
AN ACT
relating to the adoption of a mental health leave policy for certain
telecommunicators.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 614.015, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 614.015. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS AND
TELECOMMUNICATORS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Law [, "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.
(2) "Telecommunicator" means a person authorized to
act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code.
(b) Each law enforcement agency, and each agency of the
state or of a political subdivision of the state that employs a
full-time telecommunicator, shall develop and adopt a policy
allowing the use of mental health leave by the peace officers and
full-time telecommunicators, as applicable, employed by the agency
who experience a traumatic event in the scope of that employment.
(c) A [The] mental health leave policy adopted under this
section must:
(1) provide clear and objective guidelines
establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer or
telecommunicator is granted [mental health leave] and may use
mental health leave;
(2) entitle a peace officer or telecommunicator 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 or telecommunicator; and
(4) detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer
or telecommunicator who takes mental health leave.
(d) A [The] mental health leave policy adopted under this
section may provide a list of mental health services available to
peace officers and telecommunicators in the area of the law
enforcement or employing agency.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, each agency required to adopt a mental health leave
policy under Section 614.015, Government Code, as amended by this
Act, shall adopt a mental health leave policy as prescribed by that
section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1486 was passed by the House on April
14, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 3, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1486 was passed by the Senate on May
23, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor