88R25069 KKR-F
By: Spiller, Garcia, Howard, et al. H.B. No. 2233
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to required mental health awareness training for first
responders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 786 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 786. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING
FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
Sec. 786.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Extension service" means the Texas A&M
Engineering Extension Service.
(2) "First responder" means a public safety employee
whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency. The term
includes:
(A) a peace officer whose duties include
responding rapidly to an emergency;
(B) fire protection personnel as defined by
Section 419.021, Government Code;
(C) an individual certified as emergency medical
services personnel by the Department of State Health Services;
(D) an emergency response operator or emergency
services dispatcher who provides communication support services
for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in
emergencies, including a telecommunicator as defined by Section
1701.001, Occupations Code; and
(E) other emergency response personnel employed
by a state agency.
(3) "First responder training program" means a program
that provides training required for certification or licensure as a
first responder, including the training required under:
(A) Chapter 773;
(B) Chapter 419, Government Code; and
(C) Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
Sec. 786.002. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING REQUIRED.
(a) A person who provides to first responders and first responder
trainees a first responder training program shall:
(1) include as part of the program at least six hours
of training on mental health awareness that covers:
(A) the most common mental health issues
experienced by first responders;
(B) the impact of chronic trauma on a first
responder's duties;
(C) signs and symptoms of mental illness; and
(D) strategies for first responders to attain
mental wellness and resiliency; and
(2) require first responders and first responder
trainees to successfully complete the training described by
Subdivision (1) as part of the training program.
(b) In providing the training described by Subsection (a), a
person who provides a first responder training program must use a
mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted
under Section 786.003.
Sec. 786.003. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING CURRICULUM.
(a) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall develop or
adopt a curriculum for the first responder mental health awareness
training required by Section 786.002. In developing or adopting
the curriculum, the extension service shall collaborate with state
agencies that certify or license first responders, including the
Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement, and the Department of State Health Services.
(b) Each state agency that certifies or licenses first
responders shall ensure that the applicable first responder
training program required for certification or licensure as a first
responder uses the mental health awareness training curriculum
developed or adopted by the extension service under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:
(q) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
commission shall require an officer to complete the mental health
awareness training curriculum developed or adopted by the Texas A&M
Engineering Extension Service under Section 786.003, Health and
Safety Code.
SECTION 3. Section 1701.3071, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
(a-2) The training required by Subsection (a)(2) must
include the mental health awareness training curriculum developed
or adopted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service under
Section 786.003, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act:
(1) the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall
develop or adopt the first responder mental health awareness
training curriculum required by Section 786.003, Health and Safety
Code, as added by this Act; and
(2) each state agency that certifies or licenses first
responders subject to Chapter 786, Health and Safety Code, as added
by this Act, shall ensure that:
(A) each first responder training program
subject to the chapter includes the mental health awareness
training and curriculum required by that chapter; and
(B) each first responder and first responder
trainee subject to the chapter completes the required training.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.