By: Howard, Guillen, Neave Criado, Garcia, H.B. No. 2650
Harless, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the continuation and duties of the Sexual Assault
Survivors' Task Force and establishment of a mandatory training
program for peace officers on responding to reports of child sexual
abuse and adult sexual assault.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 772.0064(m), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(m) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the composition or
duration of the task force or to the designation of the task force's
presiding officer [This section expires September 1, 2023].
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 basic education
and training program developed under Section 1701.272. An officer
shall complete the program not later than the last day of the first
full continuing education training period after the date the
officer is licensed under this chapter unless the officer completes
the program as part of the officer's basic training course.
SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.272 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.272. TRAINING PROGRAM ON RESPONDING TO SEXUAL
ABUSE OR ASSAULT. (a) The commission shall, in consultation with
the Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force established under Section
772.0064, Government Code, establish a basic education and training
program on child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault, including
the use of best practices and techniques to effectively recognize,
investigate, and document those cases. The training program must
consist of at least eight hours of instruction.
(b) The commission shall require an officer to complete the
training program unless the officer has completed the training
under Section 1701.253(q) or other training equivalent to the
training program as determined by the commission.
SECTION 4. Section 1701.253(b-2), Occupations Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2024, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall establish the training program
required by Section 1701.272, Occupations Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 6. The minimum curriculum requirements under
Section 1701.253(q), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply
only to an officer who first begins to satisfy those requirements on
or after January 1, 2024.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.