88R3794 JTZ-F
By: West S.B. No. 530
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a peer support network for law enforcement officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 105, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter K, and a heading is added to that subchapter to
read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. CARUTH POLICE INSTITUTE
SECTION 2. Sections 1701.621, 1701.622, 1701.624, and
1701.626, Occupations Code, are transferred to Subchapter K,
Chapter 105, Education Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as
Sections 105.601, 105.602, 105.603, and 105.604, Education Code,
respectively, and amended to read as follows:
Sec. 105.601 [1701.621]. DEFINITIONS. In this
subchapter:
(1) "Institute" means the Caruth Police Institute
located at the University of North Texas at Dallas.
(2) "Law enforcement officer" means a person
identified as a peace officer under Article 2.12(1), (2), (3), or
(4), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(3) [(2)] "Peer" means a person who is a law
enforcement officer or retired law enforcement officer.
Sec. 105.602 [1701.622]. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)
The institute [commission] shall develop a peer support network for
law enforcement officers. The network must include:
(1) peer-to-peer support;
(2) training for peer service coordinators and peers
that includes suicide prevention training;
(3) technical assistance for program development,
peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals,
and peers; and
(4) identification, retention, and screening of
licensed mental health professionals.
(b) As part of the peer support network for law enforcement
officers, the institute [commission] shall ensure law enforcement
officers have support in both urban and rural jurisdictions.
(c) The institute [commission] shall solicit and ensure
that specialized training is provided to persons who are peers and
who want to provide peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer
services under the network.
[(d) The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement
this subchapter.]
Sec. 105.603 [1701.624]. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PARTICIPANT
INFORMATION. Information relating to a law enforcement officer's
participation in peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer
services under the network is confidential and [may] not subject to
disclosure [be disclosed] under Chapter 552, Government Code[, by:
[(1) the commission;
[(2) a law enforcement agency that employs a law
enforcement officer participant; or
[(3) any other state agency or political subdivision
in this state that employs a law enforcement officer participant].
Sec. 105.604 [1701.626]. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than
December 1 of each year, the institute [commission] shall submit a
report to the governor and the legislature that includes:
(1) the number of law enforcement officers who
received peer support through the peer support network for law
enforcement officers;
(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators
trained;
(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this
subchapter; and
(4) recommendations for program improvements.
SECTION 3. Section 1701.625, Occupations Code, is
transferred to Subchapter K, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,
redesignated as Section 1701.5015, Occupations Code, and amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 1701.5015 [1701.625]. PROTECTIONS RELATED TO
LICENSURE. The commission may not take disciplinary action under
Section 1701.501 against an officer based solely on the [A law
enforcement] officer's participation in peer-to-peer support and
other peer-to-peer services and [under the network] may not
consider the officer's participation during [:
[(1) serve as the basis for a revocation, suspension, or
denial of a license issued under this chapter; or
[(2) be considered in] any disciplinary proceeding [related
to the officer's licensure] under this chapter.
SECTION 4. The following provisions of the Occupations Code
are repealed:
(1) Section 1701.623; and
(2) the heading to Subchapter M-1, Chapter 1701.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.