Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB530 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R3794 JTZ-F
2	2	By: West S.B. No. 530
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to a peer support network for law enforcement officers.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Chapter 105, Education Code, is amended by
10	10	adding Subchapter K, and a heading is added to that subchapter to
11	11	read as follows:
12	12	SUBCHAPTER K. CARUTH POLICE INSTITUTE
13	13	SECTION 2. Sections 1701.621, 1701.622, 1701.624, and
14	14	1701.626, Occupations Code, are transferred to Subchapter K,
15	15	Chapter 105, Education Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as
16	16	Sections 105.601, 105.602, 105.603, and 105.604, Education Code,
17	17	respectively, and amended to read as follows:
18	18	Sec. 105.601 [1701.621]. DEFINITIONS. In this
19	19	subchapter:
20	20	(1) "Institute" means the Caruth Police Institute
21	21	located at the University of North Texas at Dallas.
22	22	(2) "Law enforcement officer" means a person
23	23	identified as a peace officer under Article 2.12(1), (2), (3), or
24	24	(4), Code of Criminal Procedure.
25	25	(3) [(2)] "Peer" means a person who is a law
26	26	enforcement officer or retired law enforcement officer.
27	27	Sec. 105.602 [1701.622]. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)
28	28	The institute [commission] shall develop a peer support network for
29	29	law enforcement officers. The network must include:
30	30	(1) peer-to-peer support;
31	31	(2) training for peer service coordinators and peers
32	32	that includes suicide prevention training;
33	33	(3) technical assistance for program development,
34	34	peer service coordinators, licensed mental health professionals,
35	35	and peers; and
36	36	(4) identification, retention, and screening of
37	37	licensed mental health professionals.
38	38	(b) As part of the peer support network for law enforcement
39	39	officers, the institute [commission] shall ensure law enforcement
40	40	officers have support in both urban and rural jurisdictions.
41	41	(c) The institute [commission] shall solicit and ensure
42	42	that specialized training is provided to persons who are peers and
43	43	who want to provide peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer
44	44	services under the network.
45	45	[(d) The commission may adopt rules necessary to implement
46	46	this subchapter.]
47	47	Sec. 105.603 [1701.624]. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PARTICIPANT
48	48	INFORMATION. Information relating to a law enforcement officer's
49	49	participation in peer-to-peer support and other peer-to-peer
50	50	services under the network is confidential and [may] not subject to
51	51	disclosure [be disclosed] under Chapter 552, Government Code[, by:
52	52	[(1) the commission;
53	53	[(2) a law enforcement agency that employs a law
54	54	enforcement officer participant; or
55	55	[(3) any other state agency or political subdivision
56	56	in this state that employs a law enforcement officer participant].
57	57	Sec. 105.604 [1701.626]. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than
58	58	December 1 of each year, the institute [commission] shall submit a
59	59	report to the governor and the legislature that includes:
60	60	(1) the number of law enforcement officers who
61	61	received peer support through the peer support network for law
62	62	enforcement officers;
63	63	(2) the number of peers and peer service coordinators
64	64	trained;
65	65	(3) an evaluation of the services provided under this
66	66	subchapter; and
67	67	(4) recommendations for program improvements.
68	68	SECTION 3. Section 1701.625, Occupations Code, is
69	69	transferred to Subchapter K, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,
70	70	redesignated as Section 1701.5015, Occupations Code, and amended to
71	71	read as follows:
72	72	Sec. 1701.5015 [1701.625]. PROTECTIONS RELATED TO
73	73	LICENSURE. The commission may not take disciplinary action under
74	74	Section 1701.501 against an officer based solely on the [A law
75	75	enforcement] officer's participation in peer-to-peer support and
76	76	other peer-to-peer services and [under the network] may not
77	77	consider the officer's participation during [:
78	78	[(1) serve as the basis for a revocation, suspension, or
79	79	denial of a license issued under this chapter; or
80	80	[(2) be considered in] any disciplinary proceeding [related
81	81	to the officer's licensure] under this chapter.
82	82	SECTION 4. The following provisions of the Occupations Code
83	83	are repealed:
84	84	(1) Section 1701.623; and
85	85	(2) the heading to Subchapter M-1, Chapter 1701.
86	86	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
87	87	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
88	88	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
89	89	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
90	90	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.