89R2966 CMO-D
By: Plesa H.B. No. 1597
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in
the criminal justice system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.273 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.273. TRAINING PROGRAM RELATING TO COUNTY JAILER
INTERACTIONS WITH VETERANS. The commission shall, in consultation
with the Texas Veterans Commission, develop a training program for
county jailers on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice
system.
SECTION 2. Section 1701.310(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person may not
be appointed as a county jailer, except on a temporary basis, unless
the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory training
program, as required by the commission, in the operation of a county
jail at a school operated or licensed by the commission. The
training program must:
(1) consist of at least eight hours of mental health
training approved by the commission and the Commission on Jail
Standards; and
(2) include the training program developed under
Section 1701.273.
SECTION 3. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies to
a county jailer licensed under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,
regardless of whether the license was issued before, on, or after
the effective date of this Act.
(b) A county jailer who, on the effective date of this Act,
holds a county jailer license shall complete the training program
described by Section 1701.273, Occupations Code, as added by this
Act, not later than August 31, 2027.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.