89R5864 MPF-D
By: Goodwin H.B. No. 4863
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) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by
Section 421.095, Government Code.
(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. REQUIRED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING.
(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 first
responders experience;
(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 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 commission 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
commission shall collaborate with state agencies that certify or
license first responders.
(b) Each state agency that certifies or licenses first
responders shall ensure 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 commission under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (u) to read as follows:
(u) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
commission shall require an officer to complete the mental health
awareness training curriculum the Health and Human Services
Commission develops or adopts under Section 786.003, Health and
Safety Code.
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
date of this Act:
(1) the Health and Human Services Commission 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:
(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.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2028, a peace officer or
reserve law enforcement officer who holds a license issued under
Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on or before January 1, 2026, shall
complete the mental health awareness training curriculum required
by Section 1701.253(u), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.