Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2862 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R12265 JBD-D
2	2	By: Flores S.B. No. 2862
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to active shooter events and other emergencies, including
10	10	certain accreditations of law enforcement agencies that respond to
11	11	such emergencies.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2A, Code of Criminal
14	14	Procedure, is amended by adding Article 2A.067 to read as follows:
15	15	Art. 2A.067. POLICY FOR RESPONDING TO ACTIVE SHOOTER
16	16	EMERGENCY. (a) This article applies only to a law enforcement
17	17	agency of a municipality, county, school district, or institution
18	18	of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
19	19	(b) Each law enforcement agency to which this article
20	20	applies shall adopt a detailed written policy for responding to an
21	21	active shooter emergency. The policy must be based on current best
22	22	practices.
23	23	SECTION 2. Section 12.104(b), Education Code, is amended to
24	24	read as follows:
25	25	(b) An open-enrollment charter school is subject to:
26	26	(1) a provision of this title establishing a criminal
27	27	offense;
28	28	(2) the provisions in Chapter 554, Government Code;
29	29	and
30	30	(3) a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as
31	31	applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this
32	32	title, relating to:
33	33	(A) the Public Education Information Management
34	34	System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with
35	35	this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;
36	36	(B) criminal history records under Subchapter C,
37	37	Chapter 22;
38	38	(C) reading instruments and accelerated reading
39	39	instruction programs under Section 28.006;
40	40	(D) accelerated instruction under Section
41	41	28.0211;
42	42	(E) high school graduation requirements under
43	43	Section 28.025;
44	44	(F) special education programs under Subchapter
45	45	A, Chapter 29;
46	46	(G) bilingual education under Subchapter B,
47	47	Chapter 29;
48	48	(H) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E
49	49	or E-1, Chapter 29, except class size limits for prekindergarten
50	50	classes imposed under Section 25.112, which do not apply;
51	51	(I) extracurricular activities under Section
52	52	33.081;
53	53	(J) discipline management practices or behavior
54	54	management techniques under Section 37.0021;
55	55	(K) health and safety under Chapter 38;
56	56	(L) the provisions of Subchapter A, Chapter 39;
57	57	(M) public school accountability and special
58	58	investigations under Subchapters A, B, C, D, F, G, and J, Chapter
59	59	39, and Chapter 39A;
60	60	(N) the requirement under Section 21.006 to
61	61	report an educator's misconduct;
62	62	(O) intensive programs of instruction under
63	63	Section 28.0213;
64	64	(P) the right of a school employee to report a
65	65	crime, as provided by Section 37.148;
66	66	(Q) bullying prevention policies and procedures
67	67	under Section 37.0832;
68	68	(R) the right of a school under Section 37.0052
69	69	to place a student who has engaged in certain bullying behavior in a
70	70	disciplinary alternative education program or to expel the student;
71	71	(S) the right under Section 37.0151 to report to
72	72	local law enforcement certain conduct constituting assault or
73	73	harassment;
74	74	(T) a parent's right to information regarding the
75	75	provision of assistance for learning difficulties to the parent's
76	76	child as provided by Sections 26.004(b)(11) and 26.0081(c) and (d);
77	77	(U) establishment of residency under Section
78	78	25.001;
79	79	(V) school safety requirements under Sections
80	80	37.0814, 37.108, 37.1081, 37.1082, 37.1083, 37.1084, 37.1085,
81	81	37.1086, 37.1087, 37.109, 37.113, 37.114, 37.1141, 37.115, 37.207,
82	82	and 37.2071 and Subchapter J, Chapter 37;
83	83	(W) the early childhood literacy and mathematics
84	84	proficiency plans under Section 11.185;
85	85	(X) the college, career, and military readiness
86	86	plans under Section 11.186; and
87	87	(Y) parental options to retain a student under
88	88	Section 28.02124.
89	89	SECTION 3. Section 37.108, Education Code, is amended by
90	90	amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
91	91	read as follows:
92	92	(a) Each school district or public junior college district
93	93	shall adopt and implement a multihazard emergency operations plan
94	94	for use in the district's facilities. The plan must address
95	95	prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery as
96	96	defined by the Texas School Safety Center in conjunction with the
97	97	governor's office of homeland security, the commissioner of
98	98	education, and the commissioner of higher education. The plan must
99	99	provide for:
100	100	(1) training in responding to an emergency for
101	101	district employees, including substitute teachers;
102	102	(2) measures to ensure district employees, including
103	103	substitute teachers, have classroom access to a telephone,
104	104	including a cellular telephone, or another electronic
105	105	communication device allowing for immediate contact with district
106	106	emergency services or emergency services agencies, law enforcement
107	107	agencies, health departments, and fire departments;
108	108	(3) measures to ensure district communications
109	109	technology and infrastructure are adequate to allow for
110	110	communication during an emergency;
111	111	(4) if the plan applies to a school district,
112	112	mandatory school drills and exercises, including drills required
113	113	under Section 37.114, to prepare district students and employees
114	114	for responding to an emergency;
115	115	(5) measures to ensure coordination with the
116	116	Department of State Health Services and local emergency management
117	117	agencies, law enforcement, health departments, and fire
118	118	departments in the event of an emergency;
119	119	(6) the implementation of a safety and security audit
120	120	as required by Subsection (b); [and]
121	121	(7) measures for the prompt recovery of services
122	122	provided by the school district or public junior college district
123	123	after an active shooter emergency; and
124	124	(8) any other requirements established by the Texas
125	125	School Safety Center in consultation with the agency and relevant
126	126	local law enforcement agencies.
127	127	(a-1) Annually, each school district or public junior
128	128	college district shall organize a meeting with the Department of
129	129	Public Safety, appropriate local law enforcement agencies, and
130	130	local emergency first responders regarding the district's
131	131	multihazard emergency operations plan. The meeting must include a
132	132	discussion and analysis of how the district's multihazard emergency
133	133	operations plan would be implemented in an emergency situation.
134	134	(b) At least once every three years, each school district or
135	135	public junior college district shall conduct a safety and security
136	136	audit of the district's facilities that includes a security review
137	137	as described by Section 37.1087 for each district facility. A
138	138	district, or a person included in the registry established by the
139	139	Texas School Safety Center under Section 37.2091 who is engaged by
140	140	the district to conduct a safety and security audit, shall follow
141	141	safety and security audit procedures developed by the Texas School
142	142	Safety Center in coordination with the commissioner of education or
143	143	commissioner of higher education, as applicable.
144	144	SECTION 4. Section 37.1083(a), Education Code, is amended
145	145	to read as follows:
146	146	(a) The agency shall monitor the implementation and
147	147	operation of requirements related to school district safety and
148	148	security, including school district:
149	149	(1) multihazard emergency operations plans; [and]
150	150	(2) safety and security audits; and
151	151	(3) security reviews.
152	152	SECTION 5. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
153	153	amended by adding Section 37.1087 to read as follows:
154	154	Sec. 37.1087. SECURITY REVIEW. (a) If a school district or
155	155	public junior college district constructs, acquires, renovates, or
156	156	improves a district facility, the district shall, as soon as
157	157	practicable, conduct a security review of the facility to:
158	158	(1) determine whether the facility meets school safety
159	159	and security requirements; and
160	160	(2) identify security vulnerabilities at the facility
161	161	in the event of an active shooter emergency and describe strategies
162	162	to mitigate each vulnerability identified.
163	163	(b) The agency, in consultation with the Department of
164	164	Public Safety and the Texas School Safety Center, shall establish
165	165	guidelines for the security review required under this section.
166	166	SECTION 6. Section 37.109(b), Education Code, is amended to
167	167	read as follows:
168	168	(b) The committee shall:
169	169	(1) participate on behalf of the district in
170	170	developing and implementing emergency plans consistent with the
171	171	district multihazard emergency operations plan required by Section
172	172	37.108(a) to ensure that the plans reflect specific campus,
173	173	facility, or support services needs;
174	174	(2) periodically provide recommendations to the
175	175	district's board of trustees and district administrators regarding
176	176	updating the district multihazard emergency operations plan
177	177	required by Section 37.108(a) in accordance with best practices
178	178	identified by the agency, the Texas School Safety Center, or a
179	179	person included in the registry established by the Texas School
180	180	Safety Center under Section 37.2091;
181	181	(3) provide the district with any campus, facility, or
182	182	support services information required in connection with a safety
183	183	and security audit required by Section 37.108(b), a safety and
184	184	security audit report required by Section 37.108(c), a security
185	185	review required by Section 37.1087, or another report required to
186	186	be submitted by the district to the Texas School Safety Center;
187	187	(4) review each report required to be submitted by the
188	188	district to the Texas School Safety Center to ensure that the report
189	189	contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus,
190	190	facility, or support service in accordance with criteria
191	191	established by the center; and
192	192	(5) consult with local law enforcement agencies on
193	193	methods to increase law enforcement presence near district
194	194	campuses.
195	195	SECTION 7. Section 51.217(b), Education Code, is amended to
196	196	read as follows:
197	197	(b) An institution shall adopt and implement a multihazard
198	198	emergency operations plan for use at the institution. The plan must
199	199	address mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The plan
200	200	must provide for:
201	201	(1) employee training in responding to an emergency;
202	202	(2) mandatory drills to prepare students, faculty, and
203	203	employees for responding to an emergency;
204	204	(3) measures to ensure coordination with the
205	205	Department of State Health Services, local emergency management
206	206	agencies, law enforcement, health departments, and fire
207	207	departments in the event of an emergency; [and]
208	208	(4) the implementation of a safety and security audit
209	209	as required by Subsection (c); and
210	210	(5) measures for the prompt recovery of services
211	211	provided by the institution after an active shooter emergency.
212	212	SECTION 8. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
213	213	amended by adding Section 418.059 to read as follows:
214	214	Sec. 418.059. GUIDE ON PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO
215	215	ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENT. (a) The division shall develop a guide on
216	216	preparing for and responding to an active shooter event, with an
217	217	emphasis on providing information relevant to civic, volunteer, and
218	218	community organizations.
219	219	(b) The division shall post the guide on the division's
220	220	Internet website for public use. The guide must provide a
221	221	comprehensive approach to preparing for and responding to active
222	222	shooter events and include information on:
223	223	(1) planning and preparing the response to an active
224	224	shooter event, including recommended tactics and equipment;
225	225	(2) providing leadership, incident command, and
226	226	coordination in response to the event;
227	227	(3) communicating with the public during and after the
228	228	event;
229	229	(4) investigating and reporting following the event;
230	230	(5) arranging for trauma and support services,
231	231	including acute support services and long-term support services;
232	232	and
233	233	(6) preserving and restoring community cohesion and
234	234	public life after the event.
235	235	(c) In developing and revising the guide, the division may,
236	236	in collaboration with the department, seek the advice and
237	237	assistance of local governments, civic organizations, volunteer
238	238	organizations, and community leaders.
239	239	SECTION 9. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
240	240	amended by adding Sections 418.1873 and 418.1877 to read as
241	241	follows:
242	242	Sec. 418.1873. EVALUATION AND REPORT ON RESPONSE TO ACTIVE
243	243	SHOOTER EVENT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN ENTITIES. (a) In this section:
244	244	(1) "Emergency medical services" and "emergency
245	245	medical services provider" have the meanings assigned by Section
246	246	773.003, Health and Safety Code.
247	247	(2) "Local law enforcement agency" means a political
248	248	subdivision of this state authorized by law to employ or appoint
249	249	peace officers.
250	250	(b) Each local law enforcement agency and emergency medical
251	251	services provider that responds to an active shooter event by
252	252	providing law enforcement services or emergency medical services,
253	253	or both, shall:
254	254	(1) not later than the 30th day after the date of the
255	255	event, initiate an evaluation of the agency's or provider's
256	256	response to the event and submit a preliminary report to the
257	257	division and the department regarding, at minimum, the items
258	258	required in the template created under Subsection (c); and
259	259	(2) not later than the 60th day after the date of the
260	260	event, finalize the report described by Subdivision (1) and submit
261	261	the report to the division and the department.
262	262	(c) The division, in collaboration with the department,
263	263	shall create a template for use by a local law enforcement agency or
264	264	emergency medical services provider in evaluating and reporting on
265	265	the agency's or provider's response to an active shooter event. The
266	266	template must include:
267	267	(1) prompts for reporting on the following items:
268	268	(A) a brief description and outcome of the active
269	269	shooter event;
270	270	(B) a statement of personnel and equipment
271	271	deployed during the event;
272	272	(C) a cost analysis, including salaries,
273	273	equipment, and incidentals;
274	274	(D) a copy of appropriate event logs and reports;
275	275	(E) any maps, forms, or related documentation
276	276	used in responding to or evaluating the agency's or provider's
277	277	response to the event;
278	278	(F) a summary of any deaths or injuries that
279	279	occurred as a result of the event;
280	280	(G) any information relating to the status of
281	281	criminal investigations and subsequent prosecutions arising out of
282	282	the event; and
283	283	(H) a final evaluation, including:
284	284	(i) conclusions relating to the agency's or
285	285	provider's response to the event;
286	286	(ii) problems encountered during the
287	287	response regarding personnel, equipment, resources, or multiagency
288	288	response;
289	289	(iii) suggestions for revising policy, such
290	290	as improving training and equipment; and
291	291	(iv) any additional considerations that
292	292	would improve the agency's or provider's response to active shooter
293	293	events in the future; and
294	294	(2) any other content the division considers
295	295	appropriate.
296	296	(d) The division shall adopt rules to implement this
297	297	section, including a rule defining "active shooter event."
298	298	(e) A local law enforcement agency or emergency medical
299	299	services provider that complies with this section regarding an
300	300	active shooter event is not required to conduct any evaluation or
301	301	issue any report that may be required under Section 418.188
302	302	regarding that event.
303	303	Sec. 418.1877. TRAINING ON RESPONSES TO ACTIVE SHOOTER
304	304	EVENTS REQUIRED. (a) In this section:
305	305	(1) "Emergency medical services personnel" and
306	306	"emergency medical services provider" have the meanings assigned by
307	307	Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
308	308	(2) "Local law enforcement agency" has the meaning
309	309	assigned by Section 418.1873.
310	310	(b) The division by rule shall require the peace officers of
311	311	each local law enforcement agency and the emergency medical
312	312	services personnel of each emergency medical services provider to
313	313	complete a training program each year that involves reviewing at
314	314	least one final report required by Section 418.1873.
315	315	(c) The division shall collaborate with the department, the
316	316	Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the Department of State
317	317	Health Services, as appropriate, to develop the training programs
318	318	required by Subsection (b).
319	319	(d) The division, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement,
320	320	and the Department of State Health Services may adopt rules to
321	321	enforce this section.
322	322	SECTION 10. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
323	323	adding Subchapter K to read as follows:
324	324	SUBCHAPTER K. CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED FOR
325	325	CERTAIN PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS
326	326	Sec. 418.331. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "public
327	327	information officer" means an individual who is employed or
328	328	appointed by a state agency, local government entity, or
329	329	open-enrollment charter school and whose duties include
330	330	communicating with the public during a disaster regarding the
331	331	disaster.
332	332	Sec. 418.332. CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
333	333	REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS. Each of the
334	334	following entities shall employ or appoint a public information
335	335	officer who must obtain certification in emergency communications
336	336	from the division and complete continuing education on emergency
337	337	communications as provided by this subchapter:
338	338	(1) a municipality, including the municipal police
339	339	department;
340	340	(2) a county;
341	341	(3) a sheriff's office;
342	342	(4) an independent school district;
343	343	(5) an open-enrollment charter school;
344	344	(6) the department; and
345	345	(7) the division.
346	346	Sec. 418.333. CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a)
347	347	A public information officer described by Section 418.332 shall:
348	348	(1) obtain certification from the division in
349	349	emergency communications not later than the first anniversary of
350	350	the date the public information officer was hired or appointed; and
351	351	(2) complete a continuing education program on
352	352	emergency communications administered by the Federal Emergency
353	353	Management Agency and approved by the division twice during each
354	354	12-month period beginning on the date the public information
355	355	officer obtained certification.
356	356	(b) The division shall establish minimum education and
357	357	training requirements for initial certification and continuing
358	358	education under this subchapter by designating courses approved by
359	359	the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These minimum
360	360	requirements must include courses provided by the Federal Emergency
361	361	Management Agency on:
362	362	(1) the National Incident Management System;
363	363	(2) the Incident Command System; and
364	364	(3) the basic skills and principles necessary to
365	365	fulfill the role of a public information officer with respect to
366	366	emergency communications.
367	367	(c) The division shall assist the entities subject to
368	368	Section 418.332 in identifying approved training programs.
369	369	Sec. 418.334. COMPLIANCE RECORDS; INSPECTION. (a) Each
370	370	entity subject to Section 418.332 shall:
371	371	(1) maintain records that demonstrate the compliance
372	372	of each public information officer employed or appointed by that
373	373	entity with the certification and continuing education
374	374	requirements of this subchapter; and
375	375	(2) permit inspection and copying by the division,
376	376	during reasonable hours and in a reasonable manner, of the
377	377	compliance records required to be maintained under Subdivision (1).
378	378	(b) The division shall permit inspection and copying by the
379	379	department of the compliance records the division maintains under
380	380	Subsection (a)(1) during reasonable hours and in a reasonable
381	381	manner.
382	382	Sec. 418.335. RULES. The division may adopt rules to
383	383	administer this subchapter.
384	384	SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
385	385	amended by adding Sections 772.00791, 772.013, and 772.014 to read
386	386	as follows:
387	387	Sec. 772.00791. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT
388	388	PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "criminal justice division" means
389	389	the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006.
390	390	(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and
391	391	administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law
392	392	enforcement agency in this state for purposes of becoming
393	393	accredited or maintaining accreditation:
394	394	(1) through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law
395	395	Enforcement Agency Best Practices Accreditation Program;
396	396	(2) by the Commission on Accreditation for Law
397	397	Enforcement Agencies, Inc.;
398	398	(3) by the International Association of Campus Law
399	399	Enforcement Administrators;
400	400	(4) by an accreditation program developed by the
401	401	Sheriffs' Association of Texas; or
402	402	(5) by an association or organization designated by
403	403	the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement as provided by Subsection
404	404	(i).
405	405	(c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the amount of a
406	406	grant awarded to a law enforcement agency under this section is as
407	407	follows:
408	408	(1) $25,000 for each qualifying accreditation:
409	409	(A) held by the agency on the date on which the
410	410	program under this section was established; or
411	411	(B) received by the agency after the date
412	412	described by Paragraph (A); and
413	413	(2) $12,500 for each qualifying reaccreditation
414	414	received by the agency after the date described by Subdivision
415	415	(1)(A).
416	416	(d) A law enforcement agency may not be awarded a grant
417	417	described by Subsection (c)(1) with respect to an accreditation for
418	418	which the agency has previously been awarded a grant under that
419	419	subsection.
420	420	(e) If a law enforcement agency was awarded a grant
421	421	described by Subsection (c)(1) and the accreditation expires
422	422	without the agency receiving reaccreditation, the agency may be
423	423	awarded a grant under this section in the amount provided by
424	424	Subsection (c)(2) for becoming accredited by the accrediting entity
425	425	for which the grant under Subsection (c)(1) was awarded.
426	426	(f) The criminal justice division shall establish:
427	427	(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
428	428	(2) grant application procedures;
429	429	(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
430	430	(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
431	431	(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
432	432	awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
433	433	conditions of a grant.
434	434	(g) Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal
435	435	justice division shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a
436	436	report that provides the following information for the preceding
437	437	state fiscal year:
438	438	(1) the name of each law enforcement agency that
439	439	applied for a grant under this section; and
440	440	(2) the amount of money distributed to each law
441	441	enforcement agency awarded a grant under this section.
442	442	(h) The criminal justice division may use any revenue
443	443	available for purposes of this section.
444	444	(i) The criminal justice division, with the assistance of
445	445	the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, shall periodically review
446	446	associations and organizations that establish standards of
447	447	practice for law enforcement agencies and that offer accreditation
448	448	to agencies that meet those standards. On a determination by the
449	449	criminal justice division that accreditation of law enforcement
450	450	agencies in this state by an association or organization would
451	451	benefit public safety, the commission may designate the association
452	452	or organization as an accrediting entity for purposes of Subsection
453	453	(b)(5).
454	454	Sec. 772.013. COMPLEX EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION
455	455	PLANNING FOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CERTAIN POLITICAL
456	456	SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section:
457	457	(1) "Council of governments" means a regional planning
458	458	commission or similar regional planning commission created under
459	459	Chapter 391, Local Government Code.
460	460	(2) "Department" means the Department of Public
461	461	Safety.
462	462	(3) "First responder" means:
463	463	(A) a peace officer described by Article 2A.001,
464	464	Code of Criminal Procedure;
465	465	(B) an individual included as fire protection
466	466	personnel by Section 419.021; and
467	467	(C) an individual included as emergency medical
468	468	services personnel by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
469	469	(b) To prepare for complex responses to and investigations
470	470	of emergencies that may occur within the territory of a council of
471	471	governments and that require mutual aid and support from more than
472	472	one governmental entity, the department and each political
473	473	subdivision that elects, appoints, or employs a first responder
474	474	within the territory of the council of governments shall
475	475	collectively participate in a multiagency tabletop exercise at
476	476	least semiannually and an in-person drill exercise at least
477	477	annually.
478	478	(c) The department shall invite any appropriate federal
479	479	agency to participate in an exercise described by Subsection (b).
480	480	Sec. 772.014. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF
481	481	PUBLIC SAFETY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. (a) In this
482	482	section:
483	483	(1) "Council of governments" means a regional planning
484	484	commission or similar regional planning commission created under
485	485	Chapter 391, Local Government Code.
486	486	(2) "Department" means the Department of Public
487	487	Safety.
488	488	(b) The department and each local law enforcement agency
489	489	located wholly or partly within the geographic boundaries of a
490	490	council of governments shall collectively enter into a mutual aid
491	491	agreement that establishes the procedures for the provision of
492	492	resources, personnel, facilities, equipment, and supplies in
493	493	responses to critical incidents in a vertically integrated fashion.
494	494	(c) In establishing the procedures, the department and
495	495	local law enforcement agencies shall:
496	496	(1) give priority to establishing the
497	497	interoperability of communications equipment among the parties to
498	498	the agreement;
499	499	(2) establish procedures for interagency coordination
500	500	in activities arising from critical incidents, including evidence
501	501	collection;
502	502	(3) set jurisdictional boundaries; and
503	503	(4) determine the capabilities, processes, and
504	504	expectations among the parties to the agreement.
505	505	(d) The department shall invite any appropriate federal
506	506	agency to enter into the agreement described by Subsection (b).
507	507	SECTION 12. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended
508	508	by adding Sections 370.010, 370.011, and 370.012 to read as
509	509	follows:
510	510	Sec. 370.010. RESILIENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR
511	511	CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section, "first
512	512	responder" means:
513	513	(1) a peace officer described by Article 2A.001, Code
514	514	of Criminal Procedure;
515	515	(2) an individual included as fire protection
516	516	personnel by Section 419.021, Government Code; or
517	517	(3) an individual included as emergency medical
518	518	services personnel by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
519	519	(b) A political subdivision that elects, appoints, or
520	520	employs first responders shall develop a resilient emergency
521	521	management system to coordinate the political subdivision's
522	522	response to an emergency. The system must provide for the
523	523	establishment of:
524	524	(1) a shared emergency response plan across each
525	525	department or agency of the political subdivision with a first
526	526	responder; and
527	527	(2) a multi-department and agency coordination group
528	528	to support resource prioritization and allocation for the political
529	529	subdivision during an emergency.
530	530	(c) The governing body of a political subdivision by
531	531	official action must approve the resilient emergency management
532	532	system required to be established under Subsection (b) for the
533	533	political subdivision.
534	534	Sec. 370.011. RECOVERY OF SERVICES OF CERTAIN POLITICAL
535	535	SUBDIVISIONS AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL AGENCIES AFTER ACTIVE SHOOTER
536	536	EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "interjurisdictional agency" has
537	537	the meaning assigned by Section 418.004, Government Code.
538	538	(b) Each political subdivision and interjurisdictional
539	539	agency with an operations plan for emergency response shall adopt
540	540	and implement measures for the prompt recovery of services provided
541	541	by the political subdivision or agency after an active shooter
542	542	emergency.
543	543	Sec. 370.012. TACTICAL EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
544	544	RESPONSE TO CRITICAL INCIDENT. (a) In this section:
545	545	(1) "Critical incident" has the meaning assigned by
546	546	Section 772.0074, Government Code.
547	547	(2) "Institution of higher education" means:
548	548	(A) an institution of higher education as defined
549	549	by Section 61.003, Education Code; or
550	550	(B) a private or independent institution of
551	551	higher education as defined by that section.
552	552	(3) "Law enforcement agency" means:
553	553	(A) a municipal police department;
554	554	(B) a county sheriff's department;
555	555	(C) a county constable's department; or
556	556	(D) a department or agency of a school district,
557	557	open-enrollment charter school, or institution of higher education
558	558	authorized by law to employ peace officers.
559	559	(4) "Peace officer" means an individual described by
560	560	Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.
561	561	(5) "Tactical equipment" means equipment intended for
562	562	use by a peace officer to facilitate the officer's onsite response
563	563	to an ongoing critical incident, including:
564	564	(A) a weapon;
565	565	(B) a breaching tool;
566	566	(C) a ballistic shield; and
567	567	(D) a bulletproof vest or body armor.
568	568	(b) A law enforcement agency shall make available for use by
569	569	the agency's peace officers sufficient tactical equipment to allow
570	570	the peace officers to effectively respond to a critical incident.
571	571	(c) A law enforcement agency satisfies the requirement of
572	572	Subsection (b) by providing tactical equipment to equip the greater
573	573	of:
574	574	(1) at least 20 percent of the agency's peace officers;
575	575	or
576	576	(2) five of the agency's peace officers.
577	577	(d) A law enforcement agency may enter into a mutual aid
578	578	agreement with a law enforcement agency with overlapping or
579	579	adjacent jurisdiction to share tactical equipment during a critical
580	580	incident in the quantity that allows the agency to meet the
581	581	equipment requirement prescribed by Subsection (c).
582	582	SECTION 13. Chapter 391, Local Government Code, is amended
583	583	by adding Section 391.0041 to read as follows:
584	584	Sec. 391.0041. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES PLAN FOR FIRST
585	585	RESPONDER INVOLVED IN CRITICAL INCIDENT. (a) In this section:
586	586	(1) "Council of governments" means a regional planning
587	587	commission for a state planning region created under this chapter.
588	588	(2) "Critical incident" means an incident involving a
589	589	first responder that occurs while the first responder is performing
590	590	official duties and that results in serious bodily injury to the
591	591	first responder or poses a substantial risk of serious bodily
592	592	injury or death to the first responder or of serious harm to the
593	593	first responder's mental health or well-being.
594	594	(3) "First responder" means:
595	595	(A) a peace officer described by Article 2A.001,
596	596	Code of Criminal Procedure;
597	597	(B) an individual included as fire protection
598	598	personnel by Section 419.021, Government Code; and
599	599	(C) an individual included as emergency medical
600	600	services personnel by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
601	601	(b) Each council of governments shall develop a mental
602	602	health resources plan to address the mental health needs of a first
603	603	responder following a critical incident that occurs within the
604	604	territory of the council.
605	605	(c) A plan developed under Subsection (b):
606	606	(1) must require the council of governments to
607	607	provide:
608	608	(A) education and training to a first responder
609	609	prior to a critical incident on topics including:
610	610	(i) the potential psychological impact that
611	611	being involved in an incident may have on the first responder; and
612	612	(ii) resources available to the first
613	613	responder to address the psychological impact of an incident,
614	614	including mental health counseling, peer support programs, and
615	615	stress management practices; or
616	616	(B) a list of recommended providers located
617	617	within the territory of the council who can provide the education
618	618	and training described by Paragraph (A);
619	619	(2) may recommend that an employer of a first
620	620	responder:
621	621	(A) provide mental health counseling for the
622	622	first responder following a critical incident;
623	623	(B) create a process to conduct a critical
624	624	incident stress debriefing following an incident; and
625	625	(C) create a peer support program to support the
626	626	first responder following an incident; and
627	627	(3) may include any other recommendation the council
628	628	of governments considers appropriate to address the mental health
629	629	needs of a first responder following a critical incident.
630	630	SECTION 14. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended
631	631	by adding Subsection (u) to read as follows:
632	632	(u) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
633	633	commission shall require an officer to complete the training
634	634	courses described by Section 1701.273.
635	635	SECTION 15. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,
636	636	is amended by adding Section 1701.273 to read as follows:
637	637	Sec. 1701.273. TRAINING ON INCIDENT RESPONSE AND COMMAND.
638	638	(a) The commission shall require a peace officer to complete the
639	639	following emergency response management training courses, or a
640	640	substantially similar successor course as determined by the
641	641	commission, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:
642	642	(1) Introduction to the Incident Command System; and
643	643	(2) National Incident Management System, An
644	644	Introduction.
645	645	(b) The commission shall require an officer to complete the
646	646	training courses described by Subsection (a) unless the officer has
647	647	completed the training under Section 1701.253(u).
648	648	SECTION 16. Subchapter H, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,
649	649	is amended by adding Section 1701.3526 to read as follows:
650	650	Sec. 1701.3526. CONTINUING EDUCATION ON INCIDENT RESPONSE
651	651	AND COMMAND. (a) The commission shall require a peace officer whose
652	652	duties involve the supervision of officers in an incident response
653	653	to complete, as part of the continuing education programs under
654	654	Section 1701.351(a), an advanced incident response and command
655	655	course provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as
656	656	determined by commission rule.
657	657	(b) The exemption under Section 1701.351(d) does not apply
658	658	to the training required by Subsection (a).
659	659	SECTION 17. Each law enforcement agency to which Article
660	660	2A.067, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, applies
661	661	shall adopt the policy required by that article as soon as
662	662	practicable after the effective date of this Act.
663	663	SECTION 18. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
664	664	Division of Emergency Management shall develop and post the guide
665	665	required by Section 418.059, Government Code, as added by this Act.
666	666	SECTION 19. A public information officer described by
667	667	Section 418.332, Government Code, as added by this Act, who was
668	668	employed or appointed before the effective date of this Act shall
669	669	obtain the certification required by Section 418.333, Government
670	670	Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2026.
671	671	SECTION 20. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Department
672	672	of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies shall enter
673	673	into mutual aid agreements as required by Section 772.014,
674	674	Government Code, as added by this Act.
675	675	SECTION 21. Not later than January 1, 2026, each political
676	676	subdivision subject to Section 370.010, Local Government Code, as
677	677	added by this Act, shall establish a resilient emergency management
678	678	system as required by that section.
679	679	SECTION 22. As soon as practicable after the effective date
680	680	of this Act, each council of governments, as defined by Section
681	681	391.0041, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, shall
682	682	develop a mental health resources plan required to be created under
683	683	that section.
684	684	SECTION 23. As soon as practicable after the effective date
685	685	of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt
686	686	rules to implement the changes in law made by this Act to
687	687	Subchapters F and H, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
688	688	SECTION 24. The minimum curriculum requirements under
689	689	Section 1701.253(u), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply
690	690	only to an officer who first begins to satisfy those requirements on
691	691	or after January 1, 2026.
692	692	SECTION 25. Section 1701.3526, Occupations Code, as added
693	693	by this Act, applies only with respect to a 24-month continuing
694	694	education training unit that begins on or after the effective date
695	695	of this Act. A training unit that begins before the effective date
696	696	of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the training
697	697	unit began, and the former law is continued in effect for that
698	698	purpose.
699	699	SECTION 26. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.