S.B. No. 1473




AN ACT
relating to the provision of education and training programs for law enforcement officers regarding persons with mental impairments. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Bob Meadours Act." SECTION 2. Section 96.641, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (l) and (m) to read as follows: (l) As part of the initial training and continuing education for police chiefs required under this section, the institute shall establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. The program must include an examination of the best practices for: (1) monitoring peace officers' compliance with internal agency policies relating to de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments; and (2) implementing internal agency policies relating to those techniques. (m) A police chief may not satisfy the requirements of Subsection (l) by taking an online course on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. SECTION 3. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: (j) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the commission shall require an officer to complete a statewide education and training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. An officer shall complete the program not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter or the date the officer applies for an intermediate proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. An officer may not satisfy the requirements of this section or Section 1701.402(g) by taking an online course on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. SECTION 4. Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) As a requirement for an intermediate proficiency certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate, an officer must complete the education and training program described by Section 1701.253 regarding de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments. SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2006, the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas shall establish a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as required by Subsection (l), Section 96.641, Education Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 6. (a) An individual appointed or elected as a police chief before the effective date of this Act shall complete a program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments established under Subsection (l), Section 96.641, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2009. (b) A person who, on September 1, 2005, holds an intermediate proficiency certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate issued under Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, or has held a peace officer license issued by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education for more than two years shall complete an educational training program on de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments as required by Sections 1701.253 and 1701.402, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, not later than September 1, 2009. SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1473 passed the Senate on April 21, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 18, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1473 passed the House, with amendment, on May 13, 2005, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor