H.B. No. 2093
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to persons certified as peace officers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1701.404, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.404.  CERTIFICATION OF OFFICERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH
  ASSIGNMENTS.  (a)  The commission by rule may establish minimum
  requirements for the training, testing, and certification of
  special officers for offenders with mental impairments.
         (b)  The commission may certify a sheriff, sheriff's deputy,
  constable, [or] other peace officer, county jailer, or [a] justice
  of the peace[,] as a special officer for offenders with mental
  impairments if the person [officer]:
               (1)  completes a training course in emergency first aid
  and lifesaving techniques approved by the commission;
               (2)  completes a training course administered by the
  commission on mental health issues and offenders with mental
  impairments; and
               (3)  passes an examination administered by the
  commission that is designed to test the person's [officer's]:
                     (A)  knowledge and recognition of the
  characteristics and symptoms of mental illness, mental
  retardation, and mental disabilities; and
                     (B)  knowledge of mental health crisis
  intervention strategies for people with mental impairments.
         (c)  The commission may issue a professional achievement or
  proficiency certificate to an officer, county jailer, or justice of
  the peace who meets the requirements of Subsection (b).
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
  Standards and Education may certify a county jailer as a special
  officer for offenders with mental impairments and may issue a
  certificate to the county jailer if the county jailer meets the
  requirements of Section 1701.404(b), Occupations Code, as amended
  by this Act, regardless of whether the county jailer completed the
  required training and passed the examination before, on, or after
  the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
  Education may issue a certificate under Section 1701.404(c),
  Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, to a justice of the peace
  who is certified as a special officer for offenders with mental
  impairments regardless of whether the justice of the peace was
  certified before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2093 was passed by the House on May
  11, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 2093 on May 29, 2009, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 2093 on May 31, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 142,
  Nays 0, 1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2093 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 25, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  2093 on June 1, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor