BILL ANALYSIS |
C.S.H.B. 593 |
By: Collier |
Homeland Security & Public Safety |
Committee Report (Substituted) |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties note that not all Texas police officers receive adequate training to prepare for a canine encounter even though many officers will likely encounter a canine at some point in the officer's career. C.S.H.B. 593 seeks to equip a police officer with the knowledge and skills necessary to properly handle canine encounters.
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
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RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
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ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 593 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), not later than January 1, 2016, to establish a statewide comprehensive education and training program on canine encounters and canine behavior that consists of at least four hours of classroom instruction and practical training, developed and approved by TCOLE, that addresses the following: handling canine-related calls, anticipating unplanned encounters with canines, and using humane methods and tools in handling canine encounters; recognizing and understanding canine behavior; state laws related to canines; canine conflict avoidance and de-escalation; use of force continuum principles in relation to canines; using nonlethal methods, tools, and resources to avoid and defend against a canine attack; and a general overview of encounters with other animals. The bill requires TCOLE to review the training program's content at least once every four years and update the program as necessary.
C.S.H.B. 593 requires TCOLE to require an officer licensed by TCOLE on or after January 1, 2016, to complete the canine encounter training program as part of the minimum curriculum requirements for law enforcement training programs and schools not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer's basic training course. The bill adds the completion of the canine encounter training program as a requirement for an intermediate or advanced proficiency certificate issued by TCOLE on or after January 1, 2016. The bill specifies that an officer who has completed at least four hours of a canine encounter training program is not required to complete the program established under the bill's provisions.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2015.
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COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 593 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
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