Flores Active Shooter Bill Pays Police $25,000 Per Accreditation

The text as introduced · 5,176 words

89R12265 JBD-D

By: Flores
S.B. No. 2862

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to active shooter events and other emergencies, including

certain accreditations of law enforcement agencies that respond to

such emergencies.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2A, Code of Criminal

Procedure, is amended by adding Article 2A.067 to read as follows:

Art. 2A.067. POLICY FOR RESPONDING TO ACTIVE SHOOTER

EMERGENCY. (a) This article applies only to a law enforcement

agency of a municipality, county, school district, or institution

of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.

(b) Each law enforcement agency to which this article

applies shall adopt a detailed written policy for responding to an

active shooter emergency. The policy must be based on current best

practices.

SECTION 2. Section 12.104(b), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) An open-enrollment charter school is subject to:

(1) a provision of this title establishing a criminal

offense;

(2) the provisions in Chapter 554, Government Code;

and

(3) a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as

applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this

title, relating to:

(A) the Public Education Information Management

System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with

this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;

(B) criminal history records under Subchapter C,

Chapter 22;

(C) reading instruments and accelerated reading

instruction programs under Section 28.006;

(D) accelerated instruction under Section

28.0211;

(E) high school graduation requirements under

Section 28.025;

(F) special education programs under Subchapter

A, Chapter 29;

(G) bilingual education under Subchapter B,

Chapter 29;

(H) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E

or E-1, Chapter 29, except class size limits for prekindergarten

classes imposed under Section 25.112, which do not apply;

(I) extracurricular activities under Section

33.081;

(J) discipline management practices or behavior

management techniques under Section 37.0021;

(K) health and safety under Chapter 38;

(L) the provisions of Subchapter A, Chapter 39;

(M) public school accountability and special

investigations under Subchapters A, B, C, D, F, G, and J, Chapter

39, and Chapter 39A;

(N) the requirement under Section 21.006 to

report an educator's misconduct;

(O) intensive programs of instruction under

Section 28.0213;

(P) the right of a school employee to report a

crime, as provided by Section 37.148;

(Q) bullying prevention policies and procedures

under Section 37.0832;

(R) the right of a school under Section 37.0052

to place a student who has engaged in certain bullying behavior in a

disciplinary alternative education program or to expel the student;

(S) the right under Section 37.0151 to report to

local law enforcement certain conduct constituting assault or

harassment;

(T) a parent's right to information regarding the

provision of assistance for learning difficulties to the parent's

child as provided by Sections 26.004(b)(11) and 26.0081(c) and (d);

(U) establishment of residency under Section

25.001;

(V) school safety requirements under Sections

37.0814, 37.108, 37.1081, 37.1082, 37.1083, 37.1084, 37.1085,

37.1086, 37.1087, 37.109, 37.113, 37.114, 37.1141, 37.115, 37.207,

and 37.2071 and Subchapter J, Chapter 37;

(W) the early childhood literacy and mathematics

proficiency plans under Section 11.185;

(X) the college, career, and military readiness

plans under Section 11.186; and

(Y) parental options to retain a student under

Section 28.02124.

SECTION 3. Section 37.108, Education Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to

read as follows:

(a) Each school district or public junior college district

shall adopt and implement a multihazard emergency operations plan

for use in the district's facilities. The plan must address

prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery as

defined by the Texas School Safety Center in conjunction with the

governor's office of homeland security, the commissioner of

education, and the commissioner of higher education. The plan must

provide for:

(1) training in responding to an emergency for

district employees, including substitute teachers;

(2) measures to ensure district employees, including

substitute teachers, have classroom access to a telephone,

including a cellular telephone, or another electronic

communication device allowing for immediate contact with district

emergency services or emergency services agencies, law enforcement

agencies, health departments, and fire departments;

(3) measures to ensure district communications

technology and infrastructure are adequate to allow for

communication during an emergency;

(4) if the plan applies to a school district,

mandatory school drills and exercises, including drills required

under Section 37.114, to prepare district students and employees

for responding to an emergency;

(5) measures to ensure coordination with the

Department of State Health Services and local emergency management

agencies, law enforcement, health departments, and fire

departments in the event of an emergency;

(6) the implementation of a safety and security audit

as required by Subsection (b); [ and ]

(7) measures for the prompt recovery of services

provided by the school district or public junior college district

after an active shooter emergency; and

(8) any other requirements established by the Texas

School Safety Center in consultation with the agency and relevant

local law enforcement agencies.

(a-1) Annually, each school district or public junior

college district shall organize a meeting with the Department of

Public Safety, appropriate local law enforcement agencies, and

local emergency first responders regarding the district's

multihazard emergency operations plan. The meeting must include a

discussion and analysis of how the district's multihazard emergency

operations plan would be implemented in an emergency situation.

(b) At least once every three years, each school district or

public junior college district shall conduct a safety and security

audit of the district's facilities that includes a security review

as described by Section 37.1087 for each district facility . A

district, or a person included in the registry established by the

Texas School Safety Center under Section 37.2091 who is engaged by

the district to conduct a safety and security audit, shall follow

safety and security audit procedures developed by the Texas School

Safety Center in coordination with the commissioner of education or

commissioner of higher education, as applicable.

SECTION 4. Section 37.1083(a), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The agency shall monitor the implementation and

operation of requirements related to school district safety and

security, including school district:

(1) multihazard emergency operations plans; [ and ]

(2) safety and security audits ; and

(3) security reviews .

SECTION 5. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 37.1087 to read as follows:

Sec. 37.1087. SECURITY REVIEW. (a) If a school district or

public junior college district constructs, acquires, renovates, or

improves a district facility, the district shall, as soon as

practicable, conduct a security review of the facility to:

(1) determine whether the facility meets school safety

and security requirements; and

(2) identify security vulnerabilities at the facility

in the event of an active shooter emergency and describe strategies

to mitigate each vulnerability identified.

(b) The agency, in consultation with the Department of

Public Safety and the Texas School Safety Center, shall establish

guidelines for the security review required under this section.

SECTION 6. Section 37.109(b), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) The committee shall:

(1) participate on behalf of the district in

developing and implementing emergency plans consistent with the

district multihazard emergency operations plan required by Section

37.108(a) to ensure that the plans reflect specific campus,

facility, or support services needs;

(2) periodically provide recommendations to the

district's board of trustees and district administrators regarding

updating the district multihazard emergency operations plan

required by Section 37.108(a) in accordance with best practices

identified by the agency, the Texas School Safety Center, or a

person included in the registry established by the Texas School

Safety Center under Section 37.2091;

(3) provide the district with any campus, facility, or

support services information required in connection with a safety

and security audit required by Section 37.108(b), a safety and

security audit report required by Section 37.108(c), a security

review required by Section 37.1087, or another report required to

be submitted by the district to the Texas School Safety Center;

(4) review each report required to be submitted by the

district to the Texas School Safety Center to ensure that the report

contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus,

facility, or support service in accordance with criteria

established by the center; and

(5) consult with local law enforcement agencies on

methods to increase law enforcement presence near district

campuses.

SECTION 7. Section 51.217(b), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(b) An institution shall adopt and implement a multihazard

emergency operations plan for use at the institution. The plan must

address mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The plan

must provide for:

(1) employee training in responding to an emergency;

(2) mandatory drills to prepare students, faculty, and

employees for responding to an emergency;

(3) measures to ensure coordination with the

Department of State Health Services, local emergency management

agencies, law enforcement, health departments, and fire

departments in the event of an emergency; [ and ]

(4) the implementation of a safety and security audit

as required by Subsection (c) ; and

(5) measures for the prompt recovery of services

provided by the institution after an active shooter emergency .

SECTION 8. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 418.059 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.059. GUIDE ON PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO

ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENT. (a) The division shall develop a guide on

preparing for and responding to an active shooter event, with an

emphasis on providing information relevant to civic, volunteer, and

community organizations.

(b) The division shall post the guide on the division's

Internet website for public use. The guide must provide a

comprehensive approach to preparing for and responding to active

shooter events and include information on:

(1) planning and preparing the response to an active

shooter event, including recommended tactics and equipment;

(2) providing leadership, incident command, and

coordination in response to the event;

(3) communicating with the public during and after the

event;

(4) investigating and reporting following the event;

(5) arranging for trauma and support services,

including acute support services and long-term support services;

and

(6) preserving and restoring community cohesion and

public life after the event.

(c) In developing and revising the guide, the division may,

in collaboration with the department, seek the advice and

assistance of local governments, civic organizations, volunteer

organizations, and community leaders.

SECTION 9. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is

amended by adding Sections 418.1873 and 418.1877 to read as

follows:

Sec. 418.1873. EVALUATION AND REPORT ON RESPONSE TO ACTIVE

SHOOTER EVENT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN ENTITIES. (a) In this section:

(1) "Emergency medical services" and "emergency

medical services provider" have the meanings assigned by Section

773.003, Health and Safety Code.

(2) "Local law enforcement agency" means a political

subdivision of this state authorized by law to employ or appoint

peace officers.

(b) Each local law enforcement agency and emergency medical

services provider that responds to an active shooter event by

providing law enforcement services or emergency medical services,

or both, shall:

(1) not later than the 30th day after the date of the

event, initiate an evaluation of the agency's or provider's

response to the event and submit a preliminary report to the

division and the department regarding, at minimum, the items

required in the template created under Subsection (c); and

(2) not later than the 60th day after the date of the

event, finalize the report described by Subdivision (1) and submit

the report to the division and the department.

(c) The division, in collaboration with the department,

shall create a template for use by a local law enforcement agency or

emergency medical services provider in evaluating and reporting on

the agency's or provider's response to an active shooter event. The

template must include:

(1) prompts for reporting on the following items:

(A) a brief description and outcome of the active

shooter event;

(B) a statement of personnel and equipment

deployed during the event;

(C) a cost analysis, including salaries,

equipment, and incidentals;

(D) a copy of appropriate event logs and reports;

(E) any maps, forms, or related documentation

used in responding to or evaluating the agency's or provider's

response to the event;

(F) a summary of any deaths or injuries that

occurred as a result of the event;

(G) any information relating to the status of

criminal investigations and subsequent prosecutions arising out of

the event; and

(H) a final evaluation, including:

(i) conclusions relating to the agency's or

provider's response to the event;

(ii) problems encountered during the

response regarding personnel, equipment, resources, or multiagency

response;

(iii) suggestions for revising policy, such

as improving training and equipment; and

(iv) any additional considerations that

would improve the agency's or provider's response to active shooter

events in the future; and

(2) any other content the division considers

appropriate.

(d) The division shall adopt rules to implement this

section, including a rule defining "active shooter event."

(e) A local law enforcement agency or emergency medical

services provider that complies with this section regarding an

active shooter event is not required to conduct any evaluation or

issue any report that may be required under Section 418.188

regarding that event.

Sec. 418.1877. TRAINING ON RESPONSES TO ACTIVE SHOOTER

EVENTS REQUIRED. (a) In this section:

(1) "Emergency medical services personnel" and

"emergency medical services provider" have the meanings assigned by

Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.

(2) "Local law enforcement agency" has the meaning

assigned by Section 418.1873.

(b) The division by rule shall require the peace officers of

each local law enforcement agency and the emergency medical

services personnel of each emergency medical services provider to

complete a training program each year that involves reviewing at

least one final report required by Section 418.1873.

(c) The division shall collaborate with the department, the

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and the Department of State

Health Services, as appropriate, to develop the training programs

required by Subsection (b).

(d) The division, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement,

and the Department of State Health Services may adopt rules to

enforce this section.

SECTION 10. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter K to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER K. CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIRED FOR

CERTAIN PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS

Sec. 418.331. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "public

information officer" means an individual who is employed or

appointed by a state agency, local government entity, or

open-enrollment charter school and whose duties include

communicating with the public during a disaster regarding the

disaster.

Sec. 418.332. CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS. Each of the

following entities shall employ or appoint a public information

officer who must obtain certification in emergency communications

from the division and complete continuing education on emergency

communications as provided by this subchapter:

(1) a municipality, including the municipal police

department;

(2) a county;

(3) a sheriff's office;

(4) an independent school district;

(5) an open-enrollment charter school;

(6) the department; and

(7) the division.

Sec. 418.333. CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a)

A public information officer described by Section 418.332 shall:

(1) obtain certification from the division in

emergency communications not later than the first anniversary of

the date the public information officer was hired or appointed; and

(2) complete a continuing education program on

emergency communications administered by the Federal Emergency

Management Agency and approved by the division twice during each

12-month period beginning on the date the public information

officer obtained certification.

(b) The division shall establish minimum education and

training requirements for initial certification and continuing

education under this subchapter by designating courses approved by

the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These minimum

requirements must include courses provided by the Federal Emergency

Management Agency on:

(1) the National Incident Management System;

(2) the Incident Command System; and

(3) the basic skills and principles necessary to

fulfill the role of a public information officer with respect to

emergency communications.

(c) The division shall assist the entities subject to

Section 418.332 in identifying approved training programs.

Sec. 418.334. COMPLIANCE RECORDS; INSPECTION. (a) Each

entity subject to Section 418.332 shall:

(1) maintain records that demonstrate the compliance

of each public information officer employed or appointed by that

entity with the certification and continuing education

requirements of this subchapter; and

(2) permit inspection and copying by the division,

during reasonable hours and in a reasonable manner, of the

compliance records required to be maintained under Subdivision (1).

(b) The division shall permit inspection and copying by the

department of the compliance records the division maintains under

Subsection (a)(1) during reasonable hours and in a reasonable

manner.

Sec. 418.335. RULES. The division may adopt rules to

administer this subchapter.

SECTION 11. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is

amended by adding Sections 772.00791, 772.013, and 772.014 to read

as follows:

Sec. 772.00791. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT

PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "criminal justice division" means

the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006.

(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and

administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law

enforcement agency in this state for purposes of becoming

accredited or maintaining accreditation:

(1) through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law

Enforcement Agency Best Practices Accreditation Program;

(2) by the Commission on Accreditation for Law

Enforcement Agencies, Inc.;

(3) by the International Association of Campus Law

Enforcement Administrators;

(4) by an accreditation program developed by the

Sheriffs' Association of Texas; or

(5) by an association or organization designated by

the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement as provided by Subsection

(i).

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the amount of a

grant awarded to a law enforcement agency under this section is as

follows:

(1) $25,000 for each qualifying accreditation:

(A) held by the agency on the date on which the

program under this section was established; or

(B) received by the agency after the date

described by Paragraph (A); and

(2) $12,500 for each qualifying reaccreditation

received by the agency after the date described by Subdivision

(1)(A).

(d) A law enforcement agency may not be awarded a grant

described by Subsection (c)(1) with respect to an accreditation for

which the agency has previously been awarded a grant under that

subsection.

(e) If a law enforcement agency was awarded a grant

described by Subsection (c)(1) and the accreditation expires

without the agency receiving reaccreditation, the agency may be

awarded a grant under this section in the amount provided by

Subsection (c)(2) for becoming accredited by the accrediting entity

for which the grant under Subsection (c)(1) was awarded.

(f) The criminal justice division shall establish:

(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;

(2) grant application procedures;

(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts;

(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and

(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant

awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any

conditions of a grant.

(g) Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal

justice division shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a

report that provides the following information for the preceding

state fiscal year:

(1) the name of each law enforcement agency that

applied for a grant under this section; and

(2) the amount of money distributed to each law

enforcement agency awarded a grant under this section.

(h) The criminal justice division may use any revenue

available for purposes of this section.

(i) The criminal justice division, with the assistance of

the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, shall periodically review

associations and organizations that establish standards of

practice for law enforcement agencies and that offer accreditation

to agencies that meet those standards. On a determination by the

criminal justice division that accreditation of law enforcement

agencies in this state by an association or organization would

benefit public safety, the commission may designate the association

or organization as an accrediting entity for purposes of Subsection

(b)(5).

Sec. 772.013. COMPLEX EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION

PLANNING FOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CERTAIN POLITICAL

SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Council of governments" means a regional planning

commission or similar regional planning commission created under

Chapter 391, Local Government Code.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Public

Safety.

(3) "First responder" means:

(A) a peace officer described by Article 2A.001,

Code of Criminal Procedure;

(B) an individual included as fire protection

personnel by Section 419.021; and

(C) an individual included as emergency medical

services personnel by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.

(b) To prepare for complex responses to and investigations

of emergencies that may occur within the territory of a council of

governments and that require mutual aid and support from more than

one governmental entity, the department and each political

subdivision that elects, appoints, or employs a first responder

within the territory of the council of governments shall

collectively participate in a multiagency tabletop exercise at

least semiannually and an in-person drill exercise at least

annually.

(c) The department shall invite any appropriate federal

agency to participate in an exercise described by Subsection (b).

Sec. 772.014. MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF

PUBLIC SAFETY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. (a) In this

section:

(1) "Council of governments" means a regional planning

commission or similar regional planning commission created under

Chapter 391, Local Government Code.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Public

Safety.

(b) The department and each local law enforcement agency

located wholly or partly within the geographic boundaries of a

council of governments shall collectively enter into a mutual aid

agreement that establishes the procedures for the provision of

resources, personnel, facilities, equipment, and supplies in

responses to critical incidents in a vertically integrated fashion.

(c) In establishing the procedures, the department and

local law enforcement agencies shall:

(1) give priority to establishing the

interoperability of communications equipment among the parties to

the agreement;

(2) establish procedures for interagency coordination

in activities arising from critical incidents, including evidence

collection;

(3) set jurisdictional boundaries; and

(4) determine the capabilities, processes, and

expectations among the parties to the agreement.

(d) The department shall invite any appropriate federal

agency to enter into the agreement described by Subsection (b).

SECTION 12. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Sections 370.010, 370.011, and 370.012 to read as

follows:

Sec. 370.010. RESILIENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR

CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section, "first

responder" means:

(1) a peace officer described by Article 2A.001, Code

of Criminal Procedure;

(2) an individual included as fire protection

personnel by Section 419.021, Government Code; or

(3) an individual included as emergency medical

services personnel by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.

(b) A political subdivision that elects, appoints, or

employs first responders shall develop a resilient emergency

management system to coordinate the political subdivision's

response to an emergency. The system must provide for the

establishment of:

(1) a shared emergency response plan across each

department or agency of the political subdivision with a first

responder; and

(2) a multi-department and agency coordination group

to support resource prioritization and allocation for the political

subdivision during an emergency.

(c) The governing body of a political subdivision by

official action must approve the resilient emergency management

system required to be established under Subsection (b) for the

political subdivision.

Sec. 370.011. RECOVERY OF SERVICES OF CERTAIN POLITICAL

SUBDIVISIONS AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL AGENCIES AFTER ACTIVE SHOOTER

EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "interjurisdictional agency" has

the meaning assigned by Section 418.004, Government Code.

(b) Each political subdivision and interjurisdictional

agency with an operations plan for emergency response shall adopt

and implement measures for the prompt recovery of services provided

by the political subdivision or agency after an active shooter

emergency.

Sec. 370.012. TACTICAL EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

RESPONSE TO CRITICAL INCIDENT. (a) In this section:

(1) "Critical incident" has the meaning assigned by

Section 772.0074, Government Code.

(2) "Institution of higher education" means:

(A) an institution of higher education as defined

by Section 61.003, Education Code; or

(B) a private or independent institution of

higher education as defined by that section.

(3) "Law enforcement agency" means:

(A) a municipal police department;

(B) a county sheriff's department;

(C) a county constable's department; or

(D) a department or agency of a school district,

open-enrollment charter school, or institution of higher education

authorized by law to employ peace officers.

(4) "Peace officer" means an individual described by

Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.

(5) "Tactical equipment" means equipment intended for

use by a peace officer to facilitate the officer's onsite response

to an ongoing critical incident, including:

(A) a weapon;

(B) a breaching tool;

(C) a ballistic shield; and

(D) a bulletproof vest or body armor.

(b) A law enforcement agency shall make available for use by

the agency's peace officers sufficient tactical equipment to allow

the peace officers to effectively respond to a critical incident.

(c) A law enforcement agency satisfies the requirement of

Subsection (b) by providing tactical equipment to equip the greater

of:

(1) at least 20 percent of the agency's peace officers;

or

(2) five of the agency's peace officers.

(d) A law enforcement agency may enter into a mutual aid

agreement with a law enforcement agency with overlapping or

adjacent jurisdiction to share tactical equipment during a critical

incident in the quantity that allows the agency to meet the

equipment requirement prescribed by Subsection (c).

SECTION 13. Chapter 391, Local Government Code, is amended

by adding Section 391.0041 to read as follows:

Sec. 391.0041. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES PLAN FOR FIRST

RESPONDER INVOLVED IN CRITICAL INCIDENT. (a) In this section:

(1) "Council of governments" means a regional planning

commission for a state planning region created under this chapter.

(2) "Critical incident" means an incident involving a

first responder that occurs while the first responder is performing

official duties and that results in serious bodily injury to the

first responder or poses a substantial risk of serious bodily

injury or death to the first responder or of serious harm to the

first responder's mental health or well-being.

(3) "First responder" means:

(A) a peace officer described by Article 2A.001,

Code of Criminal Procedure;

(B) an individual included as fire protection

personnel by Section 419.021, Government Code; and

(C) an individual included as emergency medical

services personnel by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.

(b) Each council of governments shall develop a mental

health resources plan to address the mental health needs of a first

responder following a critical incident that occurs within the

territory of the council.

(c) A plan developed under Subsection (b):

(1) must require the council of governments to

provide:

(A) education and training to a first responder

prior to a critical incident on topics including:

(i) the potential psychological impact that

being involved in an incident may have on the first responder; and

(ii) resources available to the first

responder to address the psychological impact of an incident,

including mental health counseling, peer support programs, and

stress management practices; or

(B) a list of recommended providers located

within the territory of the council who can provide the education

and training described by Paragraph (A);

(2) may recommend that an employer of a first

responder:

(A) provide mental health counseling for the

first responder following a critical incident;

(B) create a process to conduct a critical

incident stress debriefing following an incident; and

(C) create a peer support program to support the

first responder following an incident; and

(3) may include any other recommendation the council

of governments considers appropriate to address the mental health

needs of a first responder following a critical incident.

SECTION 14. 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 training

courses described by Section 1701.273.

SECTION 15. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,

is amended by adding Section 1701.273 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.273. TRAINING ON INCIDENT RESPONSE AND COMMAND.

(a) The commission shall require a peace officer to complete the

following emergency response management training courses, or a

substantially similar successor course as determined by the

commission, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

(1) Introduction to the Incident Command System; and

(2) National Incident Management System, An

Introduction.

(b) The commission shall require an officer to complete the

training courses described by Subsection (a) unless the officer has

completed the training under Section 1701.253(u).

SECTION 16. Subchapter H, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,

is amended by adding Section 1701.3526 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.3526. CONTINUING EDUCATION ON INCIDENT RESPONSE

AND COMMAND. (a) The commission shall require a peace officer whose

duties involve the supervision of officers in an incident response

to complete, as part of the continuing education programs under

Section 1701.351(a), an advanced incident response and command

course provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as

determined by commission rule.

(b) The exemption under Section 1701.351(d) does not apply

to the training required by Subsection (a).

SECTION 17. Each law enforcement agency to which Article

2A.067, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, applies

shall adopt the policy required by that article as soon as

practicable after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 18. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas

Division of Emergency Management shall develop and post the guide

required by Section 418.059, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 19. A public information officer described by

Section 418.332, Government Code, as added by this Act, who was

employed or appointed before the effective date of this Act shall

obtain the certification required by Section 418.333, Government

Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2026.

SECTION 20. Not later than January 1, 2026, the Department

of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies shall enter

into mutual aid agreements as required by Section 772.014,

Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 21. Not later than January 1, 2026, each political

subdivision subject to Section 370.010, Local Government Code, as

added by this Act, shall establish a resilient emergency management

system as required by that section.

SECTION 22. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, each council of governments, as defined by Section

391.0041, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, shall

develop a mental health resources plan required to be created under

that section.

SECTION 23. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt

rules to implement the changes in law made by this Act to

Subchapters F and H, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.

SECTION 24. The minimum curriculum requirements under

Section 1701.253(u), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, apply

only to an officer who first begins to satisfy those requirements on

or after January 1, 2026.

SECTION 25. Section 1701.3526, Occupations Code, as added

by this Act, applies only with respect to a 24-month continuing

education training unit that begins on or after the effective date

of this Act. A training unit that begins before the effective date

of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the training

unit began, and the former law is continued in effect for that

purpose.

SECTION 26. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.