bill adds fire fighters to paid mental health leave

The text as introduced · 517 words

90R3952 DNC-D

By: Campos
H.B. No. 756

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certain mental health policies and services for peace

officers, fire fighters, and telecommunicators.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614,

Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A-1. MENTAL HEALTH OF PEACE OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS,

AND TELECOMMUNICATORS [ LEAVE ]

SECTION 2. Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 614.014 to read as follows:

Sec. 614.014. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Employer" means a governmental entity that

employs or appoints a peace officer, fire fighter, or

telecommunicator or that the peace officer or fire fighter is

elected to serve.

(2) "Fire fighter" and "peace officer" have the

meanings assigned by Section 614.001.

(3) "Telecommunicator" means a person authorized to

act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. Section 614.015, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 614.015. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS , FIRE

FIGHTERS, AND TELECOMMUNICATORS. (a) [ In this section:

[ (1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the

state or of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law

to employ peace officers.

[ (2) "Telecommunicator" means a person authorized to

act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code.

[ (b) ] Each employer [ law enforcement agency, and each

agency of the state or of a political subdivision of the state that

employs a full-time telecommunicator, ] shall develop and adopt a

policy allowing the use of mental health leave by the employer's

peace officers , fire fighters, and full-time telecommunicators, as

applicable, [ employed by the agency ] who experience a traumatic

event in the scope of performing their duties as peace officers,

fire fighters, and telecommunicators for the employer [ that

employment ].

(b) [ (c) ] A mental health leave policy adopted under this

section must:

(1) provide clear and objective guidelines

establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer , fire

fighter, or telecommunicator is granted and may use mental health

leave;

(2) entitle a peace officer , fire fighter, or

telecommunicator to mental health leave without a deduction in

salary or other compensation;

(3) enumerate the number of mental health leave days

available to a peace officer , fire fighter, or telecommunicator;

and

(4) detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer ,

fire fighter, or telecommunicator who takes mental health leave.

(c) [ (d) ] A mental health leave policy adopted under this

section may provide a list of mental health services available to

peace officers , fire fighters, and telecommunicators in the area

where the employer is located [ of the law enforcement or employing

agency ].

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, each employer, as defined by Section 614.014,

Government Code, as added by this Act, shall develop a mental health

leave policy required by Section 614.015, Government Code, as

amended by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.