Bill Text: CA SB1221 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 1221 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Firefighters: interaction with persons with mental disabilities.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2016-09-14 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 367, Statutes of 2016. [SB1221 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB1221-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: SB 1221	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  367
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 14, 2016
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 29, 2016
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 22, 2016
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 8, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 26, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hertzberg
   (Coauthor: Senator Bates)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, and
Maienschein)

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to amend Section 13515.25 of the Penal Code, relating to
firefighters.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1221, Hertzberg. Firefighters: interaction with persons with
mental disabilities.
   Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards
and Training to establish a continuing education classroom training
course related to law enforcement interaction with mentally disabled
persons and to make the course available to law enforcement agencies
in California.
   This bill would require that the course be shared with the State
Fire Marshal and would authorize him or her to revise the course, as
specified. The bill would delete an obsolete reporting requirement
and make a conforming change.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 13515.25 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
   13515.25.  (a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training shall establish and keep updated a continuing education
classroom training course relating to law enforcement interaction
with persons with mental disabilities. The training course shall be
developed by the commission in consultation with appropriate
community, local, and state organizations and agencies that have
expertise in the area of mental illness and developmental disability,
and with appropriate consumer and family advocate groups. In
developing the course, the commission shall also examine existing
courses certified by the commission that relate to persons with
mental disabilities. The commission shall make the course available
to law enforcement agencies in California.
   (b) The course described in subdivision (a) shall consist of
classroom instruction and shall utilize interactive training methods
to ensure that the training is as realistic as possible. The course
shall include, at a minimum, core instruction in all of the
following:
   (1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and developmental
disabilities.
   (2) How to identify indicators of mental disability and how to
respond appropriately in a variety of common situations.
   (3) Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques for
potentially dangerous situations involving a person with a mental
disability.
   (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with a person with
a mental disability.
   (5) Alternatives to lethal force when interacting with potentially
dangerous persons with mental disabilities.
   (6) Community and state resources available to serve persons with
mental disabilities and how these resources can be best utilized by
law enforcement to benefit the mentally disabled community.
   (7) The fact that a crime committed in whole or in part because of
an actual or perceived disability of the victim is a hate crime
punishable under Title 11.6 (commencing with Section 422.55) of Part
1.
   (c) The course described in subdivision (a) shall be shared with
the State Fire Marshal, who may revise the course as appropriate to
the firefighter training environment.
   (d) The Legislature encourages law enforcement agencies to include
the course created in this section, and any other course certified
by the commission relating to persons with mental disabilities, as
part of their advanced officer training program.
   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature to reevaluate the extent
to which law enforcement officers are receiving adequate training in
how to interact with persons with mental disabilities.