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

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1221	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 26, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hertzberg

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1221, as amended, Hertzberg. Firefighters: interaction with
mentally disabled persons.
   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 authorize the commission to make the course
available to  firefighters and fire departments in
California.   the State Fire Marshal.  The bill
would delete an obsolete reporting requirement and make a conforming
change.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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 mentally disabled persons. 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 mentally disabled
persons. The commission shall make the course available to law
enforcement agencies in  California, and may make the course
available to firefighters and fire departments 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 mentally disabled persons.

   (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with mentally
disabled persons.
   (5) Alternatives to lethal force when interacting with potentially
dangerous mentally disabled persons.
   (6) Community and state resources available to serve mentally
disabled persons 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.  
   (c) 
    (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 mentally disabled persons, as
part of their advanced officer training program. 
   (d) 
    (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 mentally disabled persons.