Bill Text: CA SB29 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended

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

---

Bill Title: Peace officer training: mental health.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)

Status: (Passed) 2015-10-03 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 469, Statutes of 2015. [SB29 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB29-Amended.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SB 29	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 31, 2015
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 8, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 2, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 15, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 23, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  FEBRUARY 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Beall
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Mitchell)
   (Coauthors: Senators Anderson, Hancock, Leno, Monning, and Stone)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Chávez, Frazier, Low, and
Maienschein)

                        DECEMBER 1, 2014

   An act to add Sections 13515.28, 13515.29, and 13515.295 to the
Penal Code, relating to peace officer training standards.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 29, as amended, Beall. Peace officer training: mental health.
   Existing law requires specified categories of law enforcement
officers to meet training standards pursuant to courses of training
certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
(POST). Existing law requires POST to include in its basic training
course adequate instruction in the handling of persons with
developmental disabilities or mental illness, or both. Existing law
also requires POST to establish and keep updated a continuing
education classroom training course relating to law enforcement
interaction with developmentally disabled and mentally ill persons.
   This bill would require POST to require field training officers
who are instructors for the field training program to have at least 8
hours of crisis intervention  training related to behavioral
health,   behavioral health training,  as
specified. The bill would also require POST to require as part of its
existing field training officer course, at least 4 hours of training
relating to competencies of the field training program and police
training program that addresses how to interact with persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability, to be completed as
specified.
   By requiring local law enforcement field training officers to have
at least 8 additional hours of training and imposing additional
training costs on local law enforcement agencies, the bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 13515.28 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   13515.28.  (a) (1) The commission shall require the field training
officers who provide instruction in the field training program to
have at least eight hours of crisis intervention  classroom
  behavioral health  training  and
instructor-led active learning, such as scenario-based training,
relating to behavioral health  to better train new peace
officers  on  how to effectively interact with persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability. This course shall 
include classroom instruction and instructor-led active learning,
such as scenario-based training, and shall  be taught in
segments that are at least four hours long.
   (2) If a field training officer has completed eight hours of
crisis intervention behavioral health  training, 
 training within the past 24 months, or if a field training
officer has completed 40 hours of crisis intervention behavioral
health training,  the requirement described in paragraph (1)
shall not  apply if the field training officer has already
completed such a crisis intervention behavioral health training
course within the past 24 months.   apply. 
   (b)  This   The  crisis intervention
 behavioral health  training  course  shall
address issues relating to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and
appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics:
   (1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and intellectual
disabilities.
   (2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations
involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and
substance use disorders.
   (3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for
potentially dangerous situations.
   (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially
emotionally distressed persons.
   (5) Community and state resources available to serve persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these resources
can be best utilized by law enforcement.
   (6) The perspective of individuals or families who have
experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (c) Field training officers assigned or appointed before January
1, 2017, shall complete the crisis intervention  course
  behavioral health training  by June 30, 2017.
Field training officers assigned or appointed on or after January 1,
2017, shall complete the crisis intervention  course
  behavioral health training  within 180 days of
assignment or appointment.
   (d)  Nothing in this   This  section
 shall be construed to   does not  prevent
an agency from requiring its field training officers to complete
 a   additional hours of  crisis
intervention  course with additional hours  
behavioral health training  or  requiring its field training
officers to complete that training  earlier than as required by
this section.
  SEC. 2.  Section 13515.29 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   13515.29.  (a) The commission shall establish and keep updated a
field training officer course relating to competencies of the field
training program and police training program that addresses how to
interact with persons with mental illness or intellectual disability.

   (b) This course shall consist of at least four hours of classroom
instruction and instructor-led active learning, such as
scenario-based training, shall address issues related to stigma, and
shall be culturally relevant and appropriate.
   (c) All prospective field training officers shall complete the
course described in subdivisions (a) and (b) as part of the existing
field training officer program.
   (d) The commission shall implement the provisions of this section
on or before August 1, 2016.
  SEC. 3.  Section 13515.295 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   13515.295.  (a) The commission shall, by May 1, 2016, conduct a
review and evaluation of the required competencies of the field
training program and police training program to identify areas where
additional training is necessary to better prepare law enforcement
officers to effectively address incidents involving persons with a
mental illness or intellectual disability.
   (b) Upon identifying what additional training is needed, the
commission shall update the training in consultation with appropriate
community, local, and state organizations, and agencies that have
expertise in the area of mental illness, intellectual disabilities,
and substance abuse disorders, and with appropriate consumer and
family advocate groups.
   (c) The training shall address issues related to stigma, shall be
culturally relevant and appropriate, and shall include all of the
following topics:
   (1) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual
disability, substance use disorders, neurological disorders,
traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and dementia.

   (2) Autism spectrum disorder.
   (3)  Down   Genetic disorders, including, but
not limited to, down  syndrome.
   (4) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for
potentially dangerous situations.
   (5) Alternatives to the use of force when interacting with
potentially dangerous persons with mental illness or intellectual
disabilities.
   (6) The perspective of individuals or families who have
experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (7) Involuntary holds.
   (8) Community and state resources available to serve persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these resources
can be best utilized by law enforcement.
  SEC. 4.  If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.