Bill Text: TX HB2233 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to required mental health awareness training for first responders.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-09 - Referred to Health & Human Services [HB2233 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB2233-Engrossed.html
  88R25069 KKR-F
 
  By: Spiller, Garcia, Howard, et al. H.B. No. 2233
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to required mental health awareness training for first
  responders.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 786 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 786. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING
  FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
         Sec. 786.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Extension service" means the Texas A&M
  Engineering Extension Service.
               (2)  "First responder" means a public safety employee
  whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency.  The term
  includes:
                     (A)  a peace officer whose duties include
  responding rapidly to an emergency;
                     (B)  fire protection personnel as defined by
  Section 419.021, Government Code;
                     (C)  an individual certified as emergency medical
  services personnel by the Department of State Health Services;
                     (D)  an emergency response operator or emergency
  services dispatcher who provides communication support services
  for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in
  emergencies, including a telecommunicator as defined by Section
  1701.001, Occupations Code; and
                     (E)  other emergency response personnel employed
  by a state agency.
               (3)  "First responder training program" means a program
  that provides training required for certification or licensure as a
  first responder, including the training required under:
                     (A)  Chapter 773;
                     (B)  Chapter 419, Government Code; and
                     (C)  Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
         Sec. 786.002.  MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING REQUIRED.
  (a) A person who provides to first responders and first responder
  trainees a first responder training program shall:
               (1)  include as part of the program at least six hours
  of training on mental health awareness that covers:
                     (A)  the most common mental health issues
  experienced by first responders;
                     (B)  the impact of chronic trauma on a first
  responder's duties;
                     (C)  signs and symptoms of mental illness; and
                     (D)  strategies for first responders to attain
  mental wellness and resiliency; and
               (2)  require first responders and first responder
  trainees to successfully complete the training described by
  Subdivision (1) as part of the training program.
         (b)  In providing the training described by Subsection (a), a
  person who provides a first responder training program must use a
  mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted
  under Section 786.003.
         Sec. 786.003.  MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING CURRICULUM.
  (a)  The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall develop or
  adopt a curriculum for the first responder mental health awareness
  training required by Section 786.002.  In developing or adopting
  the curriculum, the extension service shall collaborate with state
  agencies that certify or license first responders, including the
  Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the Texas Commission on Law
  Enforcement, and the Department of State Health Services.
         (b)  Each state agency that certifies or licenses first
  responders shall ensure that the applicable first responder
  training program required for certification or licensure as a first
  responder uses the mental health awareness training curriculum
  developed or adopted by the extension service under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:
         (q)  As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the
  commission shall require an officer to complete the mental health
  awareness training curriculum developed or adopted by the Texas A&M
  Engineering Extension Service under Section 786.003, Health and
  Safety Code.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1701.3071, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  The training required by Subsection (a)(2) must
  include the mental health awareness training curriculum developed
  or adopted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service under
  Section 786.003, Health and Safety Code.
         SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act:
               (1)  the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall
  develop or adopt the first responder mental health awareness
  training curriculum required by Section 786.003, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  each state agency that certifies or licenses first
  responders subject to Chapter 786, Health and Safety Code, as added
  by this Act, shall ensure that:
                     (A)  each first responder training program
  subject to the chapter includes the mental health awareness
  training and curriculum required by that chapter; and
                     (B)  each first responder and first responder
  trainee subject to the chapter completes the required training.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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