Bill Text: TX SB1358 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to animal encounter training for peace officers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-18 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB1358 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-SB1358-Introduced.html
| 83R9526 MAW-D | ||
| By: Davis | S.B. No. 1358 | |
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| relating to animal encounter training for peace officers. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: | ||
| (l) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the | ||
| commission shall require an officer to complete an animal encounter | ||
| training program established by the commission under Section | ||
| 1701.2531. An officer shall complete the program not later than | ||
| the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under | ||
| this chapter or the date the officer applies for an intermediate | ||
| proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 1701.2531 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 1701.2531. ANIMAL ENCOUNTER TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) | ||
| The commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education | ||
| and training program on animal encounters and animal behavior. The | ||
| training program must consist of at least eight hours of classroom | ||
| instruction and practical training, and may include the use of live | ||
| animals in: | ||
| (1) handling animal-related calls or unplanned | ||
| encounters with animals, with an emphasis on canine-related | ||
| incidents and the use of nonlethal methods and tools in handling an | ||
| encounter; | ||
| (2) identifying and understanding animal behavior; | ||
| (3) laws and ordinances related to animals; | ||
| (4) avoiding an animal attack; and | ||
| (5) using nonlethal methods to defend against an | ||
| animal attack. | ||
| (b) The training program may not be provided as an online | ||
| course. | ||
| (c) At least once every three years, the commission shall | ||
| review the content of the training program under this section and | ||
| update the program as necessary. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 1701.352, Occupations Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: | ||
| (b-1) The commission shall require each officer to complete | ||
| the animal encounter training program established by the commission | ||
| under Section 1701.2531 at least once every 36 months. | ||
| SECTION 4. Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subsection (k) to read as follows: | ||
| (k) As a requirement for an intermediate proficiency | ||
| certificate, an officer must complete the animal encounter training | ||
| program established by the commission under Section 1701.2531. | ||
| SECTION 5. Not later than January 1, 2014, the Commission on | ||
| Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education shall establish the | ||
| animal encounter training program as required by Section 1701.2531, | ||
| Occupations Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | ||
