Bill Text: TX HB1486 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the adoption of a mental health leave policy for certain telecommunicators.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/23 [HB1486 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB1486-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 1486
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the adoption of a mental health leave policy for certain
  telecommunicators.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 614.015, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 614.015.  MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS AND
  TELECOMMUNICATORS.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Law [, "law] enforcement agency" means an agency
  of the state or [an agency] of a political subdivision of the state
  authorized by law to employ peace officers.
               (2)  "Telecommunicator" means a person authorized to
  act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code.
         (b)  Each law enforcement agency, and each agency of the
  state or of a political subdivision of the state that employs a
  full-time telecommunicator, shall develop and adopt a policy
  allowing the use of mental health leave by the peace officers and
  full-time telecommunicators, as applicable, employed by the agency
  who experience a traumatic event in the scope of that employment.
         (c)  A [The] mental health leave policy adopted under this
  section must:
               (1)  provide clear and objective guidelines
  establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer or
  telecommunicator is granted [mental health leave] and may use
  mental health leave;
               (2)  entitle a peace officer or telecommunicator to
  mental health leave without a deduction in salary or other
  compensation;
               (3)  enumerate the number of mental health leave days
  available to a peace officer or telecommunicator; and
               (4)  detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer
  or telecommunicator who takes mental health leave.
         (d)  A [The] mental health leave policy adopted under this
  section may provide a list of mental health services available to
  peace officers and telecommunicators in the area of the law
  enforcement or employing agency.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, each agency required to adopt a mental health leave
  policy under Section 614.015, Government Code, as amended by this
  Act, shall adopt a mental health leave policy as prescribed by that
  section.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1486 was passed by the House on April
  14, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 3, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1486 was passed by the Senate on May
  23, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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