Bill Text: TX HB3712 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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

---

Bill Title: Relating to the training of and policies for peace officers.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 24-10)

Status: (Passed) 2021-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB3712 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB3712-Introduced.html

---

87R14444 TYPED
By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 3712

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the training and hiring of peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.2551 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.2551. BASIC PEACE OFFICER TRAINING COURSE. The
basic peace officer training course required as part of a peace
officer training program under Section 1701.251(a) may be no less
than 720 hours.
SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.269 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.269. TRAINING PROGRAM AND POLICIES FOR FIELD
TRAINING OFFICERS. The commission shall develop and maintain a
model training curriculum and model policies for peace officers who
conduct field training.
SECTION 3. Section 1701.351, Occupations Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
(a-2) Before the first day of each 24 month training unit
during which peace officers are required to complete 40 hours of
continuing education programs under Subsection (a), the commission
shall specify the mandated topics to be covered in up to 16 of the
required hours.
SECTION 4. Subchapter J, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.459 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.459. MODEL POLICY ON PREEMPLOYMENT
INVESTIGATIONS. The commission shall develop and make available to
all law enforcement agencies in this state a model policy for the
preemployment investigation of a person licensed under this
chapter. The model policy must incorporate:
(1) the duties and responsibilities of a law
enforcement agency or governmental entity under Section 1701.303;
(2) the request, analysis, and use of any employment
termination report or criminal background check information
obtained under Section 1701.451; and
(3) any other information the commission considers
necessary to conduct a preemployment investigation of a person.
SECTION 5. (a) Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall modify the curriculum of the
basic peace officer training course as necessary to comply with
Section 1701.2551, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
(b) The minimum hour requirement for the basic peace officer
training course under Section 1701.2551, Occupations Code, as added
by this Act, applies only to a person who first begins the course on
or after July 1, 2022.
SECTION 6. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop and make available the
model training curriculum and model policies required by Sections
1701.269 and 1701.459, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 7. Section 1701.351(a-2), Occupations Code, as
added by this Act, applies only to a training unit that begins on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.