Bill Text: TX HB579 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to animal encounter training for peace officers.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-10 - Left pending in committee [HB579 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB579-Introduced.html
| 84R3371 TSR-D | ||
| By: Giddings | H.B. No. 579 | |
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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 | ||
| 1701.261. 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 1701.261 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 1701.261. 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 provide instruction 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) 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. | ||
| (c) Each officer who has not completed the training program | ||
| as required by Section 1701.253(l) shall complete the training | ||
| program not later than September 1, 2017. | ||
| (d) Subsection (c) and this subsection expire January 1, | ||
| 2019. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: | ||
| (l) As a requirement for an intermediate proficiency | ||
| certificate, an officer must complete the animal encounter training | ||
| program established by the commission under Section 1701.261. | ||
| SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Texas | ||
| Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules necessary to | ||
| establish the animal encounter training program as required by | ||
| Section 1701.261, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
