Bill Text: TX SB1359 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to adoption by law enforcement agencies of a mental health leave policy for peace officers.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-07 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1359 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1359-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to adoption by law enforcement agencies of a mental health leave policy for peace officers.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-07 - Effective on 9/1/21 [SB1359 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1359-Introduced.html
87R11134 MP-D | ||
By: Hughes | S.B. No. 1359 |
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relating to adoption by law enforcement agencies of a mental health | ||
leave policy for peace officers. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 614, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter A-1 to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER A-1. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE | ||
Sec. 614.015. MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS. (a) | ||
In this section, "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. | ||
(b) Each law enforcement agency shall develop and adopt a | ||
policy allowing the use of mental health leave by the peace officers | ||
employed by the agency who experience a traumatic event in the scope | ||
of that employment. | ||
(c) The mental health leave policy adopted under this | ||
section must: | ||
(1) provide clear and objective guidelines | ||
establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer is | ||
granted mental health leave and may use mental health leave; | ||
(2) entitle a peace officer 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; and | ||
(4) detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer | ||
who takes mental health leave. | ||
(d) The mental health leave policy adopted under this | ||
section may provide a list of mental health services available to | ||
peace officers in the area of the law enforcement agency. | ||
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
of this Act, each law enforcement agency shall develop the mental | ||
health leave policy required by Section 614.015, Government Code, | ||
as added by this Act. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |