HB2103 - Relating to the adoption of a mental health leave policy for certain jailers.

  89R9170 JBD-D     By: Ashby H.B. No. 2103       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the adoption of a mental health leave policy for certain   jailers.          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 ,   JAILERS, AND TELECOMMUNICATORS. (a) In this section:                (1)  "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the   state or 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.                 (3)  "Jailer" means:                       (A)     a county jailer as defined by Section   1701.001, Occupations Code; or                       (B)     an employee of the Texas Department of   Criminal Justice who performs a security, custodial, or supervisory   function over the admittance, confinement, or discharge of   prisoners.          (b)  Each law enforcement agency, and each agency of the   state or of a political subdivision of the state that employs a   jailer or full-time telecommunicator, shall develop and adopt a   policy allowing the use of mental health leave by the peace   officers , jailers, and full-time telecommunicators, as applicable,   employed by the agency who experience a traumatic event in the scope   of that employment.          (c)  A mental health leave policy adopted under this section   must:                (1)  provide clear and objective guidelines   establishing the circumstances under which a peace officer , jailer,   or telecommunicator is granted and may use mental health leave;                (2)  entitle a peace officer , jailer, 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 , jailer, or telecommunicator; and                (4)  detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer ,   jailer, or telecommunicator who takes mental health leave.          (d)  A mental health leave policy adopted under this section   may provide a list of mental health services available to peace   officers , jailers, 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, 2025.