HB3420 - Relating to certain mental health policies and services for peace officers, fire fighters, and telecommunicators.

  89R24706 DNC-D     By: Campos, LaHood, Garcia of Bexar, Plesa H.B. No. 3420       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to certain mental health policies and services for peace   officers, fire fighters, and telecommunicators.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614,   Government Code, is amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER A-1.  MENTAL HEALTH OF PEACE OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS,   AND TELECOMMUNICATORS [ LEAVE ]          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 614.014 to read as follows:           Sec. 614.014.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Employer" means a governmental entity that   employs or appoints a peace officer, fire fighter, or   telecommunicator or that the peace officer or fire fighter is   elected to serve.                 (2)     "Fire fighter" and "peace officer" have the   meanings assigned by Section 614.001.                 (3)     "Telecommunicator"   means a person authorized to   act as a telecommunicator under Section 1701.405, Occupations Code.          SECTION 3.  Section 614.015, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 614.015.  MENTAL HEALTH LEAVE FOR PEACE OFFICERS , FIRE   FIGHTERS, 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.          [ (b) ]  Each employer [ 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 employer's     peace officers , fire fighters, and full-time telecommunicators, as   applicable, [ employed by the agency ] who experience a traumatic   event in the scope of performing their duties as peace officers,   fire fighters, and telecommunicators for the employer [ that   employment ].           (b)  [ (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 , fire   fighter, or telecommunicator is granted and may use mental health   leave;                (2)  entitle a peace officer , fire fighter, 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 , fire fighter, or telecommunicator;   and                (4)  detail the level of anonymity for a peace officer ,   fire fighter, or telecommunicator who takes mental health leave.           (c)  [ (d) ]  A mental health leave policy adopted under this   section may provide a list of mental health services available to   peace officers , fire fighters, and telecommunicators in the area   where the employer is located [ of the law enforcement or employing   agency ].          SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, each employer, as defined by Section 614.014,   Government Code, as added by this Act, shall develop a mental health   leave policy required by Section 614.015, Government Code, as   amended by this Act.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.