HB4863 - Relating to required mental health awareness training for first responders.

  89R5864 MPF-D     By: Goodwin H.B. No. 4863       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to required mental health awareness training for first   responders.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Chapter 786 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 786. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING   FOR FIRST RESPONDERS           Sec. 786.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)     "Commission"   means the Health and Human Services   Commission.                 (2)     "First responder" has the meaning assigned by   Section 421.095, Government Code.                 (3)     "First responder training program" means a program   that provides training required for certification or licensure as a   first responder, including the training required under:                       (A)  Chapter 773;                       (B)  Chapter 419, Government Code; and                       (C)  Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.           Sec.   786.002.     REQUIRED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING.   (a) A person who provides to first responders and first responder   trainees a first responder training program shall:                 (1)     include as part of the program at least six hours   of training on mental health awareness that covers:                       (A)     the most common mental health issues first   responders experience;                       (B)     the impact of chronic trauma on a first   responder's duties;                       (C)  signs and symptoms of mental illness; and                       (D)     strategies for first responders to attain   mental wellness and resiliency; and                 (2)     require first responders and first responder   trainees to successfully complete the training described by   Subdivision (1) as part of the program.           (b)     In providing the training described by Subsection (a), a   person who provides a first responder training program must use a   mental health awareness training curriculum developed or adopted   under Section 786.003.           Sec.   786.003.     MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING CURRICULUM.   (a)   The commission shall develop or adopt a curriculum for the   first responder mental health awareness training required by   Section 786.002.   In developing or adopting the curriculum, the   commission shall collaborate with state agencies that certify or   license first responders.           (b)     Each state agency that certifies or licenses first   responders shall ensure the applicable first responder training   program required for certification or licensure as a first   responder uses the mental health awareness training curriculum   developed or adopted by the commission under this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (u) to read as follows:           (u)     As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the   commission shall require an officer to complete the mental health   awareness training curriculum the Health and Human Services   Commission develops or adopts under Section 786.003, Health and   Safety Code.          SECTION 3.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective   date of this Act:                (1)  the Health and Human Services Commission shall   develop or adopt the first responder mental health awareness   training curriculum required by Section 786.003, Health and Safety   Code, as added by this Act; and                (2)  each state agency that certifies or licenses first   responders subject to Chapter 786, Health and Safety Code, as added   by this Act, shall ensure:                      (A)  each first responder training program   subject to the chapter includes the mental health awareness   training and curriculum required by that chapter; and                      (B)  each first responder and first responder   trainee subject to the chapter completes the required training.          (b)  Not later than January 1, 2028, a peace officer or   reserve law enforcement officer who holds a license issued under   Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on or before January 1, 2026, shall   complete the mental health awareness training curriculum required   by Section 1701.253(u), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.