88R25069 KKR-F     By: Spiller, Garcia, Howard, et al. H.B. No. 2233       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)  "Extension service" means the Texas A&M   Engineering Extension Service.                (2)  "First responder" means a public safety employee   whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency.  The term   includes:                      (A)  a peace officer whose duties include   responding rapidly to an emergency;                      (B)  fire protection personnel as defined by   Section 419.021, Government Code;                      (C)  an individual certified as emergency medical   services personnel by the Department of State Health Services;                      (D)  an emergency response operator or emergency   services dispatcher who provides communication support services   for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in   emergencies, including a telecommunicator as defined by Section   1701.001, Occupations Code; and                      (E)  other emergency response personnel employed   by a state agency.                (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.  MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING REQUIRED.   (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   experienced by first responders;                      (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 training 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 Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service 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 extension service shall collaborate with state   agencies that certify or license first responders, including the   Texas Commission on Fire Protection, the Texas Commission on Law   Enforcement, and the Department of State Health Services.          (b)  Each state agency that certifies or licenses first   responders shall ensure that 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 extension service under this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (q) to read as follows:          (q)  As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the   commission shall require an officer to complete the mental health   awareness training curriculum developed or adopted by the Texas A&M   Engineering Extension Service under Section 786.003, Health and   Safety Code.          SECTION 3.  Section 1701.3071, Occupations Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:          (a-2)  The training required by Subsection (a)(2) must   include the mental health awareness training curriculum developed   or adopted by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service under   Section 786.003, Health and Safety Code.          SECTION 4.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act:                (1)  the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service 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 that:                      (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.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.