HB 1597

AN ACT relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in

House Bill Plesa | Lowe
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Calendar

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Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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What This Bill Does

Requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to develop a specialized training program for county jailers on how to interact with veterans in the criminal justice system, in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission. The training will be part of the mandatory preparatory training for county jailers, mandating at least eight hours of mental health training that includes the veteran-specific curriculum. Current licensed county jailers must complete this training by August 31, 2027, ensuring all county jail personnel are equipped to understand and appropriately engage with veterans who may have unique mental health or service-related challenges.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.273 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.273.  TRAINING PROGRAM RELATING TO COUNTY JAILER
INTERACTIONS WITH VETERANS.  The commission shall, in consultation
with the Texas Veterans Commission, develop a training program for
county jailers on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice
SECTION 2.  Section 1701.310(a), Occupations Code, is
(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person may not
be appointed as a county jailer, except on a temporary basis, unless
the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory training
program, as required by the commission, in the operation of a county
jail at a school operated or licensed by the commission.  The
(1)  consist of at least eight hours of mental health
training approved by the commission and the Commission on Jail
(2)  include the training program developed under
SECTION 3.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies to
a county jailer licensed under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,
regardless of whether the license was issued before, on, or after
the effective date of this Act.
(b)  A county jailer who, on the effective date of this Act,
holds a county jailer license shall complete the training program
described by Section 1701.273, Occupations Code, as added by this
Act, not later than August 31, 2027.
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill Sponsors

Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in