Effective Dates:

Texas Occupations Code 1701.2551: Effective date July 1, 2022. Applies to a person who begins the course on or after July 1, 2022.

Texas Occupations Code 1701.269 and 1701.270: Model policies must be adopted within 180 days after TCOLE provides model policies. TCOLE must develop by January 1, 2022.

Texas Occupations Code 1701.351(a-2): Applies to a training unit that begins on or after September 1, 2021.

Basic Peace Officer Training Course

Requires the Basic Peace Officer training course to be no less than 720 hours and include training on banning the use of chokeholds and similar restraints except under certain circumstances. Training must also include the duty to intervene to stop or prevent another peace officer from using excessive force, and the duty to render medical aid. This applies only to someone who begins the course on or after July 1, 2022. Texas Occupations Code 1701.2551.

Training Program and Policies for Peace Officers and Law Enforcement Agencies

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), in consult with the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas and other parties chosen by TCOLE, must develop and maintain model policies and a model training curriculum for peace officers and law enforcement agencies. The policies and curriculum must ban the use choke holds and similar restraints, unless under certain conditions. The policies and curriculum must include the duty to intervene to stop or prevent another peace officer from using excessive force, and the duty to render medical aid. No later than 180 days after the date that TCOLE provides the model policies, each Texas law enforcement agency must adopt a policy on each of the topics. The law enforcement agency may adopt the model policies developed by TCOLE. TCOLE must develop and make available the model training curriculum and model policies by January 1, 2022. Texas Occupations Code 1701.269 and 1701.270.

Continuing Education for Peace Officers

The TCOLE must specify, before the first day of each 24-month training unit, which topics must be covered in up to 16 hours of the required 40 continuing education program hours for peace officers. This applies to a training unit that begins on or after September 1, 2021. Texas Occupations Code 1701.351.