TITLE: Relating to the employment of peace officers who seek or receive mental health care.

SUMMARY: Relating to the employment of peace officers who seek or receive mental health care.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the employment of peace officers who seek or receive mental health care. 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. PROVISIONS RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH [LEAVE] SECTION 2. Subchapter A-1, Chapter 614, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 614.014 and 614.016 to read as follows: Sec. 614.014. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "law enforcement agency" means an agency of this state or an agency of a political subdivision of this state authorized by law to employ peace officers. Sec. 614.016. TERMINATION FOR SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROHIBITED. A law enforcement agency may not terminate the employment of a peace officer solely because the peace officer has sought or received mental health care. SECTION 3. Section 614.015(a), Government Code, is repealed. SECTION 4. Section 614.016, Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to mental health care regardless of whether the care was sought or received by a peace officer before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.