1. (a) Individuals appointed as peace officers shall complete at least 40 hours of continuing education training, to include a training and education program that covers recent changes to the laws of this state and of the United States pertaining to peace officers every 24-month unit of a training cycle.
2. (b) Each agency that appoints or employs peace officers, reserve law enforcement officers, jailers, or public security officers shall provide each peace officer, reserve law enforcement officer, jailer, or public security officer whom it appoints or employs with a continuing education program at least once every 48-month training cycle. Part of this training program consists of topics selected by the agency. This section does not limit the number of hours of continuing education an agency may provide.
3. (c) A state agency, county, special district, or municipality that appoints or employs a telecommunicator shall provide training to the telecommunicator of not less than 20 hours during each 24-month period of employment. The training must be approved by the commission and consist of topics selected by the commission and the employing entity. This section does not limit the number of hours of continuing education an agency may provide.

4. (d) Part of the legislatively required peace officer training in every 48-month training cycle must include the curricula and learning objectives developed by the commission, to include:

   1. (1) for an officer holding a basic proficiency certificate or less, not more than 20 hours of education and training that contain curricula incorporating the learning objectives developed by the commission regarding:

      1. (A) civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity;
      2. (B) de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental impairments; and

      3. (C) unless determined by the agency head to be inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties:

         1. (i) the recognition and documentation of cases that involve child abuse or neglect, family violence, and sexual assault; and
         2. (ii) issues concerning sex offender characteristics; and
   2. (2) supervision issues for each peace officer appointed to their first supervisory position, this training must be completed not earlier than the twelfth month before the date of that appointment or later than the first anniversary of the date of that appointment.
5. (e) Individuals licensed as reserve law enforcement officers, jailers, or public security officers shall meet the training requirements for civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity in every 48-month training cycle unless the person has completed or is otherwise exempted from legislative required training under another commission license or certificate.
6. (f) A peace officer first licensed on or after January 1, 2011, must complete a basic training program on the trafficking of persons within one year of licensure.

7. (g) For appointed or elected constables:

   1. (1) An individual appointed or elected to that individual's first position as constable must complete at least 40 hours of initial training for new constables in accordance with Texas Occupations Code §1701.3545(c).
   2. (2) Each constable must complete at least 40 hours of continuing education in accordance with Texas Occupations Code §1701.3545(b), each 48-month cycle.
8. (h) Each deputy constable shall also complete a 20 hour course of training in civil process during each current training cycle.

9. (i) In accordance with Texas Occupations Code §1701.358, individuals appointed as "chief" or "police chief" of a police department:

   1. (1) A newly appointed or elected police chief shall complete the initial training program for new chiefs not later than the second anniversary of that individual's appointment or election as chief.
   2. (2) Each police chief must receive at least 40 hours of continuing education provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute each 24-month unit.
10. (j) The commission shall provide adequate notice to agencies and licensees of impending non-compliance with the legislatively required continuing education.
11. (k) The chief administrator of an agency that has licensees who are in non-compliance shall, within 30 days of receipt of notice of non-compliance, submit a report to the commission explaining the reasons for such non-compliance.
12. (l) The commission may take disciplinary action against a licensee for failure to complete the legislatively required continuing education program at least once every training unit.
13. (m) The commission may take disciplinary action against a licensee for failure to complete the appropriate training within a training cycle.
14. (n) Individuals licensed as peace officers shall complete the legislatively required continuing education program required under this section beginning in the first complete 24-month unit immediately following the date of licensing.
15. (o) Individuals licensed as county jailers shall complete the legislatively required continuing education program required under this section beginning in the first complete 48-month cycle immediately following the date of licensing.
16. (p) All peace officers must meet all continuing education requirements except where exempt by law.
17. (q) The effective date of this section is May 1, 2018.

Source Note:The provisions of this §218.3 adopted to be effective June 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 3444; amended to be effective May 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 1881.