BILL NUMBER: SB 11	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  FEBRUARY 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Beall

                        DECEMBER 1, 2014

   An act  to add Sections 13515.26 and 13515.27 to the Penal
Code,   relating to peace officer training standards.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 11, as amended, Beall. Peace officer training: mental health.

   Existing law requires specified categories of law enforcement
officers to meet training standards pursuant to courses of training
certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training
(POST). Existing law requires POST to include in its basic training
course adequate instruction in the handling of persons with
developmental disabilities or mental illness, or both. Existing law
also requires POST to establish and keep updated a continuing
education classroom training course relating to law enforcement
interaction with developmentally disabled and mentally ill persons.
 
   This bill would require POST to include in its basic training
course an evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course
to train law enforcement officers to recognize, deescalate, and refer
persons with mental illness or intellectual disability who are in
crisis. The bill would require that this evidence-based behavioral
health classroom training course be 20 hours long and be in addition
to the basic training course's current hour requirement.  
   The bill would also require POST to establish and keep updated an
evidence-based behavioral health training course as part of its
perishable skills training under its continuing professional training
requirement. The bill would require that this evidence-based
behavioral health training course be a minimum of 4 consecutive hours
of the total hours required in each 4-year period for perishable
skills training.  
   By imposing additional training costs on local law enforcement
agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 

   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.  
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.  
   Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards
and Training to establish and keep updated a continuing education
classroom training course for peace officer interactions with persons
with mental disabilities. Under existing law, this course consists
of classroom instruction and utilizes interactive training methods to
ensure that training is as realistic as possible. Under existing
law, this course includes training in identifying indicators of
mental disability, conflict resolution techniques, and alternatives
to lethal force.  
   This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to increase the minimum mental health training standard
for California peace officers. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program:  no
  yes  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    Section 13515.26 is added to the 
 Penal Code   , to read:  
   13515.26.  (a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training shall establish and keep updated an evidence-based
behavioral health classroom training course relating to law
enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness as part of
its basic training course for law enforcement officers. This
evidence-based behavioral health classroom training course shall
train officers to recognize, deescalate, and refer persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability who are in crisis.
   (b) This evidence-based behavioral health classroom training
course shall address issues relating to stigma, shall be culturally
relevant and appropriate, and shall include all of the following
topics:
   (1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and intellectual
disabilities.
   (2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations
involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and
substance use disorders.
   (3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for
potentially dangerous situations.
   (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially
emotionally distressed persons.
   (5) Community and state resources available to serve persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these resources
can be best utilized by law enforcement.
   (6) The perspective of individuals and families with lived
experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (c) This evidence-based behavioral health classroom training
course shall be 20 hours long and shall be in addition to the basic
training course's current hour requirement. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 13515.27 is added to the 
 Penal Code   , to read:  
   13515.27.  (a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training shall establish and keep updated an evidence-based
behavioral health training course relating to law enforcement
interaction with persons with mental illness as part of its
perishable skills training under its continuing professional training
requirement.
   (b) Of the total hours required in each four-year period for
perishable skills training, a minimum of four consecutive hours shall
be dedicated to the evidence-based behavioral health training
course.
   (c) This evidence-based behavioral health training course shall
address issues related to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and
appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics:
   (1) The cause and nature of mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders.
   (C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations
involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and
substance use disorders.
   (3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for
potentially dangerous situations.
   (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially
emotionally distressed persons.
   (5) Community and state resources available to serve persons with
mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these resources
can be best utilized by law enforcement.
   (6) The perspective of individuals and families with lived
experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual
disability, and substance use disorders. 
   SEC. 3.    If the Commission on State Mandates
determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs
shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of
Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation to increase the minimum mental health training
standard for California peace officers in order to address officer
and community safety and achieve better outcomes when interacting
with persons with mental illness.