SB 29, 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 require field training officers who are instructors for the field training program to have 40 hours of evidence-based behavioral health training, as specified. The bill would also require POST to requirebegin delete the field training program to includeend delete
a 20-hour evidence-based behavioral health training course relating to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness or intellectual disabilitybegin insert, to be completed as specifiedend insert.
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.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 13515.28 is added to the Penal Code, to
2read:
(a) begin insert(1)end insertbegin insert end insertThe Commission on Peace Officer Standards
4and Training shall require the field training officers who provide
5instruction in the field training program to have 40 hours of
6evidence-based behavioral health training to deescalate a situation
7where an officer isbegin delete confrontingend deletebegin insert interacting withend insert persons with
8mental illness or intellectual disability.
9(2) If an officer has completed 40 hours of evidence-based
10behavorial health training, the requirement described in paragraph
11(1) shall not apply. Instead, the officer is strongly encouraged to
12take a four-hour behavorial health refresher course.
13(b) This evidence-based behavioral health training course shall
14address issues relating to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and
15appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics:
16(1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and intellectual
17disabilities.
18(2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual
19disability, and substance use disorders.
20(B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual
21disability, and substance use disorders.
22(C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations
23involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and
24substance use disorders.
25(3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for
26potentially dangerous situations.
P3 1(4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially
2emotionally distressed persons.
3(5) Community and state resources available to serve persons
4with mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these
5resources can be best utilized by law enforcement.
6(6) The perspective of individuals and families with lived
7experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability,
8and substance use disorders.
Section 13515.29 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
(a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards
11and Training shall requirebegin delete as part of its field training programend delete a
1220-hour evidence-based behavioral health training course relating
13to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness
14or intellectual disabilitybegin insert to be completed during the employing
15department’s field training and probationary period, but in no
16case later than 24 months after the employee’s appointment as an
17officerend insert.
18(b) This evidence-based behavioral health training course shall
19begin delete addressend deletebegin insert
build on the regular basic course training requirements
20addressingend insert issues relating to stigma, shall be culturally relevant
21and appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics:
22(1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and intellectual
23disabilities.
24(2) (A) How to identify indicators of mental illness, intellectual
25disability, and substance use disorders.
26(B) How to distinguish between mental illness, intellectual
27disability, and substance use disorders.
28(C) How to respond appropriately in a variety of situations
29involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and
30substance use
disorders.
31(3) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for
32potentially dangerous situations.
33(4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially
34emotionally distressed persons.
35(5) Community and state resources available to serve persons
36with mental illness or intellectual disability, and how these
37resources can be best utilized by law enforcement.
38(6) The perspective of individuals and families with lived
39experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability,
40and substance use disorders.
P4 1(c) The performance of trainees in the field training program
2shall be
demonstrated by successful resolution of a critical incident
3scenario, including contact with an individual experiencing a crisis.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
5this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
6local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
7pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
84 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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