BILL NUMBER: SB 1221	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 8, 2016
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 26, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hertzberg
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Bates
  ) 
    (   Coauthors:  Assembly Members  
Gallagher,   Cristina Garcia,   and Maienschein
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to amend Section 13515.25 of the Penal Code, relating to
firefighters.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1221, as amended, Hertzberg. Firefighters: interaction with
 mentally disabled persons.   persons with
mental disabilities. 
   Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards
and Training to establish a continuing education classroom training
course related to law enforcement interaction with mentally disabled
persons and to make the course available to law enforcement agencies
in California.
   This bill would authorize the commission to make the course
available to the State Fire Marshal. The bill would delete an
obsolete reporting requirement and make a conforming change.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 13515.25 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
   13515.25.  (a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training shall establish and keep updated a continuing education
classroom training course relating to law enforcement interaction
with  mentally disabled persons.   persons with
mental disabilities.  The training course shall be developed by
the commission in consultation with appropriate community, local, and
state organizations and agencies that have expertise in the area of
mental illness and developmental disability, and with appropriate
consumer and family advocate groups. In developing the course, the
commission shall also examine existing courses certified by the
commission that relate to  mentally disabled persons.
  persons with mental disabilities.  The commission
shall make the course available to law enforcement agencies in
California.
   (b) The course described in subdivision (a) shall consist of
classroom instruction and shall utilize interactive training methods
to ensure that the training is as realistic as possible. The course
shall include, at a minimum, core instruction in all of the
following:
   (1) The cause and nature of mental illnesses and developmental
disabilities.
   (2) How to identify indicators of mental disability and how to
respond appropriately in a variety of common situations.
   (3) Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques for
potentially dangerous situations involving  mentally disabled
persons.   a person with a mental disability. 
   (4) Appropriate language usage when interacting with 
mentally disabled persons.   a person with a mental
disability. 
   (5) Alternatives to lethal force when interacting with potentially
dangerous  mentally disabled persons.   persons
with mental disabilities. 
   (6) Community and state resources available to serve 
mentally disabled  persons  with mental disabilities
 and how these resources can be best utilized by law enforcement
to benefit the mentally disabled community.
   (7) The fact that a crime committed in whole or in part because of
an actual or perceived disability of the victim is a hate crime
punishable under Title 11.6 (commencing with Section 422.55) of Part
1.
   (c) The course described in subdivision (a) shall be shared with
the State Fire Marshal, who may revise the course as appropriate to
the firefighter training environment.
   (d) The Legislature encourages law enforcement agencies to include
the course created in this section, and any other course certified
by the commission relating to  mentally disabled persons,
  persons with mental disabilities,  as part of
their advanced officer training program.
   (e) It is the intent of the Legislature to reevaluate the extent
to which law enforcement officers are receiving adequate training in
how to interact with  mentally disabled persons. 
 persons with mental disabilities.