The bill, H.B. No. 1597, mandates the development of a training program for county jailers focused on interactions with veterans in the criminal justice system. This program will be created by the commission in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission and will be added as Section 1701.273 to the Occupations Code. Additionally, the existing requirements for county jailer training will be amended to include this new program as part of the preparatory training that must be completed before appointment.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that all county jailers, regardless of when their licenses were issued, must complete the new training program by August 31, 2027. The law will take effect on September 1, 2025. The amendments also specify that the preparatory training program must consist of at least eight hours of mental health training approved by the relevant commissions, ensuring that county jailers are adequately prepared to support veterans in their care.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 1701.310 (Occupations Code 1701)