The bill, S.B. No. 1563, aims to enhance the training of county jailers in Texas regarding interactions with veterans within the criminal justice system. It introduces a new section, 1701.273, to the Occupations Code, which mandates the Texas Commission to develop a training program specifically focused on this topic in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission. Additionally, the bill amends Section 1701.310(a) to require that the preparatory training program for county jailers includes at least eight hours of mental health training and the newly developed program on veteran interactions.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that the changes apply to all county jailers licensed under Chapter 1701, regardless of when their license was issued. Existing county jailers must complete the new training program by August 31, 2027. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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