S.B. No. 1563 is a legislative act that 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. The bill adds a new section, 1701.273, to the Occupations Code, which outlines the requirement for this training program.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 1701.310(a) of the Occupations Code to specify that the preparatory training program for county jailers must include at least eight hours of mental health training and the newly developed training program on veteran interactions. The law applies to all county jailers, regardless of when their licenses were issued, and those currently licensed must complete the new training by August 31, 2027. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 1701.310 (Occupations Code 1701)
Senate Committee Report: Occupations Code 1701.310 (Occupations Code 1701)
Engrossed: Occupations Code 1701.310 (Occupations Code 1701)
House Committee Report: Occupations Code 1701.310 (Occupations Code 1701)
Enrolled: Occupations Code 1701.310 (Occupations Code 1701)