S.B. No. 2862 is a legislative bill designed to enhance the preparedness and response of law enforcement agencies and educational institutions in Texas to active shooter events and other emergencies. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies, including those from municipalities, counties, school districts, and institutions of higher education, adopt detailed written policies for responding to active shooter emergencies based on best practices. It also requires school districts and public junior college districts to implement multihazard emergency operations plans that encompass employee training, communication measures, and mandatory drills. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section for conducting security reviews of facilities to identify vulnerabilities related to active shooter scenarios and requires local law enforcement and emergency medical services to evaluate their responses to such events and submit detailed reports.

Moreover, the bill amends the Local Government Code and the Occupations Code to establish a more resilient emergency management system for political subdivisions and law enforcement agencies. It requires these entities to develop shared emergency response plans and coordination groups for resource allocation during emergencies, as well as to adopt measures for the prompt recovery of services after an active shooter incident. The bill also emphasizes the mental health needs of first responders by mandating the development of mental health resource plans and training for peace officers on incident response. New provisions include annual training programs for law enforcement and emergency medical services personnel focused on active shooter events, as well as a certification requirement for public information officers in emergency communications. Overall, these measures aim to improve emergency response effectiveness and support for first responders across Texas.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 12.104, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.1083, Education Code 37.109, Education Code 51.217, Occupations Code 1701.253 (Education Code 51, Education Code 12, Occupations Code 1701, Education Code 37)