20250AB__101399INT INTRODUCED 2025-02-20 2025 AB INT Introduced by Assembly Member Garcia LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Garcia

An act to amend

Section 13515.27 of the Penal Code, relating to peace officers. peace officers Peace officer training: behavioral health. Existing law requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to establish and keep updated a classroom-based continuing training course that includes instructor-led active learning, such as scenario-based training, relating to behavioral health and law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.

Existing law requires the commission to make available the course to each law enforcement officer with a rank of supervisor or below and who is assigned to patrol duties or to supervise officers who are assigned to patrol duties. This bill would authorize the commission to partner with local departments of behavioral health, community-based organizations, or nonprofit organizations to establish and keep updated this classroom-based continuing training course.

The bill would require a law enforcement officer with a rank of supervisor or below and who is assigned to patrol duties or to supervise officers who are assigned to patrol duties to complete the course. By imposing additional training costs on local law enforcement agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. MAJORITY NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 13515.27 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 13515.27. (a)

(1) The commission shall establish and keep updated a classroom-based continuing training course that includes instructor-led active learning, such as scenario-based training, relating to behavioral health and law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.

(2) The commission may partner with local departments of behavioral health, community-based organizations, or nonprofit organizations to establish and keep updated the classroom-based continuing training course. (

b) This course shall be at least three consecutive hours, may include training scenarios and facilitated learning activities, shall address issues related to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics:

(1) The cause and nature of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.

(2) Indicators of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.

(3) Appropriate responses to a variety of situations involving persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.

(4) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for potentially dangerous situations.

(5) Appropriate language usage when interacting with potentially emotionally distressed persons.

(6) Resources available to serve persons with mental illness or intellectual disability.

(7) The perspective of individuals or families who have experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders. (c)

(1) The commission shall provide the course described in subdivisions (

a) and (

b) to each law enforcement officer with a rank of supervisor or below and who is assigned to patrol duties or to supervise officers who are assigned to patrol duties.

(2) A law enforcement officer with a rank of supervisor or below and who is assigned to patrol duties or to supervise officers who are assigned to patrol duties shall complete the course developed pursuant to this section. (

d) The commission shall implement this

section on or before August 1, 2026.

SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to

Part 7 (commencing with

Section 17500) of Division of Title of the Government Code.