(a) Each licensee shall complete the legislatively mandated continuing education in this chapter. Each appointing agency shall allow the licensee the opportunity to complete the legislatively mandated continuing education in this chapter. This section does not limit the number or hours of continuing education an agency may provide.
(b) Each training unit (2 years)
  (1) Peace officers shall complete at least 40 hours of continuing education, to include the corresponding legislative update for that unit. Peace officers shall complete not less than 16 hours of training on responding to an active shooter as developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University-San Marcos.
  (2) Telecommunicators shall complete at least 20 hours of continuing education to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.
(c) Each training cycle (4 years)
  (1) Peace officers who have not yet reached intermediate proficiency certification shall complete: Cultural Diversity (3939), Special Investigative Topics (3232), Crisis Intervention (3843) and De-escalation (1849).
  (2) Individuals licensed as reserve law enforcement officers, jailers, or public security officers shall complete Cultural Diversity (3939), unless the person has completed or is otherwise exempted from legislatively required training under another commission license or certificate.
(d) Assignment specific training
  (1) Police chiefs: individuals appointed as "chief" or "police chief" of a police department shall complete:
    (A) For an individual appointed to that individual's first position as chief, the initial training program for new chiefs provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute, not later than the second anniversary of that individual's appointment or election as chief; and
    (B) At least 40 hours of continuing education for chiefs each 24-month unit, as provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute.
  (2) Constables: elected or appointed constables shall complete:
    (A) For an individual appointed or elected to that individual's first position as constable, the initial training program for new constables provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute, not later than the second anniversary of that individual's appointment or election as constable; and
    (B) Each 48 month cycle, at least 40 hours of continuing education for constables, as provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute and a 20 hour course of training in civil process to be provided by a public institution of higher education selected by the Commission.
  (3) Deputy constables: each deputy constable shall complete a 20 hour course of training in civil process each training cycle. The commission may waive the requirement for this training if the constable, in the format required by TCOLE, requests exemption due to the deputy constable not engaging in civil process as part of their assigned duties.
  (4) New supervisors: each peace officer assigned to their first position as a supervisor must complete new supervisor training within one year prior to or one year after appointment as a supervisor.
  (5) School-based Law Enforcement Officers: School district peace officers and school resource officers providing law enforcement services at a school district must obtain a school-based law enforcement proficiency certificate within 180 days of the officer's commission or placement in the district or campus of the district.
  (6) Eyewitness Identification Officers: peace officers performing the function of eyewitness identification must first complete the Eyewitness Identification training (3286).
  (7) Courtroom Security Officers/Persons: any person appointed to perform courtroom security functions at any level shall complete the Courtroom Security course (10999) within 1 year of appointment.
  (8) Body-Worn Cameras: peace officers and other persons meeting the requirements of Occupations Code 1701.656 must first complete Body-Worn Camera training (8158).
  (9) Officers Carrying Epinephrine Auto-injectors: peace officers meeting the requirements of Occupations Code 1701.702 must first complete epinephrine auto-injector training.
  (10) Jailer Firearm Certification: jailers carrying a firearm as part of their assigned duties must first obtain the Jailer Firearms certificate before carrying a firearm.
  (11) University Peace Officers, Trauma-Informed Investigation Training: each university or college peace officer shall complete an approved course on trauma-informed investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
(e) Miscellaneous training
  (1) Human Trafficking: every peace officer first licensed on or after January 1, 2011, must complete Human Trafficking (3270) within 2 years of being licensed.
  (2) Canine Encounters: every peace officer first licensed on or after January 1, 2016, must take Canine Encounters (4065) within 2 years of being licensed.
  (3) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Drivers: every peace officer licensed on or after March 1, 2016, must complete Deaf and Hard of Hearing Drivers (7887) within 2 years of being licensed.
  (4) Civilian Interaction Training: every peace officer licensed before January 1, 2018, must complete Civilian Interaction Training Program (CITP) within 2 years. All other peace officers must complete the course within 2 years of being licensed.
  (5) Crisis Intervention Training: every peace officer licensed on or after April 1, 2018, must complete the 40 hour Crisis Intervention Training within 2 years of being licensed.
  (6) Mental Health for Jailers: all county jailers must complete Mental Health for Jailers not later than August 31, 2021.
(f) The Commission may choose to accept an equivalent course for any of the courses listed in this chapter, provided the equivalent course is evaluated by commission staff and found to meet or exceed the minimum curriculum requirements of the legislatively mandated course.
(g) The commission shall provide adequate notice to agencies and licensees of impending non-compliance with the legislatively required continuing education.
(h) The chief administrator of an agency that has licensees who are in non-compliance shall, within 30 days of receipt of notice of non-compliance, submit a report to the commission explaining the reasons for such non-compliance.
(i) Licensees shall complete the legislatively mandated continuing education in the first complete training unit, as required, or first complete training cycle, as required, after being licensed.
(j) All peace officers must meet all continuing education requirements except where exempt by law.
(k) The effective date of this section is April 1, 2024.

Source Note: The provisions of this §218.3 adopted to be effective November 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 7183; amended to be effective February 5, 2020, 45 TexReg 769; amended to be effective June 1, 2022, 47 TexReg 2885; amended to be effective April 1, 2024, 49 TexReg 1969