(a) The commission shall review the training module in the regular basic course relating to persons with a mental illness, intellectual disability, or substance use disorder, and analyze existing training curricula in order to identify areas where additional training is needed to better prepare law enforcement to effectively address incidents involving mentally disabled persons.
(b) Upon identifying what additional training is needed, the commission shall update the training in consultation with appropriate community, local, and state organizations, and agencies that have expertise in the area of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders, and with appropriate consumer and family advocate groups.
(c) The training shall address issues related to stigma, shall be culturally relevant and appropriate, and shall include all of the following topics:
(1) Recognizing indicators of mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.
(2) Conflict resolution and deescalation techniques for potentially dangerous situations.
(3) Use of force options and alternatives.
(4) The perspective of individuals or families who have experiences with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.
(5) Mental health resources available to the first responders to events that involve mentally disabled persons.
(d) The course of instruction shall be at least 15 hours, and shall include training scenarios and facilitated learning activities relating to law enforcement interaction with persons with mental illness, intellectual disability, and substance use disorders.
(e) The course shall be presented within the existing hours allotted for the regular basic course.
(f) The commission shall implement this section on or before August 1, 2016.
(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 468, Sec. 1. (SB 11) Effective January 1, 2016.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018