(a) 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.
(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) The course described in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be made available by the commission 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.
(d) The commission shall implement this section on or before August 1, 2016.
(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 468, Sec. 2. (SB 11) Effective January 1, 2016.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018