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Panel backs bill to require jailer training on veterans’ mental‑health needs
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Summary
Sen. Jose Menendez told the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice that Senate Bill 1563 would require county jailers to receive veteran‑specific mental‑health training, developed with the Texas Veterans Commission and TCOLE, with a minimum of eight hours of training.
Sen. Menendez presented Senate Bill 1563 to require county jailers to receive training about interacting with veterans in custody. The sponsor said veterans are overrepresented in jails and may have service‑related trauma that increases suicide and safety risks in detention settings; the bill would require training developed in collaboration with the Texas Veterans Commission and the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), with a minimum of eight hours of mental‑health content tailored to veterans.
Steven Price, a veteran and community advocate, and Dr. Blake Harris of the Texas Veterans Commission testified in support. Dr. Harris said the commission already partners with TCOLE to develop training and has programs for justice‑involved veterans; she told senators the commission is prepared to work with TCOLE to make training accessible and on‑demand so shift staff can access it.
Witnesses and veterans’ groups urged the committee to pass the bill as a way to reduce suicide risk and improve outcomes for veterans in county custody. The committee closed testimony and left the bill pending.
