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SB1563

Regular Session

Relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice system.

Moderate
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
SB1563
Moderate
Relating to county jailer training on interacting with veterans in the criminal justice system.
Moderate Compliance Urgency
Requires near-term attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
TCOLE
Primary Author: Sen. Jose Menendez
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline:
  • New Hires: Immediate upon appointment on or after September 1, 2025.
  • Existing Staff: Must complete training by August 31, 2027.
  • Agency Rulemaking: TCOLE, in consultation with the Texas Veterans Commission, must finalize the curriculum prior to September 1, 2025. Watch for the release of the specific Course Number in Summer 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Audit Rosters: Immediately identify all active license holders who will require the retroactive training.
  • Monitor TCOLE: Assign a training coordinator to watch for the release of the official Course Number and curriculum materials in Summer 2025.
  • Update Onboarding: Revise new-hire checklists to ensure the Basic County Corrections Course includes this module starting September 1, 2025.
  • Schedule Training: Incorporate this module into the upcoming fiscal year's training calendar to spread the operational burden over the two-year compliance window.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

  • Private Jail Operators: Review Master Services Agreements (MSAs) with counties. Failure to implement this training constitutes a breach of "Compliance with Laws" clauses.
  • Collective Bargaining: If unionized, review agreements regarding mandatory training scheduling. Ensure the allocation of training hours aligns with overtime and shift differential policies.

Hiring/Training

  • New Hires (Post-09/01/2025): The Basic County Corrections Course (BCCC) must be updated to include this module. You cannot appoint a jailer to permanent status without this verification.
  • Existing Staff: You have a 24-month window (Sept 2025 – Aug 2027) to train all current personnel. Integrate this into the 2025-2026 continuing education cycle to avoid a staffing bottleneck in Q3 2027.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • TCOLE Personal Status Report (PSR): Compliance is verified solely through the PSR. Ensure the specific course code for "Veterans Interaction" is recorded for every employee.
  • Transfers: Do not assume lateral hires have completed this training. Verify their PSR independently prior to onboarding.

Fees & Costs

  • No Licensing Fees: There are no new state fees associated with this bill.
  • Operational Costs: Budget impacts will be limited to overtime pay or backfill staffing required to pull jailers off-shift to attend the training.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Delivery Format: The statute does not specify if the training must be in-person or if TCOLE will allow completion via the MyTCOLE Online Learning Network. We are advocating for an online option to minimize overtime costs.
  • Course Duration: The bill mandates the training but does not set a minimum hour requirement. We anticipate TCOLE will set this between 2 to 4 hours, but this is currently undefined.
  • Curriculum Specifics: While the subject is "interacting with veterans," the specific learning objectives (e.g., PTSD de-escalation vs. general sensitivity) are pending Texas Veterans Commission input.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Feb 21, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 2, 2025
Passed House
May 28, 2025
Signed
Jun 20, 2025
TopicsCorrectionsCorrections--jails & PrisonsMilitary & VeteransOccupational RegulationOccupational Regulation--other Trades & ProfessionsJailers & Prison GuardsLaw Enforcement, Texas Commission OnStaff Development & TrainingVeterans Commission, Texas
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Jose MenendezDemocrat · Primary Author
Coauthors (3)

House Sponsors

Rep. Mihaela PlesaDemocrat · Primary Sponsor
Joint Sponsors

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Jose Menendez

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB1563

Q

What does Texas SB1563 do?

SB1563 amends the Texas Occupations Code to mandate specific training regarding interactions with veterans for all county jailers. This requirement applies universally to all County Sheriff’s Offices and private corrections vendors operating county facilities, necessitating immediate curriculum updates for new hires and a mandatory retroactive training cycle for all existing staff. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: - New Hires: Immediate upon appointment on or after September 1, 2025.

Q

Who authored SB1563?

SB1563 was authored by Texas Senator Jose Menendez during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB1563 signed into law?

SB1563 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB1563?

SB1563 is enforced by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB1563?

The compliance urgency for SB1563 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB1563?

The cost impact of SB1563 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB1563 address?

SB1563 addresses topics including corrections, corrections--jails & prisons, military & veterans, occupational regulation and occupational regulation--other trades & professions.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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