Bill Text: TX SB2839 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to training on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and behavioral health for correctional officers and certain other employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-04-07 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB2839 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB2839-Introduced.html

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89R8822 BCH-F
By: Huffman S.B. No. 2839

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to training on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and
behavioral health for correctional officers and certain other
employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Jovian Motley Act.
SECTION 2. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 493.0325 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.0325. CORRECTIONAL OFFICER TRAINING ON
DE-ESCALATION, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
(a) This section applies to:
(1) a correctional officer employed by the department;
(2) a department employee responsible for the direct
supervision of correctional officers described by Subdivision (1);
and
(3) any other department employee whose duties involve
contact with inmates.
(b) To facilitate interaction with inmates, the department
shall provide employees described by Subsection (a) training on:
(1) de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques;
and
(2) behavioral health.
(c) The training described by Subsection (b)(1) must
include information regarding:
(1) effective communication;
(2) employing alternatives to physical restraints;
and
(3) techniques for limiting the use of force resulting
in bodily injury.
(d) The training described by Subsection (b)(2) must
include information regarding:
(1) effective communication and intervention;
(2) increased awareness of persons with behavioral
health concerns, substance use disorders, or intellectual and
developmental disabilities;
(3) crisis recognition, prevention, and response;
(4) suicide risk and prevention; and
(5) access to employee assistance programs available
to correctional officers.
(e) The training required by this section must be included
in the department's preservice training for correctional officers
and completed annually by employees described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act but not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall make the training required by
Section 493.0325, Government Code, as added by this Act, available
to the employees described by Subsection (a) of that section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.