BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2756
89R14255 BCH-F	By: Thompson; Ward Johnson (Huffman)
	Criminal Justice
	5/2/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

On November 13, 2023, Jovian Motley, a 27-year-old correctional officer serving at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's (TDCJ) Wainwright Unit, lost his life in the line of duty. As reported by Houston Public Media, Mr. Motley was sent into a highly obstructed, dark cell as part of an extraction team tasked with restraining an incarcerated person within the cell. Mr. Motley was the only officer from the team who did not survive the encounter. H.B. 2756, cited as the Jovian Motley Act, seeks to honor Mr. Motley by requiring TDCJ correctional officers, and TDCJ employees responsible for the direct supervision of correctional officers, to receive de-escalation, crisis intervention techniques, and behavioral health training.

H.B. 2756 amends current law 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.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.� Authorizes this Act to be cited as the Jovian Motley Act.

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 493, Government Code, by adding Section 493.0325, as follows:

Sec. 493.0325.� CORRECTIONAL OFFICER TRAINING ON DE-ESCALATION, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.� (a)� Provides that this section applies to:

(1)� a correctional officer employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ); and

(2) a TDCJ employee responsible for the direct supervision of correctional officers described by Subdivision (1).

(b)� Requires TDCJ, to facilitate interaction with inmates, to provide employees described by Subsection (a) training on:

(1)� de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques; and

(2)� behavioral health.

(c) Requires that the training described by Subsection (b)(1) include information regarding:

(1)� effective communication;

(2)� employing alternatives to physical restraints, including the availability and proper use of tools such as shields, chemical dispensing devices, and less-lethal force weapons;

(3)� techniques for limiting the use of force resulting in bodily injury;

(4)� proper utilization of necessary resources, including lighting;

(5)� safety techniques during cell extractions;

(6)� fundamental lifesaving procedures; and

(7)� necessary personnel involvement.

(d) Requires that the training described by Subsection (b)(2) 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) Requires that the training required by this section be included in TDCJ's preservice training for correctional officers and completed annually by employees described by Subsection (a).

SECTION 3. Requires TDCJ, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act but not later than December 1, 2025, to 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. Effective date: September 1, 2025.