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