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.

SB 2839, the "Jovian Motley Act," requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to provide annual training on de-escalation, crisis intervention, and behavioral health to correctional officers, their supervisors, and other TDCJ staff who interact with inmates. The training must cover effective communication, alternatives to physical restraints, techniques to limit force-related injuries, suicide prevention, awareness of behavioral health conditions, and access to employee assistance programs. TDCJ must implement this training in all new officer orientation and complete it annually for affected staff by December 1, 2025, with the law taking effect September 1, 2025. This bill directly affects over 10,000 TDCJ employees working in correctional facilities across Texas.