86R7847 CJC-D
By: Moody H.B. No. 2953
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grant program to provide salary increases to
full-time peace officers employed by certain local governments with
limited tax bases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 401, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 401.106 to read as follows:
Sec. 401.106. GRANT PROGRAM FOR PEACE OFFICER PAY IN AREA
WITH LIMITED TAX BASE. (a) In this section, "qualifying local
government" means a county or municipality in which:
(1) the taxable value of property for ad valorem tax
purposes is less than the amount established by rule under
Subsection (b); and
(2) the average starting salary on September 1, 2019,
for a peace officer employed full-time by the county or
municipality is less than $32,500 per year.
(b) The governor by rule shall establish a grant program to
award grants to qualifying local governments to enhance public
safety in this state by ensuring that the starting salaries of all
peace officers employed by a qualifying local government is at
least $32,500 per year. The rules adopted under this subsection
must:
(1) provide the maximum taxable value of property that
may be located in a county or municipality in order for the county
or municipality to be considered a qualifying local government; and
(2) prescribe the manner by which:
(A) a qualifying local government applies for a
grant; and
(B) grants will be allocated to applicants if the
amount of grants for which qualifying local governments have
applied exceeds the amount of money available for the grants.
(c) The governor shall award grants to qualifying local
governments under this section from money appropriated to the
governor for that purpose. The governor is not required to award a
grant under this section during any period for which money is not
appropriated for that purpose.
SECTION 2. (a) The comptroller of public accounts, using
existing resources, shall conduct a study to determine the amount
of money needed to fully fund the grant program under Section
401.106, Government Code, as added by this Act, for the two-year
period beginning September 1, 2021.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2021, the comptroller of
public accounts shall submit a report on the study to the governor,
the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature. The
legislature may consider the report when making appropriations to
the governor for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
2021.
(c) This section takes effect September 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.