By: Buckingham S.B. No. 913
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the ineligibility of certain local governments for
certain criminal justice grants as a result of budget reductions
affecting local law enforcement agencies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 772.0065 to read as follows:
Sec. 772.0065. INELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT FOLLOWING CERTAIN
BUDGET REDUCTIONS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(2) "Local government" means a municipality or county.
(b) A local government is ineligible to receive a grant
awarded by the criminal justice division if the division determines
that:
(1) the local government has adopted a budget for a
fiscal year for the sheriff's department or municipal police
department, as applicable, that in comparison to the preceding
fiscal year reduces the budget of the department by 5 percent or
more and the reduction is not due to a similar decrease in the
amount of tax revenue collected by the local government; and
(2) the reduction will have a significant, adverse
effect on public safety within the applicable county or
municipality.
(c) A local government that is receiving money under a grant
awarded by the criminal justice division shall notify the division
of any reduction described by Subsection (b)(1) not later than the
15th day after the date the reduction takes effect. At the request
of the criminal justice division, the local government shall
provide a description of the reduction and any anticipated effects
on public safety.
(d) The criminal justice division shall require a local
government applying for a grant to:
(1) disclose whether the most recent budget of the
local government constitutes a reduction as described by Subsection
(b)(1); and
(2) provide a description of the reduction and any
anticipated effects on public safety.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
with respect to the adoption of a budget by a municipality or county
for a fiscal year that begins on or after the effective date of this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.