By: Gerdes, Bailes, Kitzman, Holland, Murr, H.B. No. 1487
et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a rural county law enforcement grant
program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter T to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER T. RURAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 403.571. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "rural
county law enforcement agency" means any of the following if
located in a county with a population of 275,000 or less:
(1) a sheriff's office;
(2) a constable's office;
(3) a district attorney's office;
(4) a criminal district attorney's office; or
(5) a county attorney's office with criminal
prosecution duties.
Sec. 403.572. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM. The
comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program through
which a rural county law enforcement agency may apply for a grant
that may be used to pay for:
(1) the salaries of sheriffs, sheriff's deputies,
jailers, or office support staff, including the hiring of
additional deputies, jailers, and office support staff;
(2) the salaries of constables and deputy constables,
including the hiring of additional deputies;
(3) the salaries of assistant prosecuting attorneys,
investigators, victim assistance coordinators, or office support
staff, including the hiring of additional attorneys,
investigators, coordinators, and office support staff;
(4) any costs for the recruitment of staff;
(5) the purchase, lease, or maintenance of equipment,
vehicles, office technology services and hardware, and office
infrastructure and related facilities; and
(6) any costs for personnel training and related
office expenses, including training to obtain or maintain an
accreditation related to the position of the person undergoing the
training.
Sec. 403.573. AMOUNT OF GRANTS. (a) The comptroller shall
award a grant to a rural county law enforcement agency that applies
for the grant using money appropriated to the comptroller for that
purpose.
(b) A rural county law enforcement agency that is a
sheriff's office or constable's office may be awarded a grant of not
more than:
(1) $250,000, if the applicant is located in a county
with a population of less than 10,000;
(2) $350,000, if the applicant is located in a county
with a population of 10,000 or more but less than 50,000; or
(3) $500,000, if the applicant is located in a county
with a population of 50,000 or more but not more than 275,000.
(c) A rural county law enforcement agency that is a district
attorney's office, a criminal district attorney's office, or a
county attorney's office with criminal prosecution duties may be
awarded a grant of not more than:
(1) $100,000, if the applicant is located in a county
with a population of less than 10,000;
(2) $175,000, if the applicant is located in a county
with a population of 10,000 or more but less than 50,000; or
(3) $275,000, if the applicant is located in a county
with a population of 50,000 or more but not more than 275,000.
(d) For purposes of Subsection (c), a multi-county district
attorney's office is considered to be located in the county in the
district with the largest population.
Sec. 403.574. LIMITATION ON GRANT APPLICATIONS. A rural
county law enforcement agency may apply for a grant under this
subchapter not more than once each fiscal year of the county in
which the agency is located.
Sec. 403.575. APPROVAL OF COMMISSIONERS COURT REQUIRED.
Before a rural law enforcement agency uses money received from a
grant awarded under this subchapter for a purpose described by
Section 403.572, the agency must obtain written approval to use the
money for that purpose from the commissioners court of the county in
which the agency is located. The commissioners court of a county
may not reduce the amount of money provided to a rural county law
enforcement agency because of grant funds provided under this
subchapter to the rural county law enforcement agency.
Sec. 403.576. DUTY TO RETURN UNSPENT GRANT MONEY. A rural
county law enforcement agency that is awarded a grant under this
subchapter shall return any unspent money awarded under that grant
to the comptroller not later than the second anniversary of the date
on which the money was disbursed to the agency.
Sec. 403.577. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each
even-numbered year, the comptroller shall submit to the legislature
a report on the results and performance of the grant program
established under this subchapter.
Sec. 403.578. RULES. The comptroller shall adopt rules to
administer this subchapter, including rules that establish:
(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
(2) grant application procedures;
(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
conditions of a grant.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.