88R7456 JCG-D
By: Gerdes H.B. No. 1487
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. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 772.0079 to read as follows:
Sec. 772.0079. RURAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "Rural county law enforcement agency" means the
sheriff's office or constable's office of a county with a population
of less than 125,000.
(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(b) The criminal justice division 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) personnel costs of the agency, including:
(A) any costs for recruitment of personnel; and
(B) the salaries and wages of jailers and other
personnel;
(2) training for agency personnel, including training
regarding mental health issues; or
(3) the purchase or maintenance of equipment.
(c) The criminal justice division shall 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.
(d) The criminal justice division shall include in the
biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) a detailed
reporting of the results and performance of the grant program
administered under this section.
(e) The criminal justice division may use any available
funds to implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.