88R6230 SHH-D
By: Burrows H.B. No. 892
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a law enforcement agency accreditation 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. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "criminal justice division" means
the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006.
(b) This section applies only to a law enforcement agency
employing one or more peace officers described by Article 2.12(1),
(2), (3), (4), or (8), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(c) The criminal justice division shall establish and
administer a grant program to provide to each law enforcement
agency to which this section applies financial assistance for
purposes of becoming accredited or maintaining accreditation:
(1) through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law
Enforcement Agency Best Practices Accreditation Program;
(2) by the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies, Inc.;
(3) by the International Association of Campus Law
Enforcement Administrators; or
(4) by an association or organization designated by
the criminal justice division under Subsection (h).
(d) The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not
exceed $50,000.
(e) 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;
(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
conditions of a grant; and
(6) procedures for revoking a grant awarded under the
program if the law enforcement agency:
(A) is not accredited within the period specified
by the rules adopted under Subsection (i); or
(B) does not renew or otherwise maintain the
agency's accreditation.
(f) Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal
justice division shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a
report that provides the following information for the preceding
state fiscal year:
(1) the name of each law enforcement agency that
applied for a grant under this section; and
(2) the amount of money distributed to each law
enforcement agency that received a grant under this section.
(g) The criminal justice division may use any revenue
available for purposes of this section.
(h) The criminal justice division, with the assistance of
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, shall periodically review
associations and organizations that establish standards of
practice for law enforcement agencies and that offer accreditation
to agencies that meet those standards. On a determination by the
criminal justice division that accreditation of law enforcement
agencies in this state by an association or organization would
benefit public safety, the commission may designate the association
or organization as an accrediting agency for purposes of Subsection
(c)(4).
(i) The criminal justice division shall adopt rules
requiring each law enforcement agency to which this section applies
to become accredited as described by Subsection (c). The rules must
require law enforcement agencies to become accredited as follows:
(1) not later than September 1, 2026, for law
enforcement agencies employing 50 or more peace officers; and
(2) not later than September 1, 2027, for law
enforcement agencies employing fewer than 50 peace officers.
(j) The criminal justice division shall implement a program
to assist eligible applicants in becoming accredited as required by
the rules adopted under Subsection (i).
(k) A law enforcement agency that receives a grant awarded
under the program annually shall report the agency's accreditation
status, including the applicable accrediting agency described by
Subsection (c)(1), (2), (3), or (4), to the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement.
(l) The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall post on
the commission's Internet website a list of all law enforcement
agencies that are currently accredited as described by Subsection
(c).
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.