By: King, Flores, West S.B. No. 267
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to law enforcement agency accreditation, including a grant
program to assist agencies in becoming accredited.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 403.0302 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.0302. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller shall establish and administer a
grant program to provide financial assistance for purposes of
becoming accredited to each law enforcement agency that:
(1) is required to be accredited by the rules adopted
under Section 1701.165, Occupations Code; and
(2) employs fewer than 250 peace officers.
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
law enforcement agency must have executed a contract with an
accrediting entity described by Section 1701.165(b), Occupations
Code, and complete an initial assessment by the accrediting entity.
(c) Based on the results of the initial assessment completed
under Subsection (b), a law enforcement agency may request grant
funds for reimbursement of an accreditation fee, staff overtime, or
temporary staffing necessary to become accredited.
(d) Grant money provided under this section may only be used
by a law enforcement agency for the purposes of becoming
accredited. A law enforcement agency may not receive more than one
grant under this section.
(e) The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not
exceed $30,000.
(f) The comptroller shall establish:
(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
(2) grant application procedures;
(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications,
including prioritizing applications from law enforcement agencies
employing fewer than 100 peace officers;
(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 is not accredited within the
period specified by the rules adopted under Section 1701.165,
Occupations Code.
(g) Not later than December 1 of each year, the comptroller
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.
(h) The comptroller may use any revenue available for
purposes of this section.
(i) Notwithstanding any other law or rule, beginning
September 1, 2029, a law enforcement agency described by Section
1701.165, Occupations Code, must be accredited as provided by the
rules adopted under that section to be eligible to receive any grant
supporting law enforcement operations or equipment acquisition
administered by the comptroller other than a grant under this
section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.165 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.165. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION. (a)
This section applies only to a law enforcement agency employing at
least 20 peace officers described by Article 2.12(1), (3), (4),
(8), or (10), Code of Criminal Procedure, to answer emergency calls
for service or conduct patrol operations, traffic enforcement, or
criminal investigations.
(b) The commission shall adopt rules requiring each law
enforcement agency to become accredited and maintain
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;
(4) by an accreditation program developed by the
Sheriffs' Association of Texas; or
(5) by an association or organization designated by
the commission as provided by Subsection (e).
(c) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must require a
law enforcement agency that is not already accredited to:
(1) execute a contract with an approved accrediting
entity not later than September 1, 2027; and
(2) become accredited not later than September 1,
2029.
(d) The commission shall implement a program to assist law
enforcement agencies in becoming accredited as required by the
rules adopted under Subsection (b).
(e) The commission 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 majority vote of the commission 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 entity for purposes of Subsection (b)(5).
(f) A law enforcement agency shall annually report the
agency's accreditation status, including the applicable
accrediting entity described by Subsection (b), to the commission.
(g) The commission shall post on the commission's Internet
website a list of all law enforcement agencies that are currently
accredited or under contract with an accrediting entity as
described by Subsection (b).
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules required by
Section 1701.165, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2024, the comptroller shall
establish the grant program required by Section 403.0302,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. 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.