Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2951 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/18/2025

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                            89R10375 MZM-D
 By: Lozano H.B. No. 2951




 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the rural sheriff's office and constable's office
 salary assistance grant programs.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 130.911(a), Local Government Code, is
 amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
 (3)  "Qualified emergency dispatcher" means a person
 who provides communication support services for a sheriff's office
 by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies.
 SECTION 2.  Section 130.911(e), Local Government Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (e)  A county that is awarded a grant shall use or authorize
 the use of the grant money only:
 (1)  to provide a minimum annual salary of at least:
 (A)  $75,000 for the county sheriff;
 (B)  $45,000 for each deputy who makes motor
 vehicle stops in the routine performance of their duties; [and]
 (C)  $40,000 for each jailer whose duties include
 the safekeeping of prisoners and the security of a jail operated by
 the county; and
 (D)  $40,000 for each qualified emergency
 dispatcher;
 (2)  to increase the salary of a person described by
 Subdivision (1);
 (3)  to hire additional deputies or staff for the
 sheriff's office; or
 (4)  to purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety
 equipment for the sheriff's office.
 SECTION 3.  Section 130.912(a), Local Government Code, is
 amended by adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:
 (4)  "Qualified emergency dispatcher" means a person
 who provides communication support services for a constable's
 office by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies.
 SECTION 4.  Sections 130.912(d), (e), and (g), Local
 Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (d)  The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified
 county that applies for the grant using money appropriated to the
 comptroller for that purpose. The comptroller may only award a
 grant to a county if the county agrees in writing to contribute at
 least 75 percent of the money required to meet the minimum annual
 salary requirement established under Subsection (e) for each
 qualified constable and qualified emergency dispatcher for which
 the county will also use grant money to provide that salary.
 (e)  Subject to Subsection (d), a county that is awarded a
 grant shall use or authorize the use of the grant money only to
 provide a minimum annual salary of:
 (1)  $45,000 to a qualified constable; and
 (2)  $40,000 to a qualified emergency dispatcher.
 (g)  The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to
 implement this section, including rules that establish:
 (1)  a standardized application process, including the
 form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the
 form;
 (2)  deadlines for:
 (A)  applying for the grant;
 (B)  disbursement of grant money; and
 (C)  spending grant money;
 (3)  procedures for:
 (A)  monitoring the disbursement of grant money to
 ensure compliance with this section; and
 (B)  the return of grant money that was not used by
 a county for a purpose authorized by this section; and
 (4)  standards to determine if a constable or emergency
 dispatcher is a qualified constable or qualified emergency
 dispatcher.
 SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
 the award of a grant to a county during a fiscal year of the county
 that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.
 SECTION 6.  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, 2025.