By: Johnson H.B. No. 4602
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of grant programs within the criminal
justice division of the Office of the Governor to reduce
investigatory and criminal case backlogs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 772.00717 and 772.00718 to read as
follows:
Sec. 772.00717. FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" has the meaning
assigned by Section 420.003.
(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(3) "Grant program" means the forensic science
improvement grant program established under this section.
(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and
administer a grant program to provide funding for the purpose of
improving the timeliness of forensic testing and medical examiner
services and reducing the backlog of untested forensic evidence in
the possession, custody, or control of a medical examiner, coroner,
or accredited crime laboratory.
(c) The criminal justice division may award a grant under
the grant program to an eligible medical examiner, coroner, or
accredited crime laboratory to be used only for:
(1) testing by an accredited crime laboratory of
evidence that was collected in relation to a criminal offense; or
(2) medical examiner or coroner services.
(d) The criminal justice division:
(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for
grant applicants; and
(2) shall establish:
(A) grant application procedures;
(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications
which prioritize applicants with the largest backlogs in testing
and examinations; and
(D) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
awarded under the grant program and ensuring compliance with any
conditions of a grant.
(e) The criminal justice division shall include in the
biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) detailed
reporting of the results and performance of the grant program.
(f) The criminal justice division may use any available
funds to implement this section.
Sec. 772.00718. INTERJURISDICTIONAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(2) "Interjurisdictional criminal investigation"
means a criminal investigation conducted by two or more law
enforcement agencies serving more than one political subdivision.
(3) "Law enforcement agency" means:
(A) the police department of a municipality;
(B) the sheriff's office of a county; or
(C) a constable's office of a county.
(4) "Pilot program" means the interjurisdictional
criminal investigation grant pilot program established under this
section.
(b) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, the criminal justice division shall establish and
administer a pilot program to provide funding to eligible law
enforcement agencies to reduce criminal case backlogs.
(c) The criminal justice division may award a grant under
the pilot program to an eligible law enforcement agency to be used
for:
(1) facilitating interjurisdictional criminal
investigations between law enforcement agencies operating in
jurisdictions with a population of 400,000 or more;
(2) improving the interjurisdictional exchange of
information relating to criminal investigations between law
enforcement agencies; or
(3) enhancing the compatibility between record
management systems operated by law enforcement agencies and
attorneys representing the state.
(d) The criminal justice division:
(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for
grant applicants; and
(2) shall establish:
(A) grant application procedures;
(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts;
(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications;
and
(D) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
awarded under the pilot program and ensuring compliance with any
conditions of a grant.
(e) Not later than September 1, 2026, the criminal justice
division shall prepare and submit a report on the pilot program
under this section to the Legislative Budget Board and the standing
committees of the house of representatives and the senate with
primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters. The report
must include:
(1) an evaluation of the results and effectiveness of
the pilot program; and
(2) any recommendations for legislative or other
action.
(f) The pilot program is abolished and this section expires
September 1, 2027.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.