89R15978 MPF-D By: Talarico H.B. No. 5309 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the establishment of the local 9-1-1 response fund and grant program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 418.059 to read as follows: Sec. 418.059. LOCAL 9-1-1 RESPONSE FUND AND GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The Local 9-1-1 Response Fund is established as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. (b) The fund consists of: (1) money appropriated by the legislature and directed to be deposited to the credit of the fund; (2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund; and (3) the interest and other earnings attributable to the investment of money in the fund. (c) The division may use money in the fund to: (1) award grants to political subdivisions in accordance with this section; and (2) pay the necessary and reasonable expenses of administering the fund and the program. (d) The division shall establish and administer a program to award grants to a political subdivision to improve the response times of emergency services providers and personnel to 9-1-1 emergency calls. (e) The division shall: (1) prescribe the manner in which a political subdivision may apply for a grant under this section; and (2) establish eligibility and selection criteria for a political subdivision to be awarded a grant under this section. (f) A political subdivision awarded a grant under this section may expend the grant proceeds only in accordance with a contract between the division and the political subdivision. The contract must include provisions under which the division is granted sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of improving the response times of emergency services providers and personnel is accomplished and this state receives the return benefit. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.