89R10708 CJD-D
By: King S.B. No. 1329
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school district police department accreditation,
including a grant program to assist departments 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 403.0303 to read as follows:
Sec. 403.0303. SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT
ACCREDITATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller shall establish
and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a
school district police department in this state for purposes of
becoming accredited as required by the rules adopted under Section
1701.171, Occupations Code.
(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
school district police department must have executed a contract
with an accrediting entity described by Section 1701.171(a),
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 school district police department 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 school district police department for the purposes of becoming
accredited. A school district police department 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;
(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 school district police department is not accredited
within the period specified by the rules adopted under Section
1701.171, 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 school district police department
that applied for a grant under this section; and
(2) the amount of money distributed to each school
district police department 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, 2031, a school district police department must be
accredited as provided by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171,
Occupations Code, 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 1701.171 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.171. SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT
ACCREDITATION. (a) The commission shall adopt rules requiring
each school district police department 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.; or
(3) by an association or organization designated by
the commission as provided by Subsection (d).
(b) The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must require a
school district police department that is not already accredited
to:
(1) execute a contract with an approved accrediting
entity not later than September 1, 2029; and
(2) become accredited not later than September 1,
2031.
(c) The commission shall implement a program to assist
school district police departments in becoming accredited as
required by the rules adopted under Subsection (a).
(d) The commission shall periodically review associations
and organizations that establish standards of practice for school
district police departments and that offer accreditation to
departments that meet those standards. On a majority vote of the
commission that accreditation of school district police
departments 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
(a)(3).
(e) A school district police department shall annually
report the department's accreditation status, including the
applicable accrediting entity described by Subsection (a), to the
commission.
(f) The commission shall post on the commission's Internet
website a list of all school district police departments that are
currently accredited by, or under contract with, an accrediting
entity described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 3. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules required by
Section 1701.171, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the comptroller shall
establish the grant program required by Section 403.0303,
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, 2025.