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79R15619 KSD-F


By:  Hegar                                                        H.B. No. 2023



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to funding for the continuing education of certain peace 
officers. 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 772.006, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  The criminal justice division shall administer a grant 
program under which grants are awarded to support local law 
enforcement agencies in this state in providing for the continuing 
education of persons licensed under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.  
Amounts awarded under this subsection:
		(1)  shall be based on need, as determined by the 
criminal justice division; and
		(2)  are in addition to amounts reimbursed under 
Section 1701.157, Occupations Code.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 1701.157(a) and (b), Occupations Code, 
are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Not later than March 1 of each calendar year, the 
comptroller shall allocate money deposited during the preceding 
calendar year in the general revenue fund to the credit of the law 
enforcement officer standards and education fund account for 
expenses related to the continuing education of persons licensed 
under this chapter as follows:
		(1)  20 percent of the money is allocated to [all] local 
law enforcement agencies in this state that meet the eligibility 
requirements described by Subsection (b) in equal shares; and
		(2)  80 percent of the money is allocated to [all] local 
law enforcement agencies in this state that meet the eligibility 
requirements described by Subsection (b) in a share representing a 
fixed amount for each position in the agency, as of January 1 of the 
preceding calendar year, that is reserved to a person who:
			(A)  is licensed under this chapter;                                         
			(B)  works as a peace officer on the average of at 
least 32 hours a week; and
			(C)  is compensated by a political subdivision of 
this state at least at the minimum wage and is entitled to all 
employee benefits offered to a peace officer by the political 
subdivision.
	(b)  To be eligible for an allocation of money under 
Subsection (a), a [Not later than November 1 of each calendar year, 
each] local law enforcement agency must [shall] report to the 
comptroller not later than November 1 of the preceding calendar 
year:
		(1)  the number of agency positions described by 
Subsection (a)(2) reserved as of January 1 of the [that] year 
covered by the report;
		(2)  the number of agency positions described by 
Subsection (a)(2) filled as of January 1 of the calendar year 
covered by the report;
		(3)  the percentage of any money received by the agency 
under Subsection (a) in the calendar year covered by the report used 
by the agency during that year;
		(4)  the number of training hours received through the 
use of any money received by the agency under Subsection (a) in the 
calendar year covered by the report; and
		(5)  that the agency has complied with all applicable 
laws regarding the use of any money received by the agency under 
Subsection (a) in the calendar year covered by the report.
	SECTION 3.  (a)  If funds are available for that purpose, the 
criminal justice division of the governor's office shall award the 
first grants under Section 772.006(d), Government Code, as added by 
this Act, in the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2005.
	(b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Section 1701.157, 
Occupations Code, apply to allocations made on or after January 1, 
2006, for expenses incurred by local law enforcement agencies 
during calendar year 2005.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.