BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 503
80R4479 KSD-D By: Hegar
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law does not require law enforcement agencies to report how they have spent the law enforcement officer standards and education funds that they have been allotted for a particular year.
As proposed, S.B. 503 requires law enforcement agencies to detail their expenditure of those funds allotted in the prior year in order to qualify for such funding in subsequent years. The bill also requires these agencies to report the number of licensed peace officers they are authorized to have work 32 hours a week or more, the number of those positions that are filled, the percentage of allotted funds used, the number of training hours received through the use of those funds, and the agency’s compliance with all funding laws.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 772.006, Government Code, by adding Subsection (d), to require the criminal justice division of the governor’s office (division) to administer a grant program that awards grants to support local law enforcement agencies in providing for the continuing education of persons licensed under Chapter 1701 (Law Enforcement Officers), Occupations Code. Requires awards under this subsection to be need-based, as determined by the division, and in addition to amounts reimbursed under Section 1701.157 (Money Allocated and Used for Continuing Education), Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 1701.157(a) and (b), Occupations Code, as follows:
(a) Reallocates money allocated by the comptroller of public accounts for expenses related to the continuing education of persons licensed under this chapter to local law enforcement agencies that are eligible under Subsection (b), rather than all local law enforcement agencies in this state.
(b) Sets forth the eligibility requirements for an allocation of money under Subsection (a). Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 3. Requires the criminal justice division of the governor's office to award the first grants under Section 772.006(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, if funds are available for that purpose. Makes the application of Section 1701.157, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, to allocations made for expenses incurred by local law enforcement agencies prospective.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2007.