AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The mission of Crime Stoppers of Houston is to solve and prevent serious crime in the Greater Houston area in partnership with citizens, media, and the criminal justice system. Since 1981, Crime Stoppers of Houston has operated the famed tip line, 713.222.TIPS. Known as a leader in crime prevention resources, the Crime Stoppers of Houston tip line program has solved over 30,000 felony cases and arrested nearly 25,000 felony fugitives.
The Harris County Commissioners Court has found that the money they donate to this program is an incredibly cost effective way to cut down on crime in Harris County. The bill as filed allows Harris County to voluntarily donate up to $100,000 to Crime Stoppers. The statute currently caps the amount they can donate at $25,000. The substitute changes the applicable population of a county to one million or more.
C.S.S.B. 1092 amends current law relating to the amount that may be donated by contract by certain populous counties to crime stoppers or crime prevention organizations.
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 351.901(b), Local Government Code, as follows:
(b) Authorizes the commissioners court of a county by contract to donate money to one or more crime stoppers or crime prevention organizations for expenditure by the organizations to meet the goals identified in Subsection (a) (defining "crime stoppers organization" and "crime prevention organization" in this section). Prohibits the total amount of all donations made in a calendar year from exceeding:
(1) $25,000; or
(2) $100,000, for a county with a population of one million or more.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.