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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program administered by the governor's criminal |
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justice division to implement practices to maintain peace officers' |
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mental health. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 772.0073 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 772.0073. PEACE OFFICER MENTAL HEALTH GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state |
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authorized by law to employ peace officers. |
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(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal |
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justice division established under Section 772.006. |
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(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and |
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administer a grant program through which a law enforcement agency |
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may apply for a grant to implement practices designed to maintain |
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the mental health of peace officers employed by the law enforcement |
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agency. |
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(c) The criminal justice division shall establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of a grant. |
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(d) The criminal justice division shall evaluate and |
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compare the practices implemented by each law enforcement agency |
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that receives a grant under this section to determine the most |
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successful practices for maintaining the mental health of peace |
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officers. |
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(e) The criminal justice division may contract with a third |
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party to conduct the evaluations and comparison described by |
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Subsection (d). |
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(f) The criminal justice division shall include in the |
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biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) a detailed |
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reporting of the results and performance of the grant program |
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administered under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |