86R7847 CJC-D
 
  By: Moody H.B. No. 2953
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a grant program to provide salary increases to
  full-time peace officers employed by certain local governments with
  limited tax bases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 401, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 401.106 to read as follows:
         Sec. 401.106.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR PEACE OFFICER PAY IN AREA
  WITH LIMITED TAX BASE. (a) In this section, "qualifying local
  government" means a county or municipality in which:
               (1)  the taxable value of property for ad valorem tax
  purposes is less than the amount established by rule under
  Subsection (b); and
               (2)  the average starting salary on September 1, 2019,
  for a peace officer employed full-time by the county or
  municipality is less than $32,500 per year.
         (b)  The governor by rule shall establish a grant program to
  award grants to qualifying local governments to enhance public
  safety in this state by ensuring that the starting salaries of all
  peace officers employed by a qualifying local government is at
  least $32,500 per year. The rules adopted under this subsection
  must:
               (1)  provide the maximum taxable value of property that
  may be located in a county or municipality in order for the county
  or municipality to be considered a qualifying local government; and
               (2)  prescribe the manner by which:
                     (A)  a qualifying local government applies for a
  grant; and
                     (B)  grants will be allocated to applicants if the
  amount of grants for which qualifying local governments have
  applied exceeds the amount of money available for the grants.
         (c)  The governor shall award grants to qualifying local
  governments under this section from money appropriated to the
  governor for that purpose. The governor is not required to award a
  grant under this section during any period for which money is not
  appropriated for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The comptroller of public accounts, using
  existing resources, shall conduct a study to determine the amount
  of money needed to fully fund the grant program under Section
  401.106, Government Code, as added by this Act, for the two-year
  period beginning September 1, 2021.
         (b)  Not later than January 1, 2021, the comptroller of
  public accounts shall submit a report on the study to the governor,
  the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature. The
  legislature may consider the report when making appropriations to
  the governor for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1,
  2021.
         (c)  This section takes effect September 1, 2019.
         SECTION 3.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.