By: Gerdes, Bailes, Kitzman, Holland, Murr, H.B. No. 1487
      et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a rural county law enforcement grant
  program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter T to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER T. RURAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 403.571.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "rural
  county law enforcement agency" means any of the following if
  located in a county with a population of 275,000 or less:
               (1)  a sheriff's office;
               (2)  a constable's office;
               (3)  a district attorney's office;
               (4)  a criminal district attorney's office; or
               (5)  a county attorney's office with criminal
  prosecution duties.
         Sec. 403.572.  ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM.  The
  comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program through
  which a rural county law enforcement agency may apply for a grant
  that may be used to pay for:
               (1)  the salaries of sheriffs, sheriff's deputies,
  jailers, or office support staff, including the hiring of
  additional deputies, jailers, and office support staff;
               (2)  the salaries of constables and deputy constables,
  including the hiring of additional deputies;
               (3)  the salaries of assistant prosecuting attorneys,
  investigators, victim assistance coordinators, or office support
  staff, including the hiring of additional attorneys,
  investigators, coordinators, and office support staff;
               (4)  any costs for the recruitment of staff;
               (5)  the purchase, lease, or maintenance of equipment,
  vehicles, office technology services and hardware, and office
  infrastructure and related facilities; and
               (6)  any costs for personnel training and related
  office expenses, including training to obtain or maintain an
  accreditation related to the position of the person undergoing the
  training.
         Sec. 403.573.  AMOUNT OF GRANTS. (a) The comptroller shall
  award a grant to a rural county law enforcement agency that applies
  for the grant using money appropriated to the comptroller for that
  purpose.
         (b)  A rural county law enforcement agency that is a
  sheriff's office or constable's office may be awarded a grant of not
  more than:
               (1)  $250,000, if the applicant is located in a county
  with a population of less than 10,000;
               (2)  $350,000, if the applicant is located in a county
  with a population of 10,000 or more but less than 50,000; or
               (3)  $500,000, if the applicant is located in a county
  with a population of 50,000 or more but not more than 275,000.
         (c)  A rural county law enforcement agency that is a district
  attorney's office, a criminal district attorney's office, or a
  county attorney's office with criminal prosecution duties may be
  awarded a grant of not more than:
               (1)  $100,000, if the applicant is located in a county
  with a population of less than 10,000;
               (2)  $175,000, if the applicant is located in a county
  with a population of 10,000 or more but less than 50,000; or
               (3)  $275,000, if the applicant is located in a county
  with a population of 50,000 or more but not more than 275,000.
         (d)  For purposes of Subsection (c), a multi-county district
  attorney's office is considered to be located in the county in the
  district with the largest population.
         Sec. 403.574.  LIMITATION ON GRANT APPLICATIONS. A rural
  county law enforcement agency may apply for a grant under this
  subchapter not more than once each fiscal year of the county in
  which the agency is located.
         Sec. 403.575.  APPROVAL OF COMMISSIONERS COURT REQUIRED.
  Before a rural law enforcement agency uses money received from a
  grant awarded under this subchapter for a purpose described by
  Section 403.572, the agency must obtain written approval to use the
  money for that purpose from the commissioners court of the county in
  which the agency is located.  The commissioners court of a county
  may not reduce the amount of money provided to a rural county law
  enforcement agency because of grant funds provided under this
  subchapter to the rural county law enforcement agency.
         Sec. 403.576.  DUTY TO RETURN UNSPENT GRANT MONEY. A rural
  county law enforcement agency that is awarded a grant under this
  subchapter shall return any unspent money awarded under that grant
  to the comptroller not later than the second anniversary of the date
  on which the money was disbursed to the agency.
         Sec. 403.577.  REPORT.  Not later than December 1 of each
  even-numbered year, the comptroller shall submit to the legislature
  a report on the results and performance of the grant program
  established under this subchapter.
         Sec. 403.578.  RULES.  The comptroller shall adopt rules to
  administer this subchapter, including rules that establish:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
               (2)  grant application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications; and
               (5)  procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
  awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
  conditions of a grant.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2024.