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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a rural county law enforcement grant |
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program. |
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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 772.0079 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 772.0079. RURAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Rural county law enforcement agency" means the |
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sheriff's office or constable's office of a county with a population |
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of less than 125,000. |
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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 rural county law |
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enforcement agency may apply for a grant that may be used to pay |
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for: |
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(1) personnel costs of the agency, including: |
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(A) any costs for recruitment of personnel; and |
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(B) the salaries and wages of jailers and other |
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personnel; |
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(2) training for agency personnel, including training |
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regarding mental health issues; or |
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(3) the purchase or maintenance of equipment. |
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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 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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(e) The criminal justice division may use any available |
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funds to implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |