By: King, Flores, West S.B. No. 267
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to law enforcement agency accreditation, including a grant
  program to assist agencies in becoming accredited.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 403.0302 to read as follows:
         Sec. 403.0302.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT
  PROGRAM.  (a)  The comptroller shall establish and administer a
  grant program to provide financial assistance for purposes of
  becoming accredited to each law enforcement agency that:
               (1)  is required to be accredited by the rules adopted
  under Section 1701.165, Occupations Code; and
               (2)  employs fewer than 250 peace officers.
         (b)  To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a
  law enforcement agency must have executed a contract with an
  accrediting entity described by Section 1701.165(b), Occupations
  Code, and complete an initial assessment by the accrediting entity.
         (c)  Based on the results of the initial assessment completed
  under Subsection (b), a law enforcement agency may request grant
  funds for reimbursement of an accreditation fee, staff overtime, or
  temporary staffing necessary to become accredited.
         (d)  Grant money provided under this section may only be used
  by a law enforcement agency for the purposes of becoming
  accredited.  A law enforcement agency may not receive more than one
  grant under this section.
         (e)  The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not
  exceed $30,000.
         (f)  The comptroller shall establish:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
               (2)  grant application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications,
  including prioritizing applications from law enforcement agencies
  employing fewer than 100 peace officers;
               (5)  procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
  awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any
  conditions of a grant; and
               (6)  procedures for revoking a grant awarded under the
  program if the law enforcement agency is not accredited within the
  period specified by the rules adopted under Section 1701.165,
  Occupations Code.
         (g)  Not later than December 1 of each year, the comptroller
  shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a report that provides
  the following information for the preceding state fiscal year:
               (1)  the name of each law enforcement agency that
  applied for a grant under this section; and
               (2)  the amount of money distributed to each law
  enforcement agency that received a grant under this section.
         (h)  The comptroller may use any revenue available for
  purposes of this section.
         (i)  Notwithstanding any other law or rule, beginning
  September 1, 2029, a law enforcement agency described by Section
  1701.165, Occupations Code, must be accredited as provided by the
  rules adopted under that section to be eligible to receive any grant
  supporting law enforcement operations or equipment acquisition
  administered by the comptroller other than a grant under this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1701.165 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1701.165.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION.  (a)  
  This section applies only to a law enforcement agency employing at
  least 20 peace officers described by Article 2.12(1), (3), (4),
  (8), or (10), Code of Criminal Procedure, to answer emergency calls
  for service or conduct patrol operations, traffic enforcement, or
  criminal investigations.
         (b)  The commission shall adopt rules requiring each law
  enforcement agency to become accredited and maintain
  accreditation:
               (1)  through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law
  Enforcement Agency Best Practices Accreditation Program;
               (2)  by the Commission on Accreditation for Law
  Enforcement Agencies, Inc.;
               (3)  by the International Association of Campus Law
  Enforcement Administrators;
               (4)  by an accreditation program developed by the
  Sheriffs' Association of Texas; or
               (5)  by an association or organization designated by
  the commission as provided by Subsection (e).
         (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (b) must require a
  law enforcement agency that is not already accredited to:
               (1)  execute a contract with an approved accrediting
  entity not later than September 1, 2027; and
               (2)  become accredited not later than September 1,
  2029.
         (d)  The commission shall implement a program to assist law
  enforcement agencies in becoming accredited as required by the
  rules adopted under Subsection (b).
         (e)  The commission shall periodically review associations
  and organizations that establish standards of practice for law
  enforcement agencies and that offer accreditation to agencies that
  meet those standards.  On a majority vote of the commission that
  accreditation of law enforcement agencies in this state by an
  association or organization would benefit public safety, the
  commission may designate the association or organization as an
  accrediting entity for purposes of Subsection (b)(5).
         (f)  A law enforcement agency shall annually report the
  agency's accreditation status, including the applicable
  accrediting entity described by Subsection (b), to the commission.
         (g)  The commission shall post on the commission's Internet
  website a list of all law enforcement agencies that are currently
  accredited or under contract with an accrediting entity as
  described by Subsection (b).
         SECTION 3.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules required by
  Section 1701.165, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than January 1, 2024, the comptroller shall
  establish the grant program required by Section 403.0302,
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.