88R6230 SHH-D
 
  By: King S.B. No. 267
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a law enforcement agency accreditation grant program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 772.0079 to read as follows:
         Sec. 772.0079.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT
  PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "criminal justice division" means
  the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006.
         (b)  This section applies only to a law enforcement agency
  employing one or more peace officers described by Article 2.12(1),
  (2), (3), (4), or (8), Code of Criminal Procedure.
         (c)  The criminal justice division shall establish and
  administer a grant program to provide to each law enforcement
  agency to which this section applies financial assistance for
  purposes of becoming accredited or maintaining 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; or
               (4)  by an association or organization designated by
  the criminal justice division under Subsection (h).
         (d)  The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not
  exceed $50,000.
         (e)  The criminal justice division shall establish:
               (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
               (2)  grant application procedures;
               (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;
               (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications;
               (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:
                     (A)  is not accredited within the period specified
  by the rules adopted under Subsection (i); or
                     (B)  does not renew or otherwise maintain the
  agency's accreditation.
         (f)  Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal
  justice division 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.
         (g)  The criminal justice division may use any revenue
  available for purposes of this section.
         (h)  The criminal justice division, with the assistance of
  the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, 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 determination by the
  criminal justice division 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 agency for purposes of Subsection
  (c)(4).
         (i)  The criminal justice division shall adopt rules
  requiring each law enforcement agency to which this section applies
  to become accredited as described by Subsection (c).  The rules must
  require law enforcement agencies to become accredited as follows:
               (1)  not later than September 1, 2026, for law
  enforcement agencies employing 50 or more peace officers; and
               (2)  not later than September 1, 2027, for law
  enforcement agencies employing fewer than 50 peace officers.
         (j)  The criminal justice division shall implement a program
  to assist eligible applicants in becoming accredited as required by
  the rules adopted under Subsection (i).
         (k)  A law enforcement agency that receives a grant awarded
  under the program annually shall report the agency's accreditation
  status, including the applicable accrediting agency described by
  Subsection (c)(1), (2), (3), or (4), to the Texas Commission on Law
  Enforcement.
         (l)  The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall post on
  the commission's Internet website a list of all law enforcement
  agencies that are currently accredited as described by Subsection
  (c).
         SECTION 2.  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.