LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 25, 2023

TO:
Honorable Victoria Neave Criado, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB22 by Springer (relating to the establishment of grant programs to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff's offices, constable's offices, and prosecutor's offices in rural counties.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined. The cost would be dependent on the number of counties applying for the grant and appropriations by the legislature. 

The bill would amend Chapter 130 of the Local Government Code, adding sections that establish grant programs to provide financial assistance to sheriff departments, constable's offices, district attorneys, criminal district attorneys, and county attorneys with criminal prosecution duties. It requires the Comptroller to administer the Rural Sherriff's Department Salary Assistance Grant Program, and award grants between $250,000 and $500,000 to eligible counties with a population of less than 300,000 people. The grant funding must be used to provide specified minimum salaries, give salary increases, hire additional deputies or staff for the department, or to purchase equipment for the sheriff's department or constable's office. 

The bill also requires the Comptroller to administer the Rural Prosecutor's Office Salary Assistance Grant Program, and to award grants between $100,000 and $275,000 to eligible counties with a population of less than 300,000 people.  The grant funding must be used to supplement the salary of a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney with criminal prosecution duties, or increase the salary of assistant attorneys, investigators, or victim assistance coordinators, or to hire additional staff. 

Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 1, 88th Legislative Session, include $330,800,000 for county law enforcement contingent on the enactment of legislation relating to providing counties with additional law enforcement resources by the Eighty-eighth Legislature, Regular Session. 

Local Government Impact

The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:
JMc, AF, LCO, CSmi, KK, NV