89R10708 CJD-D

By: King S.B. No. 1329

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to school district police department accreditation, including a grant program to assist departments 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 403.0303 to read as follows:

Sec. 403.0303. SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCREDITATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a school district police department in this state for purposes of becoming accredited as required by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171, Occupations Code.

(b) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a school district police department must have executed a contract with an accrediting entity described by Section 1701.171(a), 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 school district police department 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 school district police department for the purposes of becoming accredited. A school district police department 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;

(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 school district police department is not accredited within the period specified by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171, 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 school district police department that applied for a grant under this section; and

(2) the amount of money distributed to each school district police department 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, 2031, a school district police department must be accredited as provided by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171, Occupations Code, 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 1701.171 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.171. SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCREDITATION. (a) The commission shall adopt rules requiring each school district police department 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.; or

(3) by an association or organization designated by the commission as provided by Subsection (d).

(b) The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must require a school district police department that is not already accredited to:

(1) execute a contract with an approved accrediting entity not later than September 1, 2029; and

(2) become accredited not later than September 1, 2031.

(c) The commission shall implement a program to assist school district police departments in becoming accredited as required by the rules adopted under Subsection (a).

(d) The commission shall periodically review associations and organizations that establish standards of practice for school district police departments and that offer accreditation to departments that meet those standards. On a majority vote of the commission that accreditation of school district police departments 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 (a)(3).

(e) A school district police department shall annually report the department's accreditation status, including the applicable accrediting entity described by Subsection (a), to the commission.

(f) The commission shall post on the commission's Internet website a list of all school district police departments that are currently accredited by, or under contract with, an accrediting entity described by Subsection (a).

SECTION 3. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules required by Section 1701.171, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2026, the comptroller shall establish the grant program required by Section 403.0303, 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, 2025.