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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the rural constable's office salary assistance 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. Section 130.912, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (d), (e), and (g) and adding |
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Subsection (e-1) to read as follows: |
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(d) The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified |
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county that applies for the grant using money appropriated to the |
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comptroller for that purpose. The grant must be in the following |
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applicable amount: |
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(1) $75,000 for each constable precinct in the county |
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if the county has a population of less than 10,000; |
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(2) $100,000 for each constable precinct in the county |
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if the county has a population of 10,000 or more and less than |
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50,000; and |
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(3) $150,000 for each constable precinct in the county |
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if the county has a population of 50,000 or more and 300,000 or less |
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[The comptroller may only award a grant to a county if the county |
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agrees in writing to contribute at least 75 percent of the money |
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required to meet the minimum annual salary requirement established |
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under Subsection (e) for each qualified constable for which the |
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county will also use grant money to provide that salary]. |
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(e) A [Subject to Subsection (d), a] county that is awarded |
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a grant shall use or authorize the use of the grant money only: |
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(1) to provide a minimum annual salary of at least: |
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(A) $65,000 for the [$45,000 to a qualified] |
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constable of each precinct; and |
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(B) $45,000 for each deputy constable who makes |
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motor vehicle stops in the routine performance of the deputy |
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constable's duties; |
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(2) to increase the salary of a person described by |
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Subdivision (1); |
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(3) to hire additional deputies or staff for the |
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constable's office; or |
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(4) to purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety |
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equipment for the constable's office. |
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(e-1) A county that is awarded a grant may not use or |
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authorize the use of the grant money for a purpose other than to |
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meet the minimum salary requirements prescribed by Subsection |
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(e)(1) until those requirements are satisfied. |
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(g) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement this section, including rules that establish: |
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(1) a standardized application process, including the |
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form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the |
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form; |
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(2) deadlines for: |
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(A) applying for the grant; |
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(B) disbursement of grant money; and |
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(C) spending grant money; and |
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(3) procedures for: |
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(A) monitoring the disbursement of grant money to |
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ensure compliance with this section; and |
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(B) the return of grant money that was not used by |
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a county for a purpose authorized by this section[; and |
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[(4) standards to determine if a constable is a |
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qualified constable]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 130.912(a)(2), Local Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. Section 130.912, Local Government Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies only to the award of a grant to a county |
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under the rural constable's office salary assistance grant program |
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during a fiscal year of the county that begins on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |