If enacted, this bill would amend current statutes to prohibit municipalities from reducing the annual operating budget for law enforcement agencies below the previous year's budget. It would require municipalities to notify the State Treasurer of any budget reductions, which would trigger the withholding of state shared funds equivalent to the reduction amount until the budget is restored. The bill outlines specific exemptions to this prohibition, such as financial incapacity or reductions in other municipal departments' budgets.
Additionally, the bill asserts that the regulation of law enforcement funding is a matter of statewide concern, thereby preempting local regulations. It defines "law enforcement agency" specifically as a municipal police department and includes provisions for the State Treasurer to withhold funds while ensuring that necessary payments for existing municipal debts are not affected. The bill also makes technical and conforming changes to existing statutes to integrate these new provisions.
Statutes affected: Introduced Version: 9-500.52, 42-5029, 43-206, 35-146, 35-147, 42-1116, 42-5014, 42-5070, 42-5010, 42-5155, 42-5010.01, 42-5061, 42-5164, 42-5205, 42-1118, 42-1254, 42-5030, 42-5030.01, 42-5031, 42-5032, 42-5032.01, 42-5032.02, 49-282, 17-273, 15-2084, 15-1648, 15-1472, 42-5031.01, 15-971, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 15-154, 15-154.01, 15-241, 43-1072.01, 15-977, 41-2257, 41-2258, 42-5033, 42-5033.01, 42-6010, 9-626, 41-194.01, 15-1402, 15-1403, 15-1409
House Engrossed Version: 9-500.52, 42-5029, 43-206, 35-146, 35-147, 42-1116, 42-5014, 42-5070, 42-5010, 42-5155, 42-5010.01, 42-5061, 42-5164, 42-5205, 42-1118, 42-1254, 42-5030, 42-5030.01, 42-5031, 42-5032, 42-5032.01, 42-5032.02, 49-282, 17-273, 15-2084, 15-1648, 15-1472, 42-5031.01, 15-971, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 15-154, 15-154.01, 15-241, 43-1072.01, 15-977, 41-2257, 41-2258, 42-5033, 42-5033.01, 42-6010, 9-626, 41-194.01, 15-1402, 15-1403, 15-1409
Senate Engrossed Version: 9-500.52, 42-5029, 43-206, 35-146, 35-147, 42-1116, 42-5014, 42-5070, 42-5010, 42-5155, 42-5010.01, 42-5061, 42-5164, 42-5205, 42-1118, 42-1254, 42-5030, 42-5030.01, 42-5031, 42-5032, 42-5032.01, 42-5032.02, 49-282, 17-273, 15-2084, 15-1648, 15-1472, 42-5031.01, 15-971, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 15-154, 15-154.01, 15-241, 43-1072.01, 15-977, 41-2257, 41-2258, 42-5033, 42-5033.01, 42-6010, 9-626, 41-194.01, 15-1402, 15-1403, 15-1409