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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to law enforcement agency accreditation, including a grant |
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program to assist agencies in becoming accredited; making an |
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appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 403.0303 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 403.0303. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "law enforcement agency" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 1701.171, Occupations Code. |
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(b) The comptroller shall establish and administer a grant |
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program to provide financial assistance for purposes of becoming |
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accredited as required by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171, |
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Occupations Code, to each law enforcement agency that employs fewer |
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than 250 peace officers. |
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(c) To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a |
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law enforcement agency must have executed a contract with an |
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accrediting entity described by Section 1701.171(b), Occupations |
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Code, and complete an initial assessment by the accrediting entity. |
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(d) Based on the results of the initial assessment completed |
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under Subsection (c), a law enforcement agency may request grant |
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funds for reimbursement of an accreditation fee, staff overtime, or |
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temporary staffing necessary to become accredited. |
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(e) Grant money provided under this section may only be used |
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by a law enforcement agency for the purposes of becoming |
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accredited. A law enforcement agency may not receive more than one |
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grant under this section. |
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(f) The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not |
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exceed $30,000. |
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(g) The comptroller shall establish: |
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(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants; |
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(2) grant application procedures; |
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(3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; |
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(4) procedures for evaluating grant applications, |
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including prioritizing applications from law enforcement agencies |
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employing fewer than 100 peace officers; |
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(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant |
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awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any |
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conditions of a grant; and |
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(6) procedures for revoking a grant awarded under the |
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program if the law enforcement agency is not accredited within the |
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period specified by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171, |
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Occupations Code. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the comptroller |
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shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a report that provides |
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the following information for the preceding state fiscal year: |
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(1) the name of each law enforcement agency that |
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applied for a grant under this section; and |
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(2) the amount of money distributed to each law |
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enforcement agency that received a grant under this section. |
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(i) The comptroller may use any revenue available for |
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purposes of this section. |
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(j) Notwithstanding any other law or rule, beginning |
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September 1, 2029, a law enforcement agency must be accredited as |
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provided by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171, Occupations |
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Code, to be eligible to receive any grant supporting law |
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enforcement operations or equipment acquisition administered by |
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the comptroller other than a grant under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.171 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.171. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ACCREDITATION. (a) |
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In this section, "law enforcement agency" means: |
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(1) a law enforcement agency that employs at least 20 |
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peace officers described by Article 2.12(1), (3), (4), (8), or |
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(10), Code of Criminal Procedure, to answer emergency calls for |
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service or conduct patrol operations, traffic enforcement, or |
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criminal investigations; or |
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(2) a school district police department. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules requiring each law |
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enforcement agency to become accredited and maintain |
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accreditation: |
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()