The Texas Capitol Public Safety Protection Act amends existing law regarding the provision of law enforcement and public safety services within the Capitol Complex in Austin, Texas. The bill redefines the boundaries of the Capitol Complex to include additional areas and clarifies the responsibilities of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the City of Austin. Specifically, it establishes that the DPS has primary responsibility for law enforcement and security services within the Capitol Complex and mandates the creation of an interlocal cooperation agreement between the DPS and the City of Austin. This agreement will outline their respective responsibilities for traffic, parking enforcement, public safety, and law enforcement, with the City operating under the direction of the DPS.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision that requires the DPS to calculate and report its annual costs for providing law enforcement and public safety services in the Capitol Complex. The comptroller is authorized to deduct these reported costs from the City of Austin's share of taxes collected before distributing the remaining funds. This ensures that the financial responsibilities for public safety services are clearly defined and accounted for. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 411.061, Government Code 411.062 (Government Code 411)