H.B. No. 3577 proposes the establishment of a grant program aimed at assisting local law enforcement agencies in solving violent and sexual offenses. The bill introduces a new section, 772.00791, to the Government Code, which defines key terms such as "clearance by arrest," "clearance by exception," "clearance rate," "criminal justice division," "sexual offense," and "violent offense." The criminal justice division is tasked with administering the grant program, which will allow law enforcement agencies to apply for funding to improve their clearance rates for these types of offenses. The bill outlines the eligibility criteria, application procedures, and guidelines for grant amounts, as well as the permissible uses of grant funds, which include hiring personnel, upgrading technology, and enhancing record management systems.

Additionally, the bill mandates that agencies receiving grants must report annually on their clearance rates and the effectiveness of the funds used. The criminal justice division is also required to evaluate the practices of grant recipients to identify successful strategies for improving clearance rates. Importantly, the bill stipulates that receiving a grant cannot lead to a reduction in funding from governmental entities for the law enforcement agency. The act is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

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