The proposed bill, S.B. 1299, seeks to establish a new Law Enforcement Personnel Grant Program, funded by a $2,000,000 appropriation from the state General Fund for fiscal year 2026. This new
program will reimburse law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for costs associated with federal immigration training, with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) responsible for its administration. LEAs will be required to submit applications for reimbursement, which can cover up to one month's salary for officers participating in the training, contingent upon meeting specific conditions. Additionally, the bill introduces definitions for key terms such as "LEA" and "law enforcement officer," clarifying the entities involved in the program.
Furthermore, the bill amends existing statutes by establishing a new article (Article 15) in Title 13 concerning compensation for individuals wrongfully convicted. This framework allows claimants to seek compensation if they can prove their wrongful conviction and outlines the claims process, the Attorney General's responsibilities, and the court's role. It also creates the Erroneous Convictions Fund to finance these claims and mandates the expungement of records for compensated individuals. Overall, S.B. 1299 introduces significant new provisions to support law enforcement training and address wrongful convictions while maintaining existing statutory frameworks.Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-1735
Senate Engrossed Version: 41-1735
House Engrossed Version: 36-2856, 36-2856.01, 36-2853, 36-2854, 36-2859, 42-5452, 42-5453, 35-190, 36-2862, 2025-2026, 2029-2030, 15-1409, 15-1466.01, 38-842, 28-6533, 36-2863