bill changing rural sheriff and constable salary grants

The text as introduced · 734 words

89R8861 MZM-D

By: Ashby
H.B. No. 2115

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the rural sheriff's office, rural constable's office,

and rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant programs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 130.911(e) and (h), Local Government

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(e) A county that is awarded a grant shall use or authorize

the use of the grant money only:

(1) to provide a minimum annual salary of at least:

(A) $75,000 for the county sheriff;

(B) $45,000 for each deputy who makes motor

vehicle stops in the routine performance of their duties; [ and ]

(C) $40,000 for each jailer whose duties include

the safekeeping of prisoners and the security of a jail operated by

the county; and

(D) $40,000 for each telecommunicator, as

defined by Section 1701.001, Occupations Code, employed by the

county sheriff;

(2) to increase the salary of a person described by

Subdivision (1);

(3) to hire additional deputies or staff for the

sheriff's office; or

(4) to purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety

equipment for the sheriff's office.

(h) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to

implement this section, including rules that establish:

(1) a standardized application process, including the

form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the

form;

(2) deadlines for:

(A) applying for the grant;

(B) disbursement of grant money; and

(C) spending grant money; and

(3) procedures for:

(A) monitoring the disbursement of grant money to

ensure compliance with this section , including a requirement that

the county auditor or other appropriate county officer report to

the comptroller's office on the disbursement and compliance ; and

(B) the return of grant money that was not used by

a county for a purpose authorized by this section.

SECTION 2. Sections 130.912(d) and (g), Local Government

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(d) The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified

county that applies for the grant using money appropriated to the

comptroller for that purpose. The comptroller may only award a

grant to a county if the county agrees in writing to contribute at

least 25 [ 75 ] percent of the money required to meet the minimum

annual salary requirement established under Subsection (e) for each

qualified constable for which the county will also use grant money

to provide that salary.

(g) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to

implement this section, including rules that establish:

(1) a standardized application process, including the

form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the

form;

(2) deadlines for:

(A) applying for the grant;

(B) disbursement of grant money; and

(C) spending grant money;

(3) procedures for:

(A) monitoring the disbursement of grant money to

ensure compliance with this section , including a requirement that

the county auditor or other appropriate county officer report to

the comptroller's office on the disbursement and compliance ; and

(B) the return of grant money that was not used by

a county for a purpose authorized by this section; and

(4) standards to determine if a constable is a

qualified constable.

SECTION 3. Section 130.913(g), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(g) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to

implement this section, including rules that establish:

(1) a standardized application process, including the

form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the

form;

(2) deadlines for:

(A) applying for the grant;

(B) disbursement of grant money; and

(C) spending grant money; and

(3) procedures for:

(A) monitoring the disbursement of grant money to

ensure compliance with this section , including a requirement that

the county auditor or other appropriate county officer report to

the comptroller's office on the disbursement and compliance ; and

(B) the return of grant money that was not used by

a qualified prosecutor's office for a purpose authorized by this

section.

SECTION 4. Sections 130.911(e) and 130.912(d), Local

Government Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to the award of

a grant to a county under the rural sheriff's office salary

assistance grant program or rural constable's office salary

assistance grant program during a fiscal year of the county that

begins on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.