bill letting rural sheriff and constable grants pay dispatchers

The text as introduced · 602 words

89R10375 MZM-D

By: Lozano
H.B. No. 2951

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

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

salary assistance grant programs.

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

SECTION 1. Section 130.911(a), Local Government Code, is

amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:

(3) "Qualified emergency dispatcher" means a person

who provides communication support services for a sheriff's office

by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies.

SECTION 2. Section 130.911(e), Local Government Code, is

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 qualified emergency

dispatcher;

(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.

SECTION 3. Section 130.912(a), Local Government Code, is

amended by adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:

(4) "Qualified emergency dispatcher" means a person

who provides communication support services for a constable's

office by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies.

SECTION 4. Sections 130.912(d), (e), 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 75 percent of the money required to meet the minimum annual

salary requirement established under Subsection (e) for each

qualified constable and qualified emergency dispatcher for which

the county will also use grant money to provide that salary.

(e) Subject to Subsection (d), a county that is awarded a

grant shall use or authorize the use of the grant money only to

provide a minimum annual salary of :

(1) $45,000 to a qualified constable ; and

(2) $40,000 to a qualified emergency dispatcher .

(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; 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 or emergency

dispatcher is a qualified constable or qualified emergency

dispatcher .

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

the award of a grant to a county during a fiscal year of the county

that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.