grant money to clear forensic and criminal case backlogs

The text as introduced · 683 words

By: Johnson
H.B. No. 4602

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of grant programs within the criminal

justice division of the Office of the Governor to reduce

investigatory and criminal case backlogs.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is

amended by adding Sections 772.00717 and 772.00718 to read as

follows:

Sec. 772.00717. FORENSIC SCIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT

PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" has the meaning

assigned by Section 420.003.

(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal

justice division established under Section 772.006.

(3) "Grant program" means the forensic science

improvement grant program established under this section.

(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and

administer a grant program to provide funding for the purpose of

improving the timeliness of forensic testing and medical examiner

services and reducing the backlog of untested forensic evidence in

the possession, custody, or control of a medical examiner, coroner,

or accredited crime laboratory.

(c) The criminal justice division may award a grant under

the grant program to an eligible medical examiner, coroner, or

accredited crime laboratory to be used only for:

(1) testing by an accredited crime laboratory of

evidence that was collected in relation to a criminal offense; or

(2) medical examiner or coroner services.

(d) The criminal justice division:

(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for

grant applicants; and

(2) shall establish:

(A) grant application procedures;

(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts;

(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications

which prioritize applicants with the largest backlogs in testing

and examinations; and

(D) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant

awarded under the grant program and ensuring compliance with any

conditions of a grant.

(e) The criminal justice division shall include in the

biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) detailed

reporting of the results and performance of the grant program.

(f) The criminal justice division may use any available

funds to implement this section.

Sec. 772.00718. INTERJURISDICTIONAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

GRANT PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal

justice division established under Section 772.006.

(2) "Interjurisdictional criminal investigation"

means a criminal investigation conducted by two or more law

enforcement agencies serving more than one political subdivision.

(3) "Law enforcement agency" means:

(A) the police department of a municipality;

(B) the sheriff's office of a county; or

(C) a constable's office of a county.

(4) "Pilot program" means the interjurisdictional

criminal investigation grant pilot program established under this

section.

(b) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the

purpose, the criminal justice division shall establish and

administer a pilot program to provide funding to eligible law

enforcement agencies to reduce criminal case backlogs.

(c) The criminal justice division may award a grant under

the pilot program to an eligible law enforcement agency to be used

for:

(1) facilitating interjurisdictional criminal

investigations between law enforcement agencies operating in

jurisdictions with a population of 400,000 or more;

(2) improving the interjurisdictional exchange of

information relating to criminal investigations between law

enforcement agencies; or

(3) enhancing the compatibility between record

management systems operated by law enforcement agencies and

attorneys representing the state.

(d) The criminal justice division:

(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for

grant applicants; and

(2) shall establish:

(A) grant application procedures;

(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts;

(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications;

and

(D) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant

awarded under the pilot program and ensuring compliance with any

conditions of a grant.

(e) Not later than September 1, 2026, the criminal justice

division shall prepare and submit a report on the pilot program

under this section to the Legislative Budget Board and the standing

committees of the house of representatives and the senate with

primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters. The report

must include:

(1) an evaluation of the results and effectiveness of

the pilot program; and

(2) any recommendations for legislative or other

action.

(f) The pilot program is abolished and this section expires

September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.