Rural Constable Grants Run Up To $150,000, No County Match

The text as introduced · 581 words

89R9294 MZM-F

By: Hall
S.B. No. 1471

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the rural constable's office salary assistance grant

program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 130.912, Local Government Code, is

amended by amending Subsections (d), (e), and (g) and adding

Subsection (e-1) 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 grant must be in the following

applicable amount:

(1) $75,000 for each constable precinct in the county

if the county has a population of less than 10,000;

(2) $100,000 for each constable precinct in the county

if the county has a population of 10,000 or more and less than

50,000; and

(3) $150,000 for each constable precinct in the county

if the county has a population of 50,000 or more and 300,000 or less

[ 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 for which the

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

(e) A [ Subject to Subsection (d), 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) $65,000 for the [ $45,000 to a qualified ]

constable of each precinct; and

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

motor vehicle stops in the routine performance of the deputy

constable's duties;

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

Subdivision (1);

(3) to hire additional deputies or staff for the

constable's office; or

(4) to purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety

equipment for the constable's office .

(e-1) A county that is awarded a grant may not use or

authorize the use of the grant money for a purpose other than to

meet the minimum salary requirements prescribed by Subsection

(e)(1) until those requirements are satisfied.

(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; 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 2. Section 130.912(a)(2), Local Government Code, is

repealed.

SECTION 3. Section 130.912, Local Government Code, as

amended by this Act, applies only to the award of a grant to a county

under the 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 4. 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.