88R26182 KBB-D     By: Springer, et al. S.B. No. 22     (Guillen, Gerdes)     Substitute the following for S.B. No. 22:  No.       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of grant programs to provide   financial assistance to qualified sheriff's offices, constable's   offices, and prosecutor's offices in rural counties.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government   Code, is amended by adding Sections 130.911 and 130.912 to read as   follows:          Sec. 130.911.  RURAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE SALARY ASSISTANCE   GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Grant" means a grant authorized to be awarded by   the comptroller under the rural sheriff's office salary assistance   grant program established by this section.                (2)  "Qualified county" means a county with a   population of 300,000 or less.          (b)  The comptroller shall establish and administer the   rural sheriff's office salary assistance grant program to support   the state purpose of ensuring professional law enforcement   throughout the state by providing financial assistance to sheriff's   offices and constable's offices in qualified counties.          (c)  Not later than the 30th day after the first day of a   qualified county's fiscal year, the county may submit an   application for a grant to the comptroller. A county may submit only   one application each fiscal year.          (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)  $250,000 if the county has a population of less   than 10,000;                (2)  $350,000 if the county has a population of 10,000   or more and less than 50,000; or                (3)  $500,000 if the county has a population of 50,000   or more and 300,000 or less.          (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;                (2)  to increase the salary of a person described by   Subdivision (1);                (3)  to hire additional deputies or staff for the   sheriff's office;                (4)  to purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety   equipment for the sheriff's office; or                (5)  to provide an aggregated maximum of $25,000 to the   constable's offices in the county for the purchase of vehicles,   firearms, and safety equipment.          (f)  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)  A county may not reduce the amount of funds provided to   the sheriff's office or constable's office because of grant funds   provided under this section.          (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; and                      (B)  the return of grant money that was not used by   a county for a purpose authorized by this section.          Sec. 130.912.  RURAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE SALARY ASSISTANCE   GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Grant" means a grant authorized to be awarded by   the comptroller under the rural prosecutor's office salary   assistance grant program established by this section.                (2)  "Qualified prosecutor's office" means, in a   jurisdiction with a population of 300,000 or less, the office of a   district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney   with criminal prosecution duties.          (b)  The comptroller shall establish and administer the   rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant program to   support the state purpose of ensuring professional legal   representation of the people's interests throughout the state by   providing financial assistance to qualified prosecutor's offices.          (c)  Not later than the 30th day after the first day of a   qualified prosecutor's office's fiscal year, the prosecutor's   office may submit an application for a grant to the comptroller. A   prosecutor's office may submit only one application each fiscal   year.          (d)  The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified   prosecutor's office that applies for the grant using money   appropriated to the comptroller for that purpose. The grant must be   in the following applicable amount:                (1)  $100,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction   has a population of less than 10,000;                (2)  $175,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction   has a population of 10,000 or more and less than 50,000; or                (3)  $275,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction   has a population of 50,000 or more and 300,000 or less.          (e)  A prosecutor's office that is awarded a grant shall use   or authorize the use of the grant money only:                (1)  to supplement the salary of a district attorney,   criminal district attorney, or county attorney with criminal   prosecution duties, as applicable to the county, in addition to any   other supplement authorized by law;                (2)  to increase the salary of an assistant attorney,   an investigator, or a victim assistance coordinator employed at the   office; or                (3)  to hire additional staff for the office.          (f)  A county may not reduce the amount of funds provided to a   prosecutor's office because of grant funds provided under this   section.          (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.          SECTION 2.  A qualified county or prosecutor's office, as   defined by Section 130.911 or 130.912, Local Government Code, as   added by this Act, may not apply for a rural sheriff's office salary   assistance grant or a rural prosecutor's office salary assistance   grant before January 1, 2024.          SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2024, the comptroller   of public accounts shall comply with the requirements of Sections   130.911 and 130.912, Local Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.