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TX HB318

TX HB318
Relating to the establishment of grant programs to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff's departments in certain rural counties.


summary

Introduced
11/12/2024
In Committee
05/05/2025
Crossed Over
05/01/2025
Passed
Dead
06/02/2025

Introduced Session

89th Legislature Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT relating to the establishment of grant programs to provide financial assistance to qualified sheriff's departments in certain rural counties.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Rural Sheriff's Deputy Shortage Relief Grant Program to provide financial assistance to sheriff's departments in rural counties with low deputy-to-resident or investigator-to-patrol ratios. The program targets counties with 300,000 or fewer residents that have less than 1.5 deputies per 1,000 unincorporated residents or an investigator-to-patrol ratio lower than one investigator for every five patrol deputies. The comptroller will administer grants that provide $50,000 per qualified deputy position, $50,000 per qualified investigator position, $35,000 per qualified emergency dispatcher, and $35,000 per qualified investigative support staff member. Counties must use the grant money to provide minimum salaries ($45,000 for deputies and investigators, $30,000 for dispatchers and support staff), purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety equipment, and maintain their sheriff's department budget. The total annual grant funding is capped at $150 million, and counties cannot apply for grants until September 1, 2026. The program aims to ensure professional law enforcement coverage in rural areas by helping counties hire additional law enforcement personnel and provide competitive compensation.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Referred to Finance (on 05/05/2025)

bill text


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