TITLE: Relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.

SUMMARY: Relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 772.013 to read as follows: Sec. 772.013. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS WITH MASTER PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE. (a) In this section: (1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006. (2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of this state or an agency of a political subdivision of this state authorized by law to employ peace officers. (3) "Peace officer" means a person elected, employed, or appointed as a peace officer under Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law. (b) From money appropriated specifically for that purpose, the criminal justice division may establish a grant program for the public purpose of fostering the professional development of peace officers employed in this state. (c) To be eligible for a grant under this section, a person must: (1) hold a master proficiency certificate issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.402, Occupations Code; (2) be employed on a full-time basis as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency; and (3) meet any other eligibility criteria established by the criminal justice division. (d) Only the following persons may apply for a grant under this section: (1) a law enforcement agency on behalf of an employee of the agency who meets the eligibility criteria for a grant under this section; or (2) a person who meets the eligibility criteria for a grant under this section with the consent of the person's employing law enforcement agency. (e) The criminal justice division may award a grant under this section only to a law enforcement agency. The law enforcement agency may use the money only to increase the compensation of the employee who applied for the grant or for whom the agency applied for the grant. (f) If the grant program is established under Subsection (b), the criminal justice division shall establish procedures for: (1) processing grant applications in addition to any other application procedures prescribed by this section; (2) evaluating grant applications; and (3) monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any condition of a grant. (g) The criminal justice division shall award grants under this section in an amount equal to $6,500 for each award. (h) A grant awarded under this section may not be awarded to the same person more than one time. SECTION 2. The criminal justice division established under Section 772.006, Government Code, may award a grant under Section 772.013, Government Code, as added by this Act, only with respect to a master proficiency certificate issued under Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.