SB1329 - Relating to school district police department accreditation, including a grant program to assist departments in becoming accredited.

  89R10708 CJD-D     By: King S.B. No. 1329       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to school district police department accreditation,   including a grant program to assist departments in becoming   accredited.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 403.0303 to read as follows:           Sec.   403.0303.     SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT   ACCREDITATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The comptroller shall establish   and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a   school district police department in this state for purposes of   becoming accredited as required by the rules adopted under Section   1701.171, Occupations Code.           (b)     To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a   school district police department must have executed a contract   with an accrediting entity described by Section 1701.171(a),   Occupations Code, and complete an initial assessment by the   accrediting entity.           (c)     Based on the results of the initial assessment completed   under Subsection (b), a school district police department may   request grant funds for reimbursement of an accreditation fee,   staff overtime, or temporary staffing necessary to become   accredited.           (d)     Grant money provided under this section may only be used   by a school district police department for the purposes of becoming   accredited. A school district police department may not receive   more than one grant under this section.           (e)     The amount of a grant awarded under this section may not   exceed $30,000.           (f)  The comptroller shall establish:                 (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applicants;                 (2)  grant application procedures;                 (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts;                 (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications;                 (5)     procedures for monitoring the use of a grant   awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any   conditions of a grant; and                 (6)     procedures for revoking a grant awarded under the   program if the school district police department is not accredited   within the period specified by the rules adopted under Section   1701.171, Occupations Code.           (g)     Not later than December 1 of each year, the comptroller   shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a report that provides   the following information for the preceding state fiscal year:                 (1)     the name of each school district police department   that applied for a grant under this section; and                 (2)     the amount of money distributed to each school   district police department that received a grant under this   section.           (h)     The comptroller may use any revenue available for   purposes of this section.           (i)     Notwithstanding any other law or rule, beginning   September 1, 2031, a school district police department must be   accredited as provided by the rules adopted under Section 1701.171,   Occupations Code, to be eligible to receive any grant supporting   law enforcement operations or equipment acquisition administered   by the comptroller other than a grant under this section.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 1701.171 to read as follows:           Sec.   1701.171.     SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT   ACCREDITATION. (a) The commission shall adopt rules requiring   each school district police department to become accredited and   maintain accreditation:                 (1)     through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Law   Enforcement Agency Best Practices Accreditation Program;                 (2)     by the Commission on Accreditation for Law   Enforcement Agencies, Inc.; or                 (3)     by an association or organization designated by   the commission as provided by Subsection (d).           (b)     The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must require a   school district police department that is not already accredited   to:                 (1)     execute a contract with an approved accrediting   entity not later than September 1, 2029; and                 (2)     become accredited not later than September 1,   2031.           (c)     The commission shall implement a program to assist   school district police departments in becoming accredited as   required by the rules adopted under Subsection (a).           (d)     The commission shall periodically review associations   and organizations that establish standards of practice for school   district police departments and that offer accreditation to   departments that meet those standards. On a majority vote of the   commission that accreditation of school district police   departments in this state by an association or organization would   benefit public safety, the commission may designate the association   or organization as an accrediting entity for purposes of Subsection   (a)(3).           (e)     A school district police department shall annually   report the department's accreditation status, including the   applicable accrediting entity described by Subsection (a), to the   commission.           (f)     The commission shall post on the commission's Internet   website a list of all school district police departments that are   currently accredited by, or under contract with, an accrediting   entity described by Subsection (a).          SECTION 3.  (a)  Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas   Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules required by   Section 1701.171, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.          (b)  Not later than January 1, 2026, the comptroller shall   establish the grant program required by Section 403.0303,   Government Code, as added by 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.