HB 4264

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)  The criminal justice division shall 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
(1)  hold a master proficiency certificate issued by
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.402,
(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
(d)  Only the following persons may apply for a grant under
(1)  a law enforcement agency on behalf of an employee
of the agency who meets the eligibility criteria for a grant under
(2)  a person who meets the eligibility criteria for a
grant under this section with the consent of the person's employing
(e)  The criminal justice division shall award a grant under
this section to a law enforcement agency.  The law enforcement
agency shall use the money only to increase the compensation of the
employee who applied for the grant or for whom the agency applied
(f)  The criminal justice division shall establish
(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)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the
criminal justice division shall award grants under this section in
an amount equal to $6,500 for each award.  The criminal justice
division may increase the amount of an award in a state fiscal year
after the state fiscal year in which the program was established to
an amount the value of which is equal to the value of the grant in
the previous fiscal year after adjustment for inflation, as
calculated by the criminal justice division.
(h)  The criminal justice division may use any money
available for purposes of this section.
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.