SB 1482

relating to the rural sheriff's office and constable's office
salary assistance grant programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 130.911(a), Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
(3)  "Qualified emergency dispatcher" means a person
who provides communication support services for a sheriff's office
by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies.
SECTION 2.  Section 130.911(e), Local Government Code, is
(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
(D)  $40,000 for each qualified emergency
(2)  to increase the salary of a person described by
(3)  to hire additional deputies or staff for the
(4)  to purchase vehicles, firearms, and safety
equipment for the sheriff's office.
SECTION 3.  Section 130.912(a), Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subdivision (4) to read as follows:
(4)  "Qualified emergency dispatcher" means a person
who provides communication support services for a constable's
office by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies.
SECTION 4.  Sections 130.912(d), (e), and (g), Local
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(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 comptroller may only award a
grant to a county if the county agrees in writing to contribute at
least 75 percent of the money required to meet the minimum annual
salary requirement established under Subsection (e) for each
qualified constable and qualified emergency dispatcher for which
the county will also use grant money to provide that salary.
(e)  Subject to Subsection (d), a county that is awarded a
grant shall use or authorize the use of the grant money only to
provide a minimum annual salary of:
(1)  $45,000 to a qualified constable; and
(2)  $40,000 to a qualified emergency dispatcher.
(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
(B)  disbursement of grant money; and
(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; and
(4)  standards to determine if a constable or emergency
dispatcher is a qualified constable or qualified emergency
SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
the award of a grant to a county during a fiscal year of the county
that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 6.  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.