HB3577 - Relating to the creation of a grant program to assist local law enforcement agencies in solving violent and sexual offenses.

      By: Little H.B. No. 3577       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of a grant program to assist local law   enforcement agencies in solving violent and sexual offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 772.00791 to read as follows:           Sec.   772.00791.     GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST LOCAL LAW   ENFORCEMENT IN SOLVING VIOLENT AND SEXUAL OFFENSES. (a) In this   section:                 (1)     "Clearance by arrest" means that, with respect to   an offense reported to a law enforcement agency, the agency:                       (A)  has:                             (i)     arrested and charged at least one   suspect with the commission of the offense; and                             (ii)     turned the suspect over to the court   for prosecution; or                       (B)     has cited an individual younger than 18 years   of age and required the individual to appear in juvenile court or   before another juvenile authority with respect to the offense,   regardless of whether an arrest occurred.                 (2)     "Clearance by exception" means that, with respect   to an offense reported to a law enforcement agency, the agency:                       (A)  has confirmed the suspect's identity;                       (B)  has sufficient evidence for arrest;                       (C)  knows the suspect's specific location; and                       (D)     has encountered factors beyond law   enforcement control that hinder the arrest, charging, and   prosecution of the suspect.                 (3)     "Clearance rate" means, with respect to an offense   or category of offense reported to a law enforcement agency, a   fraction:                       (A)     the numerator of which is the number of   offenses cleared by the agency through clearance by arrest and   clearance by exception; and                       (B)     the denominator of which is the total number   of offenses reported to the agency.                 (4)     "Criminal justice division" means the criminal   justice division established under Section 772.006.                 (5)     "Sexual offense" means an offense under any of the   following provisions of the Penal Code:                       (A)  Section 21.11 (indecency with a child);                       (B)  Section 22.011 (sexual assault); or                       (C)  Section 22.021 (aggravated sexual assault).                 (6)     "Violent offense" means an offense under any of   the following provisions of the Penal Code:                         (A)  Section 19.02 (murder);                       (B)  Section 19.03 (capital murder);                       (C)  Section 20.04 (aggravated kidnapping);                       (D)     Section 22.02(a)(2) (aggravated assault with   a deadly weapon); or                       (E)  Section 29.03 (aggravated robbery).           (b)     This section applies only to a law enforcement agency   employing one or more peace officers described by Article 2A.001(1)   or (3), Code of Criminal Procedure.           (c)     The criminal justice division shall establish and   administer a grant program through which a law enforcement agency   may apply for a grant designed to improve clearance rates for   violent and sexual offenses.           (d)  The criminal justice division shall establish:                 (1)  eligibility criteria for grant applications;                 (2)  grant application procedures;                 (3)  guidelines relating to grant amounts; and                 (4)  procedures for evaluating grant applications.           (e)     Grant money awarded under this section may be used to   pay for:                 (1)  hiring, training, and retaining personnel to:                       (A)  investigate violent and sexual offenses;                       (B)     collect, process, and forensically test   evidence; or                       (C)     analyze violent and sexual offenses,   including temporal and geographical trends;                 (2)     acquiring, upgrading, or replacing technology or   equipment related to evidence collection, evidence processing, or   forensic testing; and                 (3)     upgrading record management systems to achieve   compliance with the reporting requirements under Subsection (f).           (f)     A law enforcement agency that receives a grant awarded   under the program annually shall report:                 (1)     the clearance rate and the percentage of the   clearance rate that is clearance by arrest and the percentage that   is clearance by exception for:                       (A)  violent offenses;                       (B)  sexual offenses; and                       (C)     each offense listed in Subsection (a)(5) or   (6);                 (2)     the average duration between the date of the   offense and the date of clearance for:                       (A)  violent offenses;                       (B)  sexual offenses; and                         (C)     each offense listed in Subsection (a)(5) or   (6); and                 (3)     the percentage of the grant amount used for each   authorized use listed in Subsection (e).           (g)     The criminal justice division shall periodically   evaluate the practices employed by grant recipients to identify   policies and procedures that have successfully improved clearance   rates for violent and sexual offenses.   The division may contract   with a third party to conduct an evaluation under this subsection.           (h)     The criminal justice division shall include in the   biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) a detailed   reporting of the results and performance of the grant program   administered under this section.           (i)     A governmental entity may not reduce the amount of funds   provided to a law enforcement agency because the agency received a   grant under this section.           (j)     The criminal justice division may use any revenue   available for purposes of this section.          SECTION 2.  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.