HB4944 - Relating to the establishment of a grant program to provide financial assistance to counties for transportation assistance to indigent litigants.

      By: Moody H.B. No. 4944       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a grant program to provide   financial assistance to counties for transportation assistance to   indigent litigants.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government   Code, is amended by adding Section 130.914 to read as follows:           Sec.   130.914.     COUNTY INDIGENT LITIGANT TRANSPORTATION   ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. (a)   In this section:                 (1)     "Grant" means a grant authorized to be awarded by   the comptroller under the county indigent litigant transportation   assistance grant program established by this section.                 (2)  "Indigent litigant" means a person who is:                       (A)     an eligible indigent defendant under Article   1.051, Code of Criminal Procedure;                       (B)     a juvenile respondent whose parent or   guardian has been found indigent under Section 51.101, Family Code;   or                       (C)     an indigent person eligible for   court-appointed counsel in a suit filed by a governmental entity   under Title 5, Family Code.           (b)     The comptroller shall establish and administer the   county indigent litigant transportation assistance grant program   to support the state purpose of ensuring efficient administration   of justice throughout the state by providing financial assistance   to counties that assist indigent litigants with transportation to   and from court proceedings.           (c)     Not later than the 30th day after the first day of a   county's fiscal year, the county may submit an application for a   grant to the comptroller.   A county may submit only one application   each fiscal year.           (d)     The comptroller shall award a grant to a county that   applies for the grant using money appropriated to the comptroller   for that purpose.   A county that is awarded a grant shall use or   authorize the use of the grant money only to assist indigent   litigants with transportation to and from court proceedings,   including the purchase or reimbursement of:                 (1)  bus passes;                 (2)  motor vehicle fuel;                 (3)  rideshare service charges or taxi fares; or                 (4)  mileage.           (e)     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   form;                 (2)  deadlines for:                       (A)  applying for the grant;                       (B)  disbursement of grant money; and                       (C)  spending grant money;                 (3)  guidelines for how grant money may be used; and                 (4)  procedures for:                       (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.          SECTION 2.  A county may apply for a county indigent litigant   transportation assistance grant on or after January 1, 2027.          SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2027, the comptroller   of public accounts shall comply with the requirements of Section   130.914, Local Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2026.