HB5513 - Relating to the rural law enforcement child care grant program, fund, and advisory committee.

  89R29572 SCF-F     By: Guillen H.B. No. 5513     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 5513:     By:  Hefner C.S.H.B. No. 5513       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the rural law enforcement child care grant program,   fund, and advisory committee.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 772, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter C to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER C.   RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD CARE GRANT PROGRAM           Sec. 772.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                 (1)     "Advisory committee" means the rural law   enforcement child care advisory committee established under   Section 772.105.                 (2)     "Division" means the criminal justice division in   the governor's office established under Section 772.006.                 (3)     "Fund" means the rural law enforcement child care   fund established under Section 772.103.                 (4)     "Program" means the rural law enforcement child   care grant program established under Section 772.102.           Sec.   772.102.     RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD CARE GRANT   PROGRAM. (a)   The division shall establish and administer the rural   law enforcement child care grant program to assist local law   enforcement officers in rural areas of this state with accessing   child care.           (b)     The program must be designed to support rural law   enforcement officers and their families by:                 (1)     providing financial assistance for child-care   costs incurred by rural law enforcement officers;                 (2)     ensuring rural law enforcement officers have   access to quality child-care services;                 (3)     enhancing workforce stability in rural law   enforcement agencies; and                 (4)     strengthening community support systems for rural   law enforcement officers.           (c)     The division shall develop policies and procedures to   administer the program by establishing:                 (1)  eligibility criteria for grant recipients;                 (2)     procedures for a rural law enforcement officer or   agency to apply for a grant; and                 (3)     guidance on grant amounts and reporting   requirements.           (d)     The division may award a grant under the grant program   only in accordance with a contract between the division and the   grant recipient that includes provisions under which the division   is granted sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of   providing child-care assistance for rural law enforcement officers   is accomplished and this state receives the return benefit.   The   division shall monitor and enforce the terms of the contract.           Sec.   772.103.     RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD CARE FUND. (a)     The rural law enforcement child care fund is established as a   special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund   to be administered by the division.           (b)  The fund consists of:                 (1)     money the legislature appropriates to the division   for deposit to the credit of the fund for purposes of this   subchapter;                 (2)     money received from the federal government for the   purposes of this subchapter;                 (3)     gifts, donations, and grants to the fund,   including federal grants;                 (4)     interest earned on the investment of money in the   fund; and                 (5)     money from any source designated for deposit into   the fund.           Sec.   772.104.     REPORT. (a)   The division annually shall   compile and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and   legislature a report describing:                 (1)     the number of grants awarded in the preceding   year;                 (2)     the geographic distribution of grant recipients in   this state;                 (3)     the impact of the program on law enforcement   officer retention;                 (4)     testimonials from law enforcement officers who   have benefited from a grant award; and                 (5)  recommendations for enhancements to the program.           (b)     The division shall post on the division's publicly   accessible Internet website the report submitted under Subsection   (a).           Sec.   772.105.     RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CHILD CARE ADVISORY   COMMITTEE. (a)   The division shall establish the rural law   enforcement child care advisory committee to provide   recommendations to the division on:                 (1)  funding priorities for the program;                 (2)     a process to review and approve grant   applications; and                 (3)  improvements to the program.           (b)     The governor in the governor's discretion shall appoint   the following members to the advisory committee:                 (1)     a representative from one or more rural law   enforcement agencies;                 (2)     one or more experts on child-care policy, as   determined by the governor;                 (3)     one or more representatives from the Texas   Commission on Law Enforcement;                 (4)     one or more interested persons from rural   communities; and                 (5)     one representative from a law enforcement family   advocacy organization.          SECTION 2.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective   date of this Act, the governor shall appoint members to the rural   law enforcement child care advisory committee, as required by   Section 772.105, Government Code, as added by this Act.          (b)  Not later than June 1, 2026, the criminal justice   division in the governor's office shall adopt rules necessary to   establish and implement the grant program under Subchapter C,   Chapter 772, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  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.