Relating to the eligibility of certain counties to participate in the rural sheriff's office salary assistance grant program and the rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant program.

89(R) HB 503 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Tepper, Gerdes, Barry, Hickland,

H.B. No. 503

Villalobos, et al.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of certain counties to participate in

the rural sheriff's office salary assistance grant program and the

rural prosecutor's office salary assistance grant program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 130.911(a)(2), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(2) "Qualified county" means a county with a

population of
400,000
[
300,000
] or less.

SECTION 2. Section 130.911(d), Local Government Code, is

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 grant must be in the following

applicable amount:

(1) $250,000 if the county has a population of less

than 10,000;

(2) $350,000 if the county has a population of 10,000

or more and less than 50,000; [
or
]

(3) $500,000 if the county has a population of 50,000

or more and
less than
300,000
; or

(4)

$650,000 if the county has a population of 300,000

or more and 400,000
or less.

SECTION 3. Section 130.913(a)(2), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(2) "Qualified prosecutor's office" means, in a

jurisdiction with a population of
400,000
[
300,000
] or less, the

office of a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or

county attorney with criminal prosecution duties.

SECTION 4. Sections 130.913(d) and (e), Local Government

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(d) The comptroller shall award a grant to a qualified

prosecutor's office that applies for the grant using money

appropriated to the comptroller for that purpose. The grant must be

in the following applicable amount:

(1) $100,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of less than 10,000;

(2) $175,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of 10,000 or more and less than 50,000; [
or
]

(3) $275,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of 50,000 or more and
less than
300,000
; or

(4)

$375,000 if the prosecutor's office's jurisdiction

has a population of 300,000 or more and 400,000
or less.

(e) A prosecutor's office that is awarded a grant shall use

or authorize the use of the grant money only:

(1) to increase the salary of an assistant attorney,

an investigator,
a paralegal,
or a victim assistance coordinator

employed at the office; or

(2) to hire additional staff for the office.

SECTION 5. 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.