89R8371 GP-F     By: Hefner H.B. No. 4264       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers   who hold a master proficiency certificate.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 772.013 to read as follows:          Sec. 772.013.  GRANT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS WITH   MASTER PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE. (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Criminal justice division" means the criminal   justice division established under Section 772.006.                (2)  "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of this   state or an agency of a political subdivision of this state   authorized by law to employ peace officers.                (3)  "Peace officer" means a person elected, employed,   or appointed as a peace officer under Article 2A.001, Code of   Criminal Procedure, or other law.          (b)  The criminal justice division shall establish a grant   program for the public purpose of fostering the professional   development of peace officers employed in this state.          (c)  To be eligible for a grant under this section, a person   must:                (1)  hold a master proficiency certificate issued by   the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.402,   Occupations Code;                (2)  be employed on a full-time basis as a peace officer   by a law enforcement agency; and                (3)  meet any other eligibility criteria established by   the criminal justice division.          (d)  Only the following persons may apply for a grant under   this section:                (1)  a law enforcement agency on behalf of an employee   of the agency who meets the eligibility criteria for a grant under   this section; or                (2)  a person who meets the eligibility criteria for a   grant under this section with the consent of the person's employing   law enforcement agency.          (e)  The criminal justice division shall award a grant under   this section to a law enforcement agency.  The law enforcement   agency shall use the money only to increase the compensation of the   employee who applied for the grant or for whom the agency applied   for the grant.          (f)  The criminal justice division shall establish   procedures for:                (1)  processing grant applications in addition to any   other application procedures prescribed by this section;                (2)  evaluating grant applications; and                (3)  monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the   program and ensuring compliance with any condition of a grant.          (g)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the   criminal justice division shall award grants under this section in   an amount equal to $6,500 for each award.  The criminal justice   division may increase the amount of an award in a state fiscal year   after the state fiscal year in which the program was established to   an amount the value of which is equal to the value of the grant in   the previous fiscal year after adjustment for inflation, as   calculated by the criminal justice division.          (h)  The criminal justice division may use any money   available for purposes of this section.          SECTION 2.  The criminal justice division established under   Section 772.006, Government Code, may award a grant under Section   772.013, Government Code, as added by this Act, only with respect to   a master proficiency certificate issued under Section 1701.402,   Occupations Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.