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.