Sec. 772.00715. EVIDENCE TESTING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" has the meaning assigned by Section 420.003.

(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006.

(3) "Grant program" means the evidence testing grant program established under this section.

(4) "Law enforcement agency" means:

(A) the police department of a municipality;

(B) the sheriff's office of a county; or

(C) a constable's office of a county.

(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and administer a grant program and shall disburse funds to assist law enforcement agencies or counties in testing evidence collected in relation to a sexual assault or other sex offense.

(c) Grant funds may be used only for the testing by an accredited crime laboratory of evidence that was collected in relation to a sexual assault or other sex offense.

(d) The criminal justice division:

(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for grant applicants; and

(2) shall establish:

(A) grant application procedures;

(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts; and

(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications.

(e) The criminal justice division shall include in the biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) detailed reporting of the results and performance of the grant program.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 265 (H.B. 1729), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1109 (H.B. 4102), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2017.