The crime prevention through safer streets grant program (safer
streets program) currently exists within the department of public safety (DPS). The safer streets program repeals on November 1, 2023. The bill extends the safer streets program, extends reporting requirements, and extends the authority for the DPS to use the appropriation received in the 2022-23 state fiscal year to pay for the safer streets program until the appropriation is fully expended.
Two additional grant programs exist within DPS:
A law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention, and tuition grant program (workforce program) to award grants to law enforcement agencies to address workforce shortages, improve training to P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers, and improve relationships between law enforcement and impacted communities; and
A state's mission for assistance in recruitment and training policing grant program (SMART program) to award grants to law enforcement agencies to increase the number of P.O.S.T.-certified and non-certified officers who are representative of the communities they serve and to provide training for those additional law enforcement officers.
The bill extends the workforce program and the SMART program
and their reporting requirements, specifies additional permissible uses for the workforce program and SMART program grant awards, permits DPS to set workforce program and SMART program deadlines, and permits DPS to provide technical support to workforce program and SMART program applicants.
The behavioral health information and data-sharing program
(information program) currently exists within the DPS. The program repeals on June 30, 2024. The bill extends the information program, and the authority for the DPS to use the appropriation until December 30, 2024.