Back the Blue Act

[TexAgRepublican]

Title: Back the Blue Act
State: Texas
The law the bill will change:: Police Funding
Effect of the change:: Raise
Sponsor: Kyle Fitzgerald (R-TX)

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This bill increases police funding in Texas from Moderate to High. Specifically, this bill:

1)    Provides grants to local law enforcement agencies for the following purposes:

• Hiring and retention of law enforcement personnel, including incentives
• Purchasing new vehicles, communications technology, and safety equipment
• Developing community policing initiatives and officer training programs

2)    Provides additional funding and equipment for DPS Highway Patrol for the following purposes:

• Hiring additional highway patrol officers
• Purchasing advanced surveillance technology and new patrol vehicles
• Upgrading officer equipment, including body armor, firearms, and communications systems

3)    Provides additional funding to the Texas Rangers for the following purposes:

• Improve investigative capabilities
• Hire more personnel
• Acquire equipment necessary for complex criminal investigations related to human trafficking, drug smuggling, and organized crime

4)    Provides additional funding to border security operations for the following purposes:

• Increase the budget for Operation Lone Star
• Additional funds for the construction and reinforcement of physical barriers along the Texas-Mexico border, covering costs associated with land acquisition, material procurement, and labor for the construction and maintenance of a border wall.

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View full bill

[TedderBear]

Governor Kayley Brennan (D-OH)

The state legislature is now gaveled to order to debate this bill for 72 hours. 

[TexAgRepublican]

Mr. Speaker,

We owe it to the people of Texas to do everything we possibly can to keep them safe, and this bill does that. This bill puts more law enforcement officers on our streets and highways. It gives them the tools they need to fight crime. It secures our southern border from the influx of trafficking – both drugs and people – coming in from Mexico. Middle-of-the-pack isn’t good enough here in the Lone Star State. Not when we face threats we couldn’t have even imagined when I was growing up, stuff like cartel violence and fentanyl pouring into our state. The status quo isn’t enough anymore. We must do more. It’s time to Back the Blue. 

I yield.