The criminal justice division must run a grant program for eligible prosecuting attorneys to support border-crime prosecutions, set program rules, and report results in its biennial report.
Sec. 772.0071. PROSECUTION OF BORDER CRIME GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: (1) "Border crime" means any crime involving transnational criminal activity that undermines public safety or security, including an offense: (A) during the prosecution of which an affirmative finding may be requested under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), Code of Criminal Procedure; (B) under Chapter 19, 20, 20A, 21, 22, 46, 47, or 71, Penal Code; (C) under Title 7 or 8, Penal Code; (D) under Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code; (E) committed by a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and is not lawfully present in the United States; or (F) that is coordinated with or related to activities or crimes that occur or are committed in the United Mexican States. (2) "Border region" means the portion of this state that is located in a county that: (A) is adjacent to an international border; (B) is adjacent to a county described by Paragraph (A); or (C) is served by a prosecuting attorney whose jurisdiction includes a county described by Paragraph (A) or (B). (3) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006. (4) "Eligible prosecuting attorney" means an attorney who represents the state in the prosecution of felonies and who: (A) serves a county located in the border region; or (B) serves a county or counties that the criminal justice division determines to be significantly affected by border crime. (b) The criminal justice division shall establish and administer a grant program through which an eligible prosecuting attorney or the attorney's office may apply for a grant to support the prosecution of border crime in a county or counties under the jurisdiction of the attorney. (c) The criminal justice division shall establish: (1) additional eligibility criteria for grant applicants; (2) grant application procedures; (3) guidelines relating to grant amounts; (4) procedures for evaluating grant applications; and (5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any conditions of a grant. (d) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 334 , Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015. (e) The criminal justice division shall include in the biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) a detailed reporting of the results and performance of the grant program administered under this section. Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1106 (S.B. 1649), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 334 (H.B. 12), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 334 (H.B. 12), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 770 (H.B. 2299), Sec. 2.61, eff. January 1, 2017.