The criminal justice division must run a grant program for law enforcement agencies seeking bulletproof vests, ballistic plates, and plate carriers.
Sec. 772.0075. BULLETPROOF VEST AND BODY ARMOR GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section: (1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006. (2) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law to employ peace officers, including an independent school district. (b) The criminal justice division shall establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a law enforcement agency in this state that seeks to equip its peace officers with bulletproof vests, ballistic plates, and plate carriers. (c) A vest or plate purchased with a grant received under this section must comply with a National Institute of Justice standard for rifle protection. (d) A law enforcement agency may apply for a grant under this section only if the agency first adopts a policy addressing the: (1) deployment and allocation of vests or plates to its officers; and (2) usage of vests or plates by its officers. (e) A law enforcement agency receiving a grant under this section must, as soon as practicable after receiving the grant, provide to the criminal justice division proof of purchase of bulletproof vests, ballistic plates, and plate carriers, including the price of each item and the number of each type of item purchased. (f) Not later than December 1 of each year, the criminal justice division shall submit to the Legislative Budget Board a report that provides the following information for the preceding state fiscal year: (1) the name of each law enforcement agency that applied for a grant under this section; (2) the amount of money distributed to each law enforcement agency that received a grant under this section; and (3) as reported under Subsection (e), the number of vests, plates, and carriers purchased by each agency described by Subdivision (2). (g) The criminal justice division may use any revenue available for purposes of this section. Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 188 (S.B. 12), Sec. 1, eff. May 27, 2017. Redesignated from Government Code, Section 772.0073 by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 467 (H.B. 4170), Sec. 21.001(30), eff. September 1, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 859 (S.B. 1858), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.