Relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.
ModeratePlan for compliance
Low Cost
Effective:2025-06-20
Enforcing Agencies
Criminal Justice Division (Office of the Governor)
01
Compliance Analysis
Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation
Implementation Timeline
Effective Date: June 20, 2025
Compliance Deadline: Applications should be prepared immediately upon an officer's certification date occurring on or after June 20, 2025.
Agency Rulemaking: The Criminal Justice Division (CJD) of the Governor's Office must establish application and monitoring procedures prior to program implementation. Expect a "regulatory gray zone" between the effective date and the publication of CJD administrative rules (estimated Q3/Q4 2025).
Immediate Action Plan
1.Audit Training Rosters: Identify all officers projected to achieve Master Proficiency in FY2025 and advise on certification timing regarding the June 20, 2025 effective date.
2.Establish Finance Codes: Create specific grant revenue and payroll disbursement codes to track these funds separately from general operating budgets.
3.Legal Review of Benefits: Obtain a legal opinion on whether this stipend triggers pension spiking or overtime recalculations under your specific local agreements.
4.Draft Employee Communications: Issue a memo to officers clarifying that this is a state-funded grant, not a permanent salary increase, and is subject to state funding availability.
Operational Changes Required
Contracts
Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs): Review CBAs and Meet & Confer agreements immediately. You must determine if this $6,500 grant constitutes "base pay" for the purposes of overtime calculations, pension contributions, or step increases.
Disclaimer Clauses: Update internal compensation policies to explicitly state that this stipend is "contingent upon the availability of state appropriations" to prevent the agency from becoming liable for the payment if state funding is exhausted.
Hiring/Training
Certification Timing: Training Coordinators must identify officers nearing Master Proficiency status. Ensure final TCOLE certification dates fall on or after June 20, 2025. Certificates issued prior to this date are ineligible for the grant.
Roster Management: Implement a trigger system to notify Grant Administrators the moment a Master Proficiency Certificate is issued to ensure "first-come, first-served" access to funds.
Reporting & Record-Keeping
Grant Packets: For every applicant, maintain a specific audit file containing:
1. Proof of full-time employment status.
2. Certified copy of the Master Proficiency Certificate.
3. Payroll records proving the full $6,500 disbursement.
Non-Duplication: Verify the officer has not received this grant previously at another agency; the statute limits this to one award per officer lifetime.
Fees & Costs
Employer Tax Burden: While the grant covers the $6,500 payment, it does not explicitly cover the employer's share of payroll taxes (FICA/Medicare). Finance departments must budget for approximately $500 per award in unrecovered tax costs unless CJD rules state otherwise.
Revenue Coding: Establish restricted revenue and payroll codes to ensure these funds are not commingled with the general fund.
Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations
"Subject to Appropriation": The statute allows the CJD to award grants only from money "appropriated specifically for that purpose." If the Legislature fails to fund the line item, or if the fund is depleted mid-year, the program halts. Agencies must manage officer expectations to avoid morale issues if funding dries up.
Disbursement Velocity: The law does not specify how quickly funds must be paid to the officer after the agency receives them. CJD rulemaking will likely impose a strict turnaround time (e.g., 30 days) to prevent agencies from holding state funds.
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Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that career law enforcement officers should be rewarded for remaining in their career field and continuing to better themselves through training, education, and service time. The bill author further informs the committee that there should be a focus on retaining experienced officers who would otherwise consider leaving the job as soon as they are eligible for retirement. H.B. 4264 seeks to enhance the longevity of law enforcement officers' careers by creating a grant program to award one-time stipends for eligible law enforcement officers.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 4264 amends the Government Code to require the criminal justice division within the Office of the Governor to establish a grant program for the public purpose of fostering the professional development of peace officers employed in Texas. The bill requires a person to meet the following criteria to be eligible for a grant under the bill's provisions:
·hold a master proficiency certificate issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Occupations Code provisions relating to professional training and recognition;
·be employed on a full-time basis as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency; and
·meet any other eligibility criteria established by the criminal justice division.
Only the following persons may apply for a grant under the bill's provisions:
·a law enforcement agency on behalf of an employee of the agency who meets the eligibility criteria for a grant; or
·a person who meets those eligibility criteria with the consent of the person's employing law enforcement agency.
The bill requires the criminal justice division to award a grant under the bill's provisions to a law enforcement agency and restricts the law enforcement agency's use of money from such a grant to increasing the compensation of the employee who applied for the grant or for whom the agency applied for the grant. The bill requires the criminal justice division to establish procedures for the following:
·processing grant applications in addition to any other application procedures prescribed by the bill's provisions;
·evaluating grant applications; and
·monitoring the use of a grant awarded under the program and ensuring compliance with any condition of a grant.
The bill requires the criminal justice division to award grants under the bill's provisions in an amount equal to $6,500 for each award but also authorizes the criminal justice division to increase the amount of an award in a state fiscal year after the state fiscal year in which the program was established to an amount the value of which is equal to the value of the grant in the previous fiscal year after adjustment for inflation, as calculated by the criminal justice division. The bill authorizes the criminal justice division to use any money available for purposes of the bill's provisions. The bill defines the following terms:
·"law enforcement agency" as an agency of the state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law to employ peace officers; and
·"peace officer" as a person elected, employed, or appointed as a peace officer under Code of Criminal Procedure provisions relating to peace officers generally or other law.
H.B. 4264 establishes that the criminal justice division may award a grant under the bill's provisions only with respect to a master proficiency certificate issued under Occupations Code provisions relating to professional training and recognition on or after the bill's effective date.
Honorable Cole Hefner, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB4264 by Hefner (Relating to creation of a grant program for certain peace officers who hold a master proficiency certificate.), As Introduced
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. There would be an indeterminate cost related to the grant program authorized by the bill which would be dependent on the number of grant applications and appropriations made for this purpose.
The bill would establish a grant program for certain peace officers in Texas. The Criminal Justice Division within the Office of the Governor (OOG) would manage the program. The bill would require the program to award $6,500 per award to be used for officer compensation. After the fiscal year in which the program is established, the bill would allow the OOG to increase the amount of an award to adjust for inflation, as calculated by the OOG.
It is assumed that any costs associated with the administration of the program could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:
JMc, MGol, LCO, KCu, NV
Related Legislation
Explore more bills from this author and on related topics
HB 4264 establishes a conditional grant program providing a one-time $6,500 stipend to full-time peace officers who acquire a Master Proficiency Certificate. Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) must act as the fiscal agent—applying for the grant, receiving the funds, and disbursing them to the employee—requiring immediate integration into payroll and grant management workflows. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: June 20, 2025 Compliance Deadline: Applications should be prepared immediately upon an officer's certification date occurring on or after June 20, 2025.
Q
Who authored HB4264?
HB4264 was authored by Texas Representative Cole Hefner during the Regular Session.
Q
When was HB4264 signed into law?
HB4264 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20, 2025.
Q
Which agencies enforce HB4264?
HB4264 is enforced by Criminal Justice Division (Office of the Governor).
Q
How urgent is compliance with HB4264?
The compliance urgency for HB4264 is rated as "moderate". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.
Q
What is the cost impact of HB4264?
The cost impact of HB4264 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.
Q
What topics does HB4264 address?
HB4264 addresses topics including labor, labor--workforce development, law enforcement, occupational regulation and occupational regulation--other trades & professions.
Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025
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