By: Hernandez H.B. No. 530
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of proceeds from criminal asset forfeiture to
  provide college scholarships to children of peace officers killed
  in the line of duty and to an annual report regarding the total
  value of forfeited property in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Article 59.06, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Subsections (r) and (s) to read as follows:
         (r)  As a specific exception to Subsection (c)(2), (3), or
  (4), a law enforcement agency may transfer not more than 10 percent
  of the gross amount credited to the agency's fund to a separate
  special fund established in the treasury of the political
  subdivision or maintained by the state law enforcement agency, as
  applicable. The law enforcement agency shall administer the
  separate special fund. Interest received from the investment of
  money in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The agency may use
  money in the fund only to provide scholarships to children of peace
  officers who were employed by the agency or by another law
  enforcement agency with which the agency has overlapping geographic
  jurisdiction and who were killed in the line of duty. Scholarships
  under this subsection may be used only to pay the costs of
  attendance at an institution of higher education or private or
  independent institution of higher education, including tuition and
  fees and costs for housing, books, supplies, transportation, and
  other related personal expenses. In this subsection, "institution
  of higher education" and "private or independent institution of
  higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003,
  Education Code.
         (s)  Not later than February
  1 of each year, the attorney
  general shall develop a report based on information submitted by
  law enforcement agencies and attorneys representing the state under
  Subsection (g) detailing the total amount of funds forfeited, or
  credited after the sale of forfeited property, in this state in the
  preceding calendar year. The attorney general shall maintain in a
  prominent location on the attorney general's publicly accessible
  Internet website a link to the most recent annual report developed
  under this subsection.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.