Relating to the denial of state funds to a local entity

This bill relates to the denial of state funds to a local entity. The bill provides that a local entity, including any entity under the jurisdiction of the local entity, shall be ineligible to receive any state funds if the local entity reduces the budget of their law enforcement agency unless the total budget of the local entity is reduced by an equal or larger percentage or the local entity provides sufficient justification for the reduction. A local entity may submit written justification to the department of management for any reductions in the local entity’s law enforcement budget. Sufficient justification may include: reductions related to one-time capital or one-time equipment or vehicle purchases in the prior fiscal year; reductions related to lower personnel cost of law enforcement personnel due only to lower cost entry-level law enforcement personnel replacing prior law enforcement personnel; reductions due to the merging or consolidation of jail services or communications and dispatch services or the merging of law enforcement agencies; and reductions due to reduced population in a jurisdiction served by a law enforcement agency. State funds shall be denied to a local entity by all state agencies for each state fiscal year that begins after the fiscal year in which the law enforcement agency’s budget is reduced.31. State funds for law enforcement purposes shall not be denied. The department of management is directed to adopt rules pursuant to Code chapter 17A to implement the provisions of the bill.2 defines “state funds” as any and all moneys appropriated by the legislature, or money collected by or for the state, or an agency thereof, pursuant to authority granted by any of its laws.