• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in...
        California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on...
        Stranded driver gets gas refill from helpful police officer
        “I felt like it was my job”: North Carolina officer honored for...
        Ohio police officer goes the extra mile to feed and clothe homeless...
    • Labor
      • Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
        Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
        California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting...
        Indiana police department offering $10,000 signing bonus to lateral...
        “The game has clearly changed”: Police departments employ variety...
    • Tech
      • Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition...
        Vehicle infotainment systems vulnerable to hacking
        “It is a game changer:” Minnesota county implements mobile...
        Ohio police lay a trap to nab porch pirates
        Oceanside Police Department unveils new crime-mapping tool to protect...
    • Training
      • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
        Running your patrol rifle like a champion
        Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
        Defensive tactics
        Mechanics, consistency and aggression
    • Policy
      • Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
        President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
        California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
        Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
        Justice Department launches new language initiative after resolving...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Coping with internal investigation or legal action
        The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
        What officers love, hope and worry about
        Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
        Compassion fatigue
    • Community
      • LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
        Friday Night Lights duty
        Oklahoma law enforcement teach children self-defense tactics to build...
        Former Superman actor thanks police officers for their...
        Colorado police department establishes safety zones for internet...
    • Offbeat
      • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
        “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
        “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
        Wyoming police officer restores classic Chevy Bel Air as police...
        Santa Cruz police arrest 19-year-old for handing out fake parking...
    • We Remember
      • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
        Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
        Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
        Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
        At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • On the Job
    • Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in...
      California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on...
      Stranded driver gets gas refill from helpful police officer
      “I felt like it was my job”: North Carolina officer honored for...
      Ohio police officer goes the extra mile to feed and clothe homeless...
  • Labor
    • Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
      Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
      California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting...
      Indiana police department offering $10,000 signing bonus to lateral...
      “The game has clearly changed”: Police departments employ variety...
  • Tech
    • Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition...
      Vehicle infotainment systems vulnerable to hacking
      “It is a game changer:” Minnesota county implements mobile...
      Ohio police lay a trap to nab porch pirates
      Oceanside Police Department unveils new crime-mapping tool to protect...
  • Training
    • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
      Running your patrol rifle like a champion
      Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
      Defensive tactics
      Mechanics, consistency and aggression
  • Policy
    • Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
      President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
      California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
      Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
      Justice Department launches new language initiative after resolving...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Coping with internal investigation or legal action
      The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
      What officers love, hope and worry about
      Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
      Compassion fatigue
  • Community
    • LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
      Friday Night Lights duty
      Oklahoma law enforcement teach children self-defense tactics to build...
      Former Superman actor thanks police officers for their...
      Colorado police department establishes safety zones for internet...
  • Offbeat
    • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
      “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
      “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
      Wyoming police officer restores classic Chevy Bel Air as police...
      Santa Cruz police arrest 19-year-old for handing out fake parking...
  • We Remember
    • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
      Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
      Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
      Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
      At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • Between the Lines
    • Persecution of the LEO is Classic Schadenfreude
      The Rule of Law is Worthless Without Order
      School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
      Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
      The dichotomy of the defund movement: reality setting in
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Texas Senate “backs the blue,” passes bill that allows voters to decide the fate of law enforcement budget cut proposals

APB Team Published April 25, 2021 @ 6:00 pm PDT

iStock.com/ CrackerClips

The Texas Senate passed a bill that would allow voters to decide whether local governments could slash law enforcement budget cuts.

According to the Texas Tribune, Senate Bill 23, authored by Republican Sen. Joan Huffman of Houston, would require cities or counties to hold elections before reducing police funding. The bill obtained broad support, passing with a 28-2 vote.

“This sends a message to the citizens that we are going to back the blue,” Huffman said on the Senate floor. “That’s what this bill intends to do.”

Huffman said that the bill puts the question to voters instead of prohibiting or punishing funding decreases outright.

SB 23 would require a local election if a Texas city or county wanted to cut a law enforcement agency’s share of the previous year’s budget, lower the number of officers, or reduce funds for officer training and recruitment.

The bill defines a budget cut by examining law enforcement’s share of the budget; if a city faced a budget shortfall, law enforcement funds would fall proportionally, which would not be considered a budget cut.

“If the jurisdiction has a difficult fiscal year and is forced to cut its entire budget by 10%, it can cut the law enforcement budget by up to 10% in that scenario, but it cannot cut it anymore than that unless the voter’s approve,” Huffman said in a March committee hearing.

Furthermore, if the state determines that a city or county did cut a law enforcement budget without voter approval, the local government will be prohibited from raising property taxes the next year as punishment.

The bill is largely a response to the city of Austin cutting its police funding by a third, to which Texas Governor Greg Abbott responded would “put the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk.”

As SB23 was called, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said, “The city of Austin is the reason this bill is passing. Not to send a message, not to be political, but to be sure there’s not another Austin.”

Abbott has been a vocal critic of the push to defund law enforcement following police brutality and racial injustice protests last year, and fully supports the new Senate bill. He previously said at a meeting with law enforcement regarding police reform, “Texas is a law-and-order state, and we are going to ensure that we keep it that way.”

Chris Jones with the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas supports the bill, and said an election would have prevented Austin officials from reacting quickly in response to protests on City Hall.

“We don’t believe that the opinion of the entire community was reflected in those comments and protests,” he said.

However, a minority of Democrats and advocates for police reform oppose the bill, calling it a political ploy. They argue that it would take away local government control and force costly elections.

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said the bill was a political message that would “micromanage city councils and county commissioners.”

There are also some opponents in the law enforcement camp. While Austin’s former police chief spoke out against the budget cuts, the interim police chief, Joseph Chacon, called SB23 “an overstep by the legislature.”

“We believe that there may be times that a designated priority may need additional funding over that of the police department and which can be reallocated from the police without negatively impacting police services,” Chacon said. “That is what we did in the latest budget cycle.”

Leaders across the state also argue that by putting fiscal legislation up for a vote, it takes the power out of the hands of the representatives and the ability to do their job.

“Most importantly, we have an election every two years when they elect the council members to represent their districts. So if people are not supportive of the direction the council is taking the city, they can vote those council members out,” said Dallas City Council member Lee Kleinman.

The bill moves to a more moderate House where its fate is uncertain, although Republicans still hold a slight edge.

Categories: Policy

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition technology to identify potential suspects
  • LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
  • Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in hotel room
  • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
  • California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on cliff edge
  • Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand officers over past six months
  • Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
  • California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting and offset labor shortages
  • Vehicle infotainment systems vulnerable to hacking
  • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during sobriety test

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close
Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.