Rep Shelby Slawson (R-Stephenville) is proud to announce the filing of one of Governor Abbott’s priority legislative items to defend Texans against short-sighted police defunding efforts. “Texas cities should be safe and secure for all Texans. The socialistic idea of defunding police departments, resulting in increased crime and destruction of communities, will not be tolerated in Texas.”
The Texas Public Safety Protection Act (HB 1950) provides that when a large municipality willfully defunds its law enforcement, the State may intervene to provide law enforcement and public safety. The Act takes direct aim at remedying the defunding actions of the City of Austin.
“Hardworking Texans in other parts of the state will not unfairly bear the financial burden of a defunding city’s intentional failures,” Slawson explained.
The Act provides that the cost of State-provided public safety services will be paid through forfeiture of the defunding city’s sales tax revenues. “Defending the police is defending Texans all across our State, and we look forward to the passage of this Act and the swift correction of defunding policies.”