Texas Government Code - GOV'T § 414.011. Certification of Organizations to Receive Payments and Reward Repayments

(a) The council shall, on application by a crime stoppers organization, determine whether the organization is qualified to receive repayments of rewards under Articles 37.073 and 42.152, Code of Criminal Procedure, or payments from a defendant under Chapter 42A, Code of Criminal Procedure.  The council shall certify a crime stoppers organization to receive those repayments or payments if, considering the organization, continuity, leadership, community support, and general conduct of the crime stoppers organization, the council determines that the repayments or payments will be spent to further the crime prevention purposes of the organization.

(b) Each crime stoppers organization certified by the council to receive repayments under Articles 37.073 and 42.152, Code of Criminal Procedure, or payments from a defendant under Chapter 42A, Code of Criminal Procedure, is subject to a review or audit, including financial and programmatic reviews or audits, of finances or programs at the direction of the criminal justice division of the governor's office or its designee.  A copy of the review or audit report shall be submitted to the criminal justice division.

(c) The criminal justice division of the governor's office or its designee shall draft rules for adoption by the council relating to a review or audit requested pursuant to Subsection (b).

(d) A certification issued by the council is valid for a period of two years.  During this two-year period, the council shall decertify a crime stoppers organization if it determines that the organization no longer meets the certification requirements.

(e) The council shall approve a crime stoppers organization for purposes of Subsection (a) of this section even if a judge has not requested a determination for that organization and shall maintain a current list of organizations approved for that purpose.