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SB 53 - This act creates the "Public Safety Enhancement Fund", which contains money transferred from the state general revenue fund. This fund will be administered by the Department of Public Safety and the money shall be used to fund a grant program designed to supplement county deputy sheriff salaries. The fund shall terminate on June 30, 2011, and all money remaining in the fund shall revert to general revenue. The department shall create a grant program to supplement the starting salaries of deputy sheriffs who earn less than $28,000 annually as of January 1, 2007. Any county that has deputy sheriffs who earn less than $28,000 are eligible to receive grant money. Each county must sign an agreement with the state to maintain a starting annual salary of at least $28,000 for five years after the grant program ends in 2011. Counties may enroll in the grant program from August 29, 2007 to December 1, 2007. Counties that reduce starting annual salaries of deputy sheriffs during the thirteen-month period prior to January 1, 2008, shall not be eligible to receive a grant. The amount of money a county receives to supplement starting salaries of deputy sheriffs is on a sliding scale over the course of four years. A county shall receive not more than $8,000 or the difference between $28,000 and the starting annual salary of deputy sheriffs in the county, which ever amount is less, per deputy sheriff during the first year. Each subsequent year, the county shall receive an increasingly smaller percentage of the first year's distribution amount. The grant money shall only be used to make deputy sheriffs' salaries $28,000 and not to exceed such amount. A county that fails to maintain a starting annual salary of at least $28,000 after the grant program terminates shall reimburse the state for all moneys received through the program plus interest. SUSAN HENDERSON MOORE
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