AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Control of the Austin Police Department could be one step closer to being in the hands of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted on Monday that his office had received draft language "just in time for Christmas" for a proposed law transferring control of APD to DPS, saying "one way or another we will pasa a law to keep Austin safe."
Abbott has been vocal in his criticism of the Austin City Council's efforts to reallocate more than $150 million in funding away from APD, and any other cities that would attempt to defund police. One of the proposals floated by Abbott earlier this year included freezing the property tax revenues of any city that votes to defund police, stripping them of their ability to increase revenue.
The Austin Police Association cheered Abbott's tweet, saying its members look forward to working with the Legislature "on addressing problems caused by Austin City Council."
The 87th Texas Legislature is set to gavel into session on January 12.