The Texas Department of Public Safety has received nearly $3 million from lawmakers to look for children in immediate danger even though state troopers and investigators won't actually be doing so.
The Austin American-Statesman reported Sunday that the funding was part of a high-profile bill filed after 2-year-old Colton Turner was found buried in a shallow grave in Austin. The boy had been missing off and on for a year.
The newspaper reports that emails suggest DPS pushed against critical parts of "Colton's Law" legislation that would have required DPS to look for children. Agency officials say they "unequivocally reject" those allegations.
State budget officials say they neglected to remove funding for the bill and are now talking with DPS about what to do with the money.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com
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