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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Leading on Opportunity, Investment, and |
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Economic Stimulus Through Aid and Relief (LONESTAR) Supplemental |
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Appropriations Act of 2021; making appropriations and giving |
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direction regarding appropriations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Texas |
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Leading on Opportunity, Investment, and Economic Stimulus Through |
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Aid and Relief (LONESTAR) Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. |
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SECTION 2. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: RESTORATION OF |
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STATE AGENCY BUDGET REDUCTIONS. (a) The amount of $1,000,000,000 is |
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appropriated to the comptroller of public accounts from money |
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received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
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Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
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Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
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the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
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beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of restoring funding |
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to state agencies, as authorized by other law, to make up for |
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reductions in appropriated amounts equal to five percent of total |
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appropriations made to state agencies from the general revenue fund |
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and dedicated accounts in the general revenue fund for the state |
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fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, made by Chapter 1353 (H.B. 1), |
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Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the General |
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Appropriations Act), due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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(b) The comptroller, in consultation with the Legislative |
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Budget Board, shall identify the strategies and objectives out of |
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which the reductions in amounts appropriated to each state agency |
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from the general revenue fund and dedicated accounts in the general |
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revenue fund were made and allocate the money appropriated under |
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Subsection (a) in a manner that, to the greatest extent |
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practicable, restores the amounts appropriated to state agencies |
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before the reductions in appropriations occurred. |
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SECTION 3. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: PREMIUM PAY FOR |
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ELIGIBLE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY STATE AGENCIES. (a) In this section, |
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"premium pay" and "eligible workers" have the meanings assigned by |
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42 U.S.C. Section 802(g). |
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(b) The amount of $1,000,000,000 is appropriated to the |
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comptroller of public accounts from money received by this state |
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from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section |
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802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |
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(Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus |
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Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for premium |
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pay for eligible workers employed by state agencies as authorized |
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by other law. |
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SECTION 4. TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS: ARTS AND CULTURAL |
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GRANTS FOR PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC DAMAGE. The amount of $11,000,000 |
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is appropriated to the Texas Commission on the Arts from money |
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received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
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Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
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Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
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the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
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beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of increasing funding |
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for arts and cultural grants authorized by other law to offset |
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physical damage caused by hurricanes or winter storms or economic |
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damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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SECTION 5. TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS: ARTS AND CULTURAL |
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GRANTS FOR SUMMER EDUCATION. The amount of $10,000,000 is |
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appropriated to the Texas Commission on the Arts from money |
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received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
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|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
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Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
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the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
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beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding |
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for arts and cultural grants authorized by other law benefiting |
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nonprofit organizations that provide summer camps or summer |
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education programming for students in this state. |
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SECTION 6. TEXAS MUSIC OFFICE, TRUSTEED PROGRAMS WITHIN THE |
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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: MUSIC VENUE AND FESTIVAL REBATES. The |
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amount of $10,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Music Office |
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within the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor from |
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money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
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Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
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American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
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to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
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fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
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providing funding for rebates for eligible music venues and |
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festival promoters to reduce the impact of venue closures and |
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social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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SECTION 7. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: SMALL BUSINESS DISASTER |
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RECOVERY LOANS. The amount of $300,000,000 is appropriated to the |
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Office of the Governor from money received by this state from the |
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Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
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|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |
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(Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus |
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Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for small |
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business disaster recovery loans authorized by other law for small |
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businesses that experienced physical damage caused by hurricanes or |
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winter storms or economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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SECTION 8. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: BROADBAND |
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SERVICES. The amount of $3,000,000,000 is appropriated to the |
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comptroller of public accounts from money received by this state |
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from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section |
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|
802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |
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(Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus |
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Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for grants, |
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loans, and incentives authorized by other law for broadband |
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services in areas of the state currently in need of those services. |
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SECTION 9. HISTORICAL COMMISSION: MAIN STREET PROGRAM. The |
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amount of $2,000,000 is appropriated to the Historical Commission |
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from money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
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|
Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
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|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
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to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
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|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
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providing funding for downtown and main street revitalization |
|
|
projects in small and rural municipalities designated as part of |
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the Main Street Program, including projects for infrastructure |
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improvement, to encourage tourism and economic development in rural |
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areas impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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SECTION 10. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES: IT LEGACY |
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SYSTEMS AND CYBERSECURITY. The amount of $500,000,000 is |
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appropriated to the Department of Information Resources from money |
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|
received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
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|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
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|
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
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|
the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
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beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of upgrading and |
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modernizing state agency information technology (IT) legacy |
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systems and cybersecurity enhancements for state agency IT systems. |
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SECTION 11. VETERANS COMMISSION: VETERANS ASSISTANCE. The |
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amount of $100,000,000 is appropriated to the Veterans Commission |
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|
from money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
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|
Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
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|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
|
|
to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
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|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
|
|
providing funding for general assistance grants, housing |
|
|
assistance grants, treatment court grants, and behavioral health |
|
|
assistance grants, as authorized by other law, to assist veterans |
|
|
who have been substantially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
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SECTION 12. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES: |
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TEXAS HOME VISITING NURSE PROGRAM AND NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP |
|
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PROGRAM. (a) The amount of $146,800,000 is appropriated to the |
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|
Department of Family and Protective Services from money received by |
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|
this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
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|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, to be allocated as follows: |
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|
(1) $71,200,000 to provide funding for the Texas Home |
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|
Visiting Program; and |
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|
(2) $75,600,000 to provide funding for the |
|
|
Nurse-Family Partnership Program to expand home visiting. |
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(b) To the extent authorized by other law, the Department of |
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Family and Protective Services shall coordinate with the Maternal |
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Mortality Review Commission and the Office for the Elimination of |
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Health Disparities to target the spending of money appropriated by |
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Subsection (a) of this section to areas of the state with high |
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instances of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity and |
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high rates of removal of children from their homes. |
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SECTION 13. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES: |
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FOSTER CARE PROVIDER CAPACITY. The amount of $65,800,000 is |
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appropriated to the Department of Family and Protective Services |
|
|
from money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
|
|
Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
|
|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
|
|
to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
|
|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
|
|
increasing foster care provider capacity, including through |
|
|
temporary rate increases, as authorized by other law. |
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SECTION 14. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: HIV |
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MEDICATION PROGRAM. The amount of $67,000,000 is appropriated to |
|
|
the Department of State Health Services from money received by this |
|
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state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing |
|
|
additional funding for the HIV Medication Program. |
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SECTION 15. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: FIREARM |
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INJURY PREVENTION RESEARCH. The amount of $10,000,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the Department of State Health Services from money |
|
|
received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
|
|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
|
|
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
|
|
the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding |
|
|
for grants authorized by other law to health-related institutions |
|
|
in this state to conduct research into firearm injury prevention. |
|
|
To the extent authorized by other law, the department shall |
|
|
prioritize those research projects that have received federal |
|
|
funding to support the project. |
|
|
SECTION 16. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: OFFICE FOR |
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|
THE ELIMINATION OF HEALTH DISPARITIES. The amount of $100,000,000 |
|
|
is appropriated to the Department of State Health Services from |
|
|
money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
|
|
Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
|
|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
|
|
to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
|
|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
|
|
providing funding for the department's Office for the Elimination |
|
|
of Health Disparities to support the office's evidence-based |
|
|
initiatives to reduce health conditions contributing to COVID-19 |
|
|
mortality, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, obesity, and |
|
|
smoking. |
|
|
SECTION 17. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: SURGE |
|
|
RESPONSE. The amount of $100,000,000 is appropriated to the |
|
|
Department of State Health Services from money received by this |
|
|
state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. |
|
|
Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 |
|
|
(Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus |
|
|
Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
|
|
September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing, in coordination |
|
|
with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, grants and |
|
|
financial assistance authorized by other law to local and county |
|
|
health departments and hospital districts to respond to surges in |
|
|
COVID-19 cases and to maintain access to health care services |
|
|
during surges in COVID-19 cases. |
|
|
SECTION 18. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION: |
|
|
POSTPARTUM MEDICAID BENEFITS. The amount of $91,400,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the Health and Human Services Commission from money |
|
|
received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
|
|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
|
|
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
|
|
the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of extending maternal |
|
|
postpartum Medicaid benefits for an additional six months as |
|
|
authorized by other law. |
|
|
SECTION 19. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION: MENTAL |
|
|
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT. (a) |
|
|
The amount of $928,000,000 is appropriated to the Health and Human |
|
|
Services Commission from money received by this state from the |
|
|
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of providing funding for mental and |
|
|
behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. |
|
|
(b) Out of money appropriated by Subsection (a) of this |
|
|
section, the amount of: |
|
|
(1) $50,000,000 may be used only to provide funding |
|
|
for evidence-based initiatives for survivors of domestic assault |
|
|
and sexual assault authorized by other law; |
|
|
(2) $47,200,000 may be used only to reduce the |
|
|
substance use treatment waitlist for pregnant women and women with |
|
|
children in the manner authorized by other law; |
|
|
(3) $10,000,000 may be used only to provide funding |
|
|
for a temporary rate increase for substance use treatment services |
|
|
in the manner authorized by other law; |
|
|
(4) $10,000,000 may be used only to provide funding |
|
|
for evidence-based initiatives to reduce opioid addiction in this |
|
|
state authorized by other law; and |
|
|
(5) $40,000,000 may be used only to support mobile |
|
|
crisis services authorized by other law that are available 24 hours |
|
|
a day, 7 days a week. |
|
|
SECTION 20. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION: MENTAL |
|
|
HEALTH INITIATIVES. The amount of $10,000,000 is appropriated to |
|
|
the Health and Human Services Commission from money received by |
|
|
this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of supporting |
|
|
evidence-based initiatives authorized by other law that address |
|
|
trauma relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and promote children's |
|
|
mental health, including providing proportional rate increases for |
|
|
providers, hospitals, rural hospitals, and graduate medical |
|
|
institutions with COVID-19 patients and expanding access to mental |
|
|
health care and telemedicine. |
|
|
SECTION 21. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION: EARLY |
|
|
CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION SERVICE PROVIDERS. The amount of |
|
|
$81,000,000 is appropriated to the Health and Human Services |
|
|
Commission from money received by this state from the Coronavirus |
|
|
State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established |
|
|
under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and |
|
|
deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for |
|
|
the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the |
|
|
purpose of increasing rates for early childhood intervention |
|
|
service providers as authorized by other law. |
|
|
SECTION 22. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION: PROVIDERS |
|
|
AND HOSPITALS. (a) The amount of $1,000,000,000 is appropriated to |
|
|
the Health and Human Services Commission from money received by |
|
|
this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing rate |
|
|
increases and incentive payments, as authorized by other law, to |
|
|
providers and hospitals that have been substantially affected by |
|
|
the COVID-19 pandemic to retain and attract staff necessary to |
|
|
handle surges in COVID-19 case counts and to maintain access to |
|
|
emergency surgeries and to vital, elective, and non-cosmetic |
|
|
surgeries. |
|
|
(b) To the extent authorized by other law, the commission |
|
|
shall collaborate with affected industries to develop a payment |
|
|
methodology for incentive payments made from money appropriated by |
|
|
Subsection (a) of this section. The methodology must: |
|
|
(1) provide for quarterly lump sum payments; |
|
|
(2) accurately reflect COVID-19-related costs; and |
|
|
(3) prioritize providers and hospitals that have not |
|
|
received other federal or state COVID-19 relief funding. |
|
|
(c) To receive incentive payments, a provider or hospital |
|
|
must submit to the commission quarterly a report of the provider's |
|
|
or hospital's COVID-19-related costs. As authorized by other law, a |
|
|
provider or hospital that receives an incentive payment from money |
|
|
appropriated by Subsection (a) of this section is subject to audit |
|
|
by the State Auditor's Office and the Office of the Inspector |
|
|
General and the provider or hospital may be required to return a |
|
|
payment if an audit demonstrates that fraud, waste, or abuse |
|
|
occurred. |
|
|
SECTION 23. HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION, OFFICE OF |
|
|
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL: FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS. The amount of |
|
|
$5,000,000 is appropriated to the Health and Human Services |
|
|
Commission, Office of the Inspector General, from money received by |
|
|
this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of increasing |
|
|
activities authorized by other law to detect, recoup, and prevent |
|
|
instances of fraud, waste, and abuse relating to COVID-19 |
|
|
flexibilities in state public benefit programs. |
|
|
SECTION 24. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY: GRANTS TO SCHOOL |
|
|
DISTRICTS FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND TESTING. The |
|
|
amount of $100,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Education |
|
|
Agency from money received by this state from the Coronavirus State |
|
|
Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
|
|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
|
|
to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
|
|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
|
|
providing grants as authorized by other law to school districts to |
|
|
support personal protective equipment acquisition and targeted |
|
|
COVID-19 testing for teachers and students. |
|
|
SECTION 25. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY: GRANTS TO SCHOOL |
|
|
DISTRICTS FOR ONLINE LEARNING AND ADDRESSING LEARNING |
|
|
DEFICIENCIES. The amount of $81,000,000 is appropriated to the |
|
|
Texas Education Agency from money received by this state from the |
|
|
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of providing grants as authorized by other law |
|
|
to school districts to bolster online learning capabilities and |
|
|
address student learning deficiencies resulting from the COVID-19 |
|
|
pandemic. |
|
|
SECTION 26. HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD: STUDENT |
|
|
FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES. (a) The amount of $60,000,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board from |
|
|
money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
|
|
Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
|
|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
|
|
to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
|
|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
|
|
providing grants as authorized by other law to assist undergraduate |
|
|
and graduate students to overcome financial emergencies that |
|
|
threaten their ability to complete their courses of study. |
|
|
(b) A student who receives a grant under Subsection (a) of |
|
|
this section: |
|
|
(1) must have completed not less than 50 percent of the |
|
|
student's coursework; |
|
|
(2) must have a passing cumulative grade point |
|
|
average; and |
|
|
(3) may not be the cause of the financial emergency. |
|
|
SECTION 27. HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD: CAREERS IN |
|
|
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATHEMATICS, AND ENGINEERING. (a) The amount |
|
|
of $100,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Higher Education |
|
|
Coordinating Board from money received by this state from the |
|
|
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, to be distributed as authorized by other law in coordination |
|
|
with the Texas Education Agency and Texas Workforce Commission for |
|
|
programs at universities and junior colleges to train undergraduate |
|
|
and graduate students for careers that contribute to this state's |
|
|
future economic and workforce needs with a focus on careers in |
|
|
science, technology, mathematics, and engineering fields. |
|
|
(b) To the extent authorized by other law, the board shall |
|
|
ensure that at least $25,000,000 of the money appropriated by |
|
|
Subsection (a) of this section is distributed to programs at |
|
|
universities and junior colleges that retrain workers who lost jobs |
|
|
in industries severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
|
SECTION 28. TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: |
|
|
STRATEGIC PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT STOCKPILE. The amount of |
|
|
$100,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Division of Emergency |
|
|
Management from money received by this state from the Coronavirus |
|
|
State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established |
|
|
under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and |
|
|
deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for |
|
|
the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the |
|
|
purpose of establishing and maintaining a strategic personal |
|
|
protective equipment and medical supply stockpile for the state |
|
|
based on planning required by legislation passed by the 87th |
|
|
Legislature as authorized by that legislation. |
|
|
SECTION 29. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: TESTING AND |
|
|
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. The amount of $5,000,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the Department of Public Safety from money received |
|
|
by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing targeted |
|
|
COVID-19 testing and purchasing personal protective equipment for |
|
|
law enforcement officers and other public safety employees as |
|
|
authorized by other law. |
|
|
SECTION 30. SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS: LEGAL REPRESENTATION |
|
|
GRANTS FOR EVICTEES. The amount of $10,000,000 is appropriated to |
|
|
the Supreme Court of Texas from money received by this state from |
|
|
the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of providing, in consultation with the Texas |
|
|
Access to Justice Commission and State Bar of Texas, grants |
|
|
authorized by other law to provide legal representation for |
|
|
individuals facing eviction due to economic effects and other legal |
|
|
issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
|
SECTION 31. SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS: REDUCTION OF COURT |
|
|
BACKLOG. (a) The amount of $20,000,000 is appropriated to the |
|
|
Supreme Court of Texas from money received by this state from the |
|
|
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of providing, in coordination with the Office |
|
|
of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial System, grants |
|
|
authorized by other law to courts, counties, and district |
|
|
attorneys' offices to reduce court backlogs caused by the COVID-19 |
|
|
pandemic. |
|
|
(b) To the extent authorized by other law, the grants |
|
|
provided under Subsection (a) of this section must be distributed |
|
|
proportionally among courts, counties, and district attorneys' |
|
|
offices based on the size of the populations served by the |
|
|
applicable entity and the size of the backlog of the applicable |
|
|
entity. |
|
|
SECTION 32. SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS: REDUCTION OF CRIMINAL |
|
|
JUSTICE CASE BACKLOG. The amount of $15,000,000 is appropriated to |
|
|
the Supreme Court of Texas from money received by this state from |
|
|
the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of providing grants authorized by other law to |
|
|
support programs that reduce the criminal justice case backlog |
|
|
through mental health and drug courts and community supervision and |
|
|
diversion programs for low-level, nonviolent first-time offenders. |
|
|
SECTION 33. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: NUTRITIONAL |
|
|
PROGRAMS. The amount of $30,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas |
|
|
Department of Agriculture from money received by this state from |
|
|
the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of supporting food and nutritional programs |
|
|
and allocated as follows: |
|
|
(1) $20,000,000 for the Texans Feeding Texans - Home |
|
|
Delivered Meals Grant Program; and |
|
|
(2) $10,000,000 for the Texans Feeding Texans - |
|
|
Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program. |
|
|
SECTION 34. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: DOWNTOWN AND |
|
|
MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION PROJECTS. The amount of $2,000,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the Texas Department of Agriculture from money |
|
|
received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
|
|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
|
|
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
|
|
the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of supporting downtown |
|
|
and main street revitalization projects, including infrastructure |
|
|
improvement, in rural municipalities and towns, as authorized by |
|
|
other law, to encourage tourism and economic development in rural |
|
|
areas affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
|
SECTION 35. PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT: DEFERRED |
|
|
MAINTENANCE OF STATE PARKS. The amount of $700,000,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the Parks and Wildlife Department from money |
|
|
received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
|
|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
|
|
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
|
|
the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of addressing unfunded |
|
|
deferred maintenance of state parks. |
|
|
SECTION 36. WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD: CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
|
|
AND FLOODING AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) The amount of |
|
|
$100,000,000 is appropriated to the Water Development Board from |
|
|
money received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal |
|
|
Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the |
|
|
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited |
|
|
to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state |
|
|
fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of |
|
|
providing loans and grants and issuing bonds authorized by other |
|
|
law to support clean drinking water and flooding and wastewater |
|
|
infrastructure. |
|
|
(b) To the extent authorized by other law, the board shall |
|
|
ensure that at least $25,000,000 of the money appropriated by |
|
|
Subsection (a) of this section is used to provide loans and grants |
|
|
and issue bonds for economically distressed areas of this state and |
|
|
high-risk areas with a substantial need for clean drinking water |
|
|
and flooding and wastewater infrastructure. |
|
|
SECTION 37. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS: |
|
|
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. The amount of $500,000,000 is appropriated to |
|
|
the Department of Housing and Community Affairs from money received |
|
|
by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 |
|
|
U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue Plan Act |
|
|
of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the |
|
|
Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium |
|
|
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of addressing housing |
|
|
issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as authorized by other law, |
|
|
including by providing access to and availability of safe, |
|
|
affordable housing through initiatives that may include new housing |
|
|
development, upgrades to infrastructure, and weatherization of |
|
|
existing affordable housing units. |
|
|
SECTION 38. TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION: CHILD CARE. The |
|
|
amount of $5,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Workforce |
|
|
Commission from money received by this state from the Coronavirus |
|
|
State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established |
|
|
under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and |
|
|
deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325 for |
|
|
the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, for the |
|
|
purpose of providing child care to unemployed or recently employed |
|
|
caregivers of children to support reentry into the workforce for |
|
|
individuals who lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
|
SECTION 39. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: UNEMPLOYMENT |
|
|
COMPENSATION FUND. For the two-year period beginning on the |
|
|
effective date of this Act, the amount of $4,500,000,000 is |
|
|
appropriated to the comptroller of public accounts from money |
|
|
received by this state from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery |
|
|
Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) established under the American Rescue |
|
|
Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of |
|
|
the Coronavirus Relief Fund No. 325, for deposit to the credit of |
|
|
the unemployment compensation fund under Section 203.021, Labor |
|
|
Code, for the purpose of paying back outstanding advances received |
|
|
by this state under Section 1201, Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. |
|
|
Section 1321), and returning the unemployment compensation fund to |
|
|
the statutory floor computed under Section 204.061, Labor Code, on |
|
|
October 1, 2021, as reimbursement for payments made as a result of |
|
|
the coronavirus disease pandemic. |
|
|
SECTION 40. APPROPRIATION: ELECTRICAL GRID IMPROVEMENTS. |
|
|
The amount of $1,000,000,000 is appropriated to the Public |
|
|
Utilities Commission from money received by this state from the |
|
|
Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (42 U.S.C. Section 802) |
|
|
established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. |
|
|
No. 117-2) and deposited to the credit of the Coronavirus Relief |
|
|
Fund No. 325 for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, |
|
|
2021, for the purpose of providing, in coordination with the |
|
|
Railroad Commission of Texas, Electric Reliability Council of |
|
|
Texas, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Division of |
|
|
Emergency Management, Texas Electric Supply Chain Security and |
|
|
Mapping Committee, and Texas Energy Reliability Council, funding |
|
|
for grants, loans, and incentives authorized by other law to |
|
|
support electrical grid and infrastructure weatherization, |
|
|
hardening, resiliency, and improvements, with a focus on projects |
|
|
that do not increase energy bills and taxes paid by homeowners and |
|
|
businesses. |
|
|
SECTION 41. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Each state agency to |
|
|
which money is appropriated under this Act shall submit to the |
|
|
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
|
|
representatives, members of the Senate Finance Committee, and |
|
|
members of the House Appropriations Committee each quarter any |
|
|
report the agency is required to submit to the United States |
|
|
secretary of the treasury in accordance with 42 U.S.C. Section |
|
|
802(d)(2). |
|
|
SECTION 42. USE OF MONEY FOR BORDER WALL PROHIBITED. Money |
|
|
appropriated by this Act may not be used to construct, renovate, |
|
|
maintain, or otherwise facilitate the construction or maintenance |
|
|
of a wall, fence, or other barrier on public or private land along |
|
|
the United States' international border with Mexico. |
|
|
SECTION 43. Section 17.16, Article IX, Chapter 1053 (S.B. |
|
|
1), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 (the |
|
|
General Appropriations Act), is repealed. |
|
|
SECTION 44. This Act takes effect immediately. |