AUSTIN, Texas – Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., (D-Brownsville) applauds the availability of $38 million from the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program authorized by the federal Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations Act. Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Public Safety Office will administer these funds.
“I am so thankful that our local governments are being given an opportunity to apply for needed funding to help our communities respond to the coronavirus outbreak,” said Sen. Lucio, Chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) which has standing jurisdiction over local governments, including cities, counties, and regional governments, as well as special districts. “As Chairman of IGR, I strongly urge our South Texas local governments to apply for these greatly needed coronavirus response funds to help provide critical resources like personal protective equipment and supplies, and related first responder and essential staff support to protect our communities.”
Allowable expenses and projects include, but are not limited to:
- Personnel Overtime (Peace Officer, Jailer, Correctional Officer, Medical, and other Essential Staff);
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
- Supplies (i.e. gloves, masks, sanitizer, disinfectant);
- Temporary Staff;
- Medical care for inmates that have tested positive for COVID-19; and,
· Any other costs associated with the implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Guidance documents, specifically:
o What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
“I strongly urge our South Texas local governments to register and apply for funding at the Public Safety Office’s eGrants grant management website athttps://eGrants.gov.texas.gov ,” concluded IGR Chairman Lucio.
