87S30312 SRA-D
By: Minjarez H.B. No. 140
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Leading on Opportunity, Investment, and
Economic Stimulus Through Aid and Relief (LONESTAR) Supplemental
Appropriations Act of 2021; making appropriations and giving
direction regarding appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Texas
Leading on Opportunity, Investment, and Economic Stimulus Through
Aid and Relief (LONESTAR) Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.
SECTION 2. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: RESTORATION OF
STATE AGENCY BUDGET REDUCTIONS. (a) The amount of $1,000,000,000 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 the state fiscal biennium
beginning September 1, 2021, for the purpose of restoring funding
to state agencies, as authorized by other law, to make up for
reductions in appropriated amounts equal to five percent of total
appropriations made to state agencies from the general revenue fund
and dedicated accounts in the general revenue fund for the state
fiscal year ending August 31, 2021, made by Chapter 1353 (H.B. 1),
Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019 (the General
Appropriations Act), due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) The comptroller, in consultation with the Legislative
Budget Board, shall identify the strategies and objectives out of
which the reductions in amounts appropriated to each state agency
from the general revenue fund and dedicated accounts in the general
revenue fund were made and allocate the money appropriated under
Subsection (a) in a manner that, to the greatest extent
practicable, restores the amounts appropriated to state agencies
before the reductions in appropriations occurred.
SECTION 3. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: PREMIUM PAY FOR
ELIGIBLE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY STATE AGENCIES. (a) In this section,
"premium pay" and "eligible workers" have the meanings assigned by
42 U.S.C. Section 802(g).
(b) The amount of $1,000,000,000 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 the state fiscal biennium beginning
September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for premium
pay for eligible workers employed by state agencies as authorized
by other law.
SECTION 4. TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS: ARTS AND CULTURAL
GRANTS FOR PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC DAMAGE. The amount of $11,000,000
is appropriated to the Texas Commission on the Arts 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 funding
for arts and cultural grants authorized by other law to offset
physical damage caused by hurricanes or winter storms or economic
damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SECTION 5. TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS: ARTS AND CULTURAL
GRANTS FOR SUMMER EDUCATION. The amount of $10,000,000 is
appropriated to the Texas Commission on the Arts 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 arts and cultural grants authorized by other law benefiting
nonprofit organizations that provide summer camps or summer
education programming for students in this state.
SECTION 6. TEXAS MUSIC OFFICE, TRUSTEED PROGRAMS WITHIN THE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: MUSIC VENUE AND FESTIVAL REBATES. The
amount of $10,000,000 is appropriated to the Texas Music Office
within the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor 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 rebates for eligible music venues and
festival promoters to reduce the impact of venue closures and
social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SECTION 7. OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: SMALL BUSINESS DISASTER
RECOVERY LOANS. The amount of $300,000,000 is appropriated to the
Office of the Governor 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 small
business disaster recovery loans authorized by other law for small
businesses that experienced physical damage caused by hurricanes or
winter storms or economic damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SECTION 8. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS: BROADBAND
SERVICES. The amount of $3,000,000,000 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 the state fiscal biennium beginning
September 1, 2021, for the purpose of providing funding for grants,
loans, and incentives authorized by other law for broadband
services in areas of the state currently in need of those services.
SECTION 9. HISTORICAL COMMISSION: MAIN STREET PROGRAM. The
amount of $2,000,000 is appropriated to the Historical 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 downtown and main street revitalization
projects in small and rural municipalities designated as part of
the Main Street Program, including projects for infrastructure
improvement, to encourage tourism and economic development in rural
areas impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SECTION 10. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES: IT LEGACY
SYSTEMS AND CYBERSECURITY. The amount of $500,000,000 is
appropriated to the Department of Information Resources 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 upgrading and
modernizing state agency information technology (IT) legacy
systems and cybersecurity enhancements for state agency IT systems.
SECTION 11. VETERANS COMMISSION: VETERANS ASSISTANCE. The
amount of $100,000,000 is appropriated to the Veterans 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 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.
SECTION 12. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES:
TEXAS HOME VISITING NURSE PROGRAM AND NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM. (a) The amount of $146,800,000 is 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, to be allocated as follows:
(1) $71,200,000 to provide funding for the Texas Home
Visiting Program; and
(2) $75,600,000 to provide funding for the
Nurse-Family Partnership Program to expand home visiting.
(b) To the extent authorized by other law, the Department of
Family and Protective Services shall coordinate with the Maternal
Mortality Review Commission and the Office for the Elimination of
Health Disparities to target the spending of money appropriated by
Subsection (a) of this section to areas of the state with high
instances of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity and
high rates of removal of children from their homes.
SECTION 13. DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES:
FOSTER CARE PROVIDER CAPACITY. The amount of $65,800,000 is
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.
SECTION 14. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: HIV
MEDICATION PROGRAM. The amount of $67,000,000 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
additional funding for the HIV Medication Program.
SECTION 15. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES: FIREARM
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
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.