Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
A supplemental appropriations bill Part 3
A Blog about 88th Legislature Laws
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 88th Legislature Laws as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of 88th Legislature Laws
The blogs here will discuss the laws passed by Congress and signed into law, as well as those, passed by Congress and approved by the voters to become law. There are a multitude of laws and each time I post blogs I will notate here the current effective date if it is different from prior blogs. I am currently posting bills that took effect immediately - those bills total 336. I am currently posting regarding larger bills, so each blog covers a single bill.
Blog Summary
SB 30 Part 3 This blog deals with supplemental and reduction in appropriations for EducationA supplemental appropriations bill Part 3
Published: 2024-07-25
SB 30 Part 3
Supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations for Education
The appropriations made to the Texas Education Agency for Strategy A.1.1, Foundation School Program - Equalized Operations are reduced by $8,416,615,108 (over $8.4 BILLION).
The appropriation of $1,100,000,000 ($1.1 BILLION) for the purpose awarding grants to assist school districts in implementing school safety initiatives.
The appropriation of $11,251,170 (over $11.2 million) for the purpose of addressing information technology deferred maintenance.
The appropriation of $3,200,000 ($3.2 million) for the purpose of funding the Texas school for the Blind and Visually Impaired for campus infrastructure and security upgrades.
The appropriation of $936,061 for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for staff salary increases as outlined in HB1. $146,856 for Classroom Instruction. $237,279 for Residential Program. $18,134 for Short-term Program. $343,206 for Related and Support Services. $47,170 for Technical Assistance. $2,322 for Professional Education in Visual Impairment. $120,380 for Central Administration. $20,714 for Other Support Services.
The appropriation of $56,783,113 (over $56.7 million) for the purpose of the Texas School for the Deaf for student housing, classroom expansion, and renovation fo the Adult Curriculum for Community, Employment and Social Skills program. $47,006,809 for student housing. $9,273656 for classroom expansion and renovation. $502,648 for campus security entrance renovation.
The appropriation of $15,000,000 ($15 million) for the purpose of data modernization, technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, and application modernization by Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The appropriation of $5,000,000 ($5 million) for the purpose of cybersecurity and application modernization by the HIgher Education Coordinating Board.
The budge of the Higher Education Coordinating Board is increased by $2,500,000 ($2.5 million) for expenses related to Texas OnCourse program. (This is the website for college and career preparation.)
The appropriation of $15,000,000 ($15 million) for the purpose of cleanup, replacement of lost equipment, and repair and renovation of infrastructure at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Vernon and Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed Facility resulting from tornado damage.
The appropriation of $146,080,058 (over $146 million) for the purpose of responding to previously occurring and future natural disasters, including responding through mobilization of ground and aviation resources for fire suppression for the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The appropriation of $8,000,000 ($8 million) for the purpose of renovating the Texas Memorial Museum through the University of Texas at Austin.
The appropriation of $25,500,000 ($25.5 million) for the purpose of mitigation storm damage and making renovations as follows:
- $10,000,000 for Lamar University;
- $5,000,000 for Lamar State College - Port Arthur;
- $4,000,000 for Lamar Institute of Technology;
- $6,500,000 for Lamar State College - Orange
The appropriation of $15,105,328 (over $15 million) for the purpose of Strategy, Performance Based Research Operations at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
The appropriation of $7,783,389 (over $7 million) for the purpose of Strategy Performance Based Research Operations at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
The appropriation of $7,995,279 (over $7 million) for the purpose of Strategy Performance Based Research Operations at the Texas A&M University System Health Science Center.
The appropriation of $1,456,457 (over $1 million) for the purpose of Strategy Performance Based Research Operations at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
The appropriation of $8,951,493 (over $8.9 million) for the purpose of Strategy Health Systems Operations at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
The appropriation of $8,212,583 (over $8 million) for the purpose of Strategy Cancer Center Operations at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The appropriation of $1,818,533 (over $1.8 million) for the purpose of Strategy Chest Disease Center Operations at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.
The appropriation of $804,249 for the purpose of Strategy Performance Based Border Health Operations at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso.
The appropriation of $3,000,000,000 ($3 BILLION) for the purpose of placing it in the Texas University Fund if legislation is voter approved, which it did.
The appropriation of $1,800,000 ($1.8 million) for the purpose of instructional programming at the East Williamson County HIgher Education Center through Texas A&M University - Central Texas.
The appropriation of $2,000,000 ($2 million) for the purpose of life sciences research at the Univeristy of Texas at San Antonio.
The appropriation of $7,795,500 (over $7.7 million) from general revenue and $13,879,500 (over $13.8 million) from Texas Department of Insurance account for the purpose of emergency response capability at Texas A&M Forest Service. This also permits them to hire 75 full time equivalent employees using some of these funds.
The appropriation of $10,049,891 (over $10 million) from the volunteer fire department assistance account and $3,000,000 ($3 million) from the Texas Department of Insurance account for the purpose of local firefighting capability.
The appropriation of $24,222,155 (over $24 million) for the extension of agent network with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. This also permits them to hire 40.5 full time equivalent employees using some of these funds.
The appropriation of $3,697,500 (over $3.6 million) for the purpose of rapid detection of human and animal disease threats through Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. This also permits them to hire 8.3 full time equivalent employees using some of these funds.
The appropriation of $19,500,000 ($19.5 million) for the purpose of educatoin, response, recruitment, and retention through Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. This also permits them to hire 7 full time equivalent employees using some of these funds.
The appropriation of $14,550,000 ($14.55 million) for the purpose of workforce development in the Texas Division of Emergency Management. This also permits them to hire 44 full time equivalent employees using some of these funds.
The appropriation of $440,000,000 ($440 million) for the purpose of research on forward-looking technologies, the operation and establishment of research and development fabrication facility, a fabrication facility with security clearance requirements to support the defense electronics sector, and a leading edge shared fabrication facility to support the US technological and economic advantages and fabricate small run productions for breakthroughs in advanced packaging. This is all through the University of Texas at Austin.
The appropriation of $226,400,000 ($225.4 million) for the purpose of:
- quantum and artificial intelligence chip fabrication ($200,000,000); and
- Center for Microdevices and Systems ($26,400,000)
This is through Texas A&M University.
The appropriation of $2,000,000 ($2 million) for the purpose set forth in HB900 or similar legislation. (HB900 has not yet been blogged on as of the date of this posting.)
The appropriation of $65,000,000 ($65 million) for the purpose of development of a comprehensive oncology center partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso.
The appropriation of $7,000,000 ($7 million) for the purpose of renovation of a facility to add an additional 44 forensic and civil beds complex in the University of Texas at Tyler.
The appropriation of $7,971,600 (over $7.9 million) for the purpose of indigent inpatient care, renovation of patient areas, deferred maintenance, and building renovation at the Harris County Psychiatric Hospital.
While I am sure that some of the above, if not all, are important; I am not certain that tax dollars should be funding them at such a level. If the income stream from Texas colleges/universities goes into the state general revenue fund, then I believe that sending that back to them for funding is a good idea. If they get to keep their revenue and these are additional funds being sent then I'm not certain this is the best use of taxpayer dollars. For instance, the chip fabrication, I know that is an important area. I am also aware of, at least 2, companies that are building chip fabrication facilities in Texas. And I'm not sure why the taxpayers should be funding this at their expense. Corporations nearly always do a better job funding these adventures than governments do. Somehow governments think they have a never ending source of income from their citizens.
I am also always greatly concerned about any government sending money to any entity to do research. Generally the answer that is received matches more closely to the answer the government was looking for. This is how the US government gets so many studies that say what they want. (To be fair they often fund several and only accept those with the answer they like. Meaning the others do not receive future funding. See if you want more money later you need to say what we want.) It may work this way outside of government as well. The difference is you will often find groups with different views getting 'crowd style funding'. This can lead to different outcomes and, thereby, different approaches to problem solving. Much more likely to lead to the better answer than the force of government by them holding the purse strings.
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