Senate approves bill to allocate $16.3 billion in federal stimulus funding

UPDATED 10/8/21: The Senate has unanimously approved the committee substitute to SB 8, which appropriates $16.3 billion in federal stimulus funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

None of the funding in the bill is currently being allocated to K-12 public education directly, despite the fact that the interim final rule published by the Department of the Treasury does allow for the funds to be used to address educational disparities, promote healthy childhood environments, give premium pay to educators, and provide assistance to high-poverty school districts.

Here’s the breakdown of the committee substitute for SB 8:

  • 7.2 billion to replenish the Unemployment Compensation Fund, ensuring that businesses are not faced with an increase in unemployment taxes due to pandemic-related layoffs.
  • $2 billion to deploy healthcare surge staffing, purchase therapeutic drugs, and support regional infusion centers. This was originally appropriated $3 billion in the filed version of the bill.
  • $3.7 billion to cover salaries and benefits for state employees directly working on pandemic response.
  • $500.5 million for broadband expansion, with $75 million of those funds designated for a broadband pole replacement program (out of the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund).
  • $400 million to offer one-time retention bonuses to retain critical staffing for nursing facilities, assisted living centers, home health services, community attendants, and emergency medical services. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $325 million for construction projects at institutions of higher education, contingent on the passage of legislation. This was originally appropriated at $500 million in the filed version of the bill.
  • $300 million for a State Operations Center to aid the state in disaster response.
  • $286 million to the Teacher Retirement System to cover COVID-related health claims and to ensure no active or retired teacher faces an increase in health care premiums due to the pandemic.
  • $237.8 million to expand access to mental health care by completing construction of a new state psychiatric hospital in Dallas.
  • $200 million to bolster cybersecurity.
  • $200 million to provide grants to support the tourism industry. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $160 million to shore up funding for organizations serving sexual assault survivors and other crime victims.
  • $113 million to the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium to expand mental health treatment options for young Texans struggling with depression and suicide.
  • $100 million to support Texas food banks, including $5 million for home-delivered meals, to serve high numbers of Texans experiencing food insecurity.
  • $75 million in one-time grants for rural hospitals. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $40 million to the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $35 million to upgrade filtration and ventilation systems at Texas veterans homes. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $25 million to streamline the Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment process and modernize the State’s Medicaid eligibility system. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $15 million in grants for re-skilling and upskilling programs at Texas’ community colleges. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $5 million for the Texas Federally Qualified Health Center Incubator Program to increase access to healthcare services statewide. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.
  • $1.2 million to fund a new IT system for Children’s Advocacy Centers. This was not included in the originally filed version of the bill.