State allocates additional funding for school safety, mental health initiatives

The state announced plans last Tuesday to transfer $105.5 million to support additional school safety and mental health initiatives through August 2023. The additional funding is in response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde which prompted the state to take actions to make schools safer while supporting the mental health of students, teachers and families.

The transfer of the funds was announced Tuesday, June 28 by Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman, and House Appropriations Chair Dr. Greg Bonnen. Approximately $100.5 million is to be allocated for state agencies and programs that enhance school safety and mental health services throughout Texas.

“The State of Texas is acting swiftly to ensure our schools are secure and that children, teachers, and families across Texas have the support and resources they need to be safe as we work to prevent future tragedies like the heinous crime committed in Uvalde,” Gov. Abbott said. “Our communities – urban and rural – are stronger when Texans are safe and healthy, and I thank my partners in the legislature for quickly addressing the need to expand critical mental health and school safety initiatives in the Lone Star State.”

Of the allocated funding, $50 million will be transferred to the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor for the purchase of bullet-resistant shields which are identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as being of “sufficient quality.” The shields will be distributed based on the priorities of police officers directly em ployed by school districts, police officers contracted by school districts and fi nally other law enforcement officers which respond to school safety emergencies, according to a letter from the Legislative Budget Board.

Approximately $17.1 million will be allocated to the Texas Education Agency for distribution to school districts to allow for the purchase of silent panic alert technology, which would allow the districts to alert of a situation occurring via an app or other related method.

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