Primary Department: District Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Application
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Indigent Defense Commission
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the District Courts for approval to submit an application to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission for grant funds in the amount of $4,000,000, with no required match, for the FY26 Indigent Defense Formula Grant.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) awards grants to reimburse each Texas County for Indigent Defense services. Formula grants are provided by the Texas Commission to meet its statutory mandates and to promote Texas Counties compliance with standards adopted by the commission. Similar amounts are expected in future grants beginning in FY27.
Expected Impact:
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) awarded grant will be used for indigent defense services that are statutorily mandated, and to ensure Harris County’s compliance with standards adopted by the TIDC. This funding will address access to quality counsel. The TIDC works together with counties to promote innovation and improvement in indigent defense systems statewide. The formula grant reimburses each Texas County for expenses related to indigent defense in criminal and juvenile delinquency matters. The alternative is for Harris County to be the sole funding source for court ordered indigent defense expenditures.
Alternative Options:
There were no alternative options identified.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: E: Increase efficiency across the legal system.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): D3: Improve outcomes for indigent defendants through holistic services and connections to necessary resources.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
11/12/24 |
312 |
Request to apply for grant was approved by Commissioners Court. |
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|
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Location:
Address (if applicable):
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
FY26 TIDC Formula Grant Funding |
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
1 |
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Grant |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$4,000,000 |
$ |
$4,000,000 |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: 10/30/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 11/1/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Richard Woods, Court Administrator
Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Request for Applications (RFA), Grant Resolution