Legislation Details

File #: 26-0675    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 1/15/2026 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 1/29/2026 Final action: 1/29/2026
Title: Request by the Sheriff's Office for approval to submit an application to the Texas Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division for grant funds in the amount of $158,000, with no required match, for the FY27 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program.
Attachments: 1. FY 2027 Coverdell Forensic Sciences resolution.pdf

Primary Department: Sheriff

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Gonzalez

 

Secondary Department: N/A

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Grant - Application

 

Project ID (if applicable): 5722701

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division

 

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): 5 %

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Rate is not 0% and is listed above.

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the Sheriff’s Office for approval to submit an application to the Texas Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division for grant funds in the amount of $158,000, with no required match, for the FY27 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The purpose of this funding is for projects that improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiners services as well as projects seeking to address emerging forensic science The application is still in progress. The grant period for this award is October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.

 

Expected Impact:

HCSO will tentatively seek funding for a NIBIN machine and/or associated upgrades and software. This grant would enable the Sheriff’s Office to improve its crime laboratory and investigations.

 

Alternative Options:

Not applying for this grant would forfeit the funding opportunity to upgrade forensic capabilities.

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  1. Make Harris County safer and more just.

County Strategic Plan Objective: A: Reduce violent crime across the County.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  N/A

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2):  N/A

Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A

Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A

Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

 

 

 

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

FY27 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Program

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

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Total Existing Budget

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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

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Total Additional Budget Request

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Total Funding Sources

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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

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No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

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$

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1

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item.

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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

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$

$158,000.00

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s)

 

Current Position Count for Service

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Additional Positions Request

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Total Personnel

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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only)

CAO Reviewer Name and Title

 

CAO Review Completion Date

Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Anticipated Court Date: 1/29/2026

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/1/2026

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Jazmin Gonzales, Grant Analyst, Sheriff’s Office

 

Attachments (if applicable): Notice of Funding Opportunity, Grant Resolution