Legislation Details

File #: 25-5063    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 8/11/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 8/26/2025 Final action: 8/26/2025
Title: Request by the Office of County Administration for approval to accept grant funds in the amount of $15,000,000, with an in-kind match of $15,000,000 to be provided by the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the FY26 Jail Diversion Program.

Primary Department: County Administration

Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Jesse Dickerman

 

Secondary Department:

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Grant - Award

 

Project ID (if applicable):

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Texas Health and Human Services Commission

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 

 

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 Office of County Administration for approval to accept grant funds in the amount of $15,000,000, with an in-kind match of $15,000,000 to be provided by the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the FY26 Jail Diversion Program.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

The Texas Legislature, via SB1185, authorizes the use of up to $5,000,000 in annual state reimbursements for a Mental Health Jail Diversion pilot program. The legislation requires that for every $2 in program costs, $1 is reimbursed to the County by the State, and the other $1, whether cash or in-kind, remain a local unreimbursed cost. This renewal award is for a one-year period.

 

Expected Impact:

Through this grant community-based jail diversion services will be provided to criminal arrestees who have been determined to be mentally ill and who may have any substance abuse disorder. The project will be operated and administered by the Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, which will provide the required match as an in-kind contribution, which is therefore not shown on this form.

 

Alternative Options:

To find alternative funding or not operate the program.

 

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

County Strategic Plan Objective: B: Reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety.

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  B2: Increase law enforcement’s use of deflection and crisis co-response programs to address mental and behavioral health crisis situations and issues related to substance use, mental health, poverty, and homelessness.

Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): 

Economy Initiative (Goal 3):

Health Initiative (Goal 4):

Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5):

Housing Initiative (Goal 6):

 

Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:

 

Prior Court Action (if any):

Date

Agenda Item #

Action Taken

09/12/2023

4

Approval of renewal grant funding for FY24 and FY25 Jail Diversion program.

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s):

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

FY26 Jail Diversion Program

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

 

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

Total Existing Budget

$

$

$

$

Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form)

 

 

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

 

$

$

$

$

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: Other

$

$15,000,000

$15,000,000

1

Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request:

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$15,000,000

$15,000,000

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: 8/26/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 9/1/2025

 

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

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Traci Donatto, Director of Grants Management

 

Attachments (if applicable): Renewal Agreement