Legislation Details

File #: 25-1215    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Grant Status: Passed
File created: 2/14/2025 In control: Commissioners Court
On agenda: 2/27/2025 Final action: 2/27/2025
Title: Request by the Public Defender for approval to accept from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission grant funds in the amount of $120,740, with no required match, for the Future Indigent Defense Leaders (Cohorts 3 & 4) Program.
Attachments: 1. FIDL Cohorts_Backup.pdf

Primary Department: Public Defender

Primary Department Head/Elected Official:  Alexander Bunin

 

Secondary Department: N/A

Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:

 

Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA

Type of Request: Grant - Renewal

 

Project ID (if applicable):

Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):

 

MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):

MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):

Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal:  Choose an item.

 

Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):

Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.

 

Request Summary (Agenda Caption):

title

Request by the Public Defender for approval to accept from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission grant funds in the amount of $120,740, with no required match, for the Future Indigent Defense Leaders (Cohorts 3 & 4) Program.

end

 

Background and Discussion:

Funded by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, this grant is part of the Harris County Improvement Grant Program

series. The Future Indigent Defense Leaders (FIDL) program aims to create the next generation of Texas public defense

leaders. TIDC has partnered with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Harris County Public

Defender’s Office to create an unparalleled public defense training, mentoring, and leadership program.

 

 

Expected Impact:

 Program will benefit indigent defense by helping to train future indigent defense attorneys.

 

 

Alternative Options:

Seek alternate funding sources or discontinue the program.

 

 

 

County Strategic Plan Goal:  N/A

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

Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1):  D5: Reduce reliance on court-appointed counsel by supporting the expansion and improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of the PDO and MAC.

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

02/27/2024

256

Approved

 

Location:

Address (if applicable):

Precinct(s): Countywide

 

Fiscal and Personnel Summary

Service Name

FIDL Cohort 3&4 Continuation

 

 

Current Fiscal Year Cost

Annual Fiscal Cost

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

Recurring Expenses

Funding Sources

 

Existing Budget

 

 

 

 

Grant

$

$

$

 

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 (To be filled out by Grants staff only)

 

Labor

Non-Labor

Total

No. of Grant Years

Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item.

$

$

$

 

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

$

$

$

 

Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total)

$

$120,740.00

$120,740.00

 

Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs)

 

Current Position Count for Service

-

-

-

-

Additional Positions Request

-

-

-

-

Total Personnel

-

-

-

-

 

Anticipated Court Date: 2/27/2025

Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.

 

Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item

 

Contact(s) name, title, department: Carmen Mireles, Office Administrator, Public Defender’s Office

 

Attachments (if applicable): Statement of Award, Resolution