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AUSTIN (KXAN) – Some city of Austin services could get a boost in funding after Texas lawmakers passed a bill splitting federal coronavirus aid funds during their third special session.
Senate Act 8 passes the $ 13.3 billion Texas received under the American Rescue Plan Act to various state agencies. Those funds could eventually go down to affect Austin, the city’s interstate relations official said in a memo on Monday.
While the governor has not yet signed the legislation, city officials are already examining the potential impact on funding their services.
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The city memo states that Austin could benefit directly from funding in three areas: EMS staff, broadband infrastructure, and tourism / travel grants.
According to the memo, the bill provides $ 21.7 million for the Texas Department of Health to increase the staffing of the emergency medical services through incentive programs, staff development initiatives and educational programs.
The bill also provides $ 180 million in tourism / travel grants and is designed to help the hospitality industry recover from the pandemic. The city memo states that grants are capped at $ 20,000.
Ultimately, the bill puts more than $ 500 million in the hands of the broadband infrastructure auditor. The city memo points out laws passed during the regular session that created a broadband development bureau. The office will map areas of the state with limited access to broadband and provide grants to expand access in those areas.
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The city notice also lists a number of initiatives that the city should support in order to raise money.
These include $ 95 million to the Department of Agriculture for food banks, $ 5 million for home-delivery meals, $ 2 billion to DSHS for health care staffing and regional infusion centers, and $ 378 million the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for grants for staffing needs in long-term care facilities.
In the city memo, many details on the funds in SB 8 are repeated that have not yet been specified. Staff endeavor to keep council members informed as more information becomes available.
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