Keeping Texas Prepared

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Exceptional Item: Extension Agent Network

($32.2 million for biennium)

Provide agent funding for family, community health agents, agriculture and natural resources, disaster response, and retain existing agent workforce. Funding would strengthen the agency’s response to statewide emergency needs exhibited during COVID-19 with delivery of 1 million vaccine doses and 3.5 million rapid tests. Ongoing response to wildfires with livestock supply points and damage assessment operations continues.

Texas A&M Forest Service

Exceptional Item 1: Emergency Response Capacity

($28.9 million for biennium)

As a direct result of population increases, fluctuating weather patterns and changes in land use, the expanding threat of wildfires has greatly increased requests for state assistance. This assistance will add 100 fire and emergency response positions, improve current pay levels, add/replace wildfire suppression equipment and fund aviation support costs.

Exceptional Item 2: Local Firefighting Capacity

($17.4 million for biennium)

Volunteer Fire Department grants for fire trucks, protective gear, equipment, and training for eligible VFDs. An Increase in funding to enhance local firefighting capacity will also help reduce the growth in backlog of unfunded Volunteer Fire Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System grant requests.

Texas Division of Emergency Management

Exceptional Item: Workforce Development

($19.4 million above 2022-23 biennium)

Create Emergency Management Academy providing training in all aspects of emergency management. Fund the Personal Identity Verification Program for collaboration between local, state and federal emergency response officials and enhance security at disaster sites. More than 250,000 personnel statewide need credential verification.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

Exceptional Item: Recruitment and Retention

($26 million for biennium)

To continue serving a growing healthy state, competitive compensation, in line with the market is needed to sustain a quality workforce critical to training those who protect the lives and property of Texans. Funds will also be used to invest in statewide education and emergency response needs that are difficult to meet due to funding constraints.

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Exceptional Item: Rapid Detection of Animal and Human Disease Threats

($4.9 million for biennium)

Ensure early, rapid, and accurate detection of human and animal disease threats, potential bioterrorism events, changes in antimicrobial resistance of pathogens as well as the timely and effective communication of disease data to decision-makers. Program will ensure enhanced capacity to conduct human testing during pandemic situations and assist with testing supply chain issues when needed.

Invest in professionals and tools required to provide training programs for diagnostic laboratory specialists. Fund new technology and robotics capable of routine and repetitive testing procedures. A highly skilled workforce remains essential for higher-level tasks, such as data analysis, new test development, and communication of information.