Issue Position: State Budget Highlights

Issue Position

THE ISSUES
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DADE PHELAN
DISTRICT 21 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - 86TH SESSION
STATE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

Total Budget: Appropriates $118.9 billion in General Revenues and approximately $250.7 billion in All Funds. The Budget also remains under all four spending limits -- the debt limit, welfare spending limit, pay-as-you-go limit, and the spending limit.

Disaster Relief: $100 million for rapid deployment disaster grants. $806.5 million for post-Hurricane Harvey recovery expenditures and reimbursement to school districts as well as adjustment of school property values reimbursement to districts for disaster remediation costs. $77.3 million for disaster recovery related expenses to Higher Education Institutions affected by Hurricane Harvey. $47 million for state flood risk mapping. $793 million to the Flood Infrastructure Fund that will assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects. $200 million for studies and projects to be conducted in the state by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Education: $4.5 billion for transformational education reforms. $2 billion for dynamic teacher compensation. $200 million for school safety improvements including building renovations, added security personnel, and technology.

Higher Education: $500 million for increased formula funds for all higher education institutions.

Border Security & Human Trafficking: $800 million for border security operations, personal, equipment and technology. $27.8 million for human and child sex trafficking investigative squads, anti-gang squads and regional human trafficking investigative squads at the Department of Public Safety.

Women & Children's Health: Provides a 24.3% increase in women's health funding. Dedicates almost $60 million to crisis pregnancy centers and Alternatives to Abortion, and permits an additional $20 million in funding if demand warrants. Allocates $86 million in rate increases for community care and Intellectual and Developmental Disability providers, pediatric home therapist and pediatric private duty nursing. Provides $48 million for rate increases and cost growth for Early Childhood Intervention, $11.7 million for salary increases to hire and retain Adult Protective Services workers and supports Community Based Care expansion for foster care.

Teacher Retirement System: Increases the state contribution to the Teacher Retirement System Pension Fund from 6.8% to 8.8% of the statewide teacher salary cost over the next five-year period. Additionally, this legislation authorizes a "13th Check" in the 2020-2021 biennium to members who retired prior to 2017, which is a general supplemental payment of up to $2,000. By giving more to retired teachers without requiring greater contributions from teachers or school districts, our state legislature stood beside our teachers and rewarded their hard work and dedication to Texas classrooms.

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