Formula Grant Applications Due Nov. 15
Some 10 years ago Gov. Rick Perry signed into law the Texas Fair Defense Act, which among other things created the Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense (TFID). As of Sept. 1, the TFID was renamed the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (Commission). The original TFID was tasked with assisting local governments in improving the delivery of indigent defense services. Along with developing standards and policies for counties to use when representing indigent defendants, the TFID was charged with awarding grant money to counties to help fund the increased level of services.
Every year funding is dispersed as part of the Formula Grant Program, which requires counties to complete online applications. The Commission has budgeted $12 million for FY2012 Formula Grants and set an application deadline of Nov. 15.
Formula Grants:
The Commission distributes funds to counties through a formula that sets a $5,000 floor per grant with the remainder based on a county’s percent of population (estimated by the Texas Data Center in the preceding year) multiplied by the Commission’s remaining budgeted amount for formula grants. Counties must meet minimum spending requirements to qualify.
Eligibility:
Only Texas counties may apply.
Grant Applications:
All applications must be submitted online. Applications must be completed and submitted by November 15, 2011.
Method of Application:
Online submission can be accessed at http://tidc.tamu.edu. All county judges have been assigned a unique user name and password.
Time Period for Funding:
October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012.
All grants awarded will require at least one follow-up report outside of the time period.
Commissioners Court Resolution Required:
This application is submitted online but requires a commissioners court resolution/Internet submission form be adopted and faxed/mailed. The resolution is generated by the online system and must be printed out from the online application page.
For more information, go to http://tidc.tamu.edu. H