ALERRT Travel Assistance

The ALERRT Travel Assistance grant offers support to Texas-based law enforcement agencies by reimbursing travel expenses incurred when sending peace officers to Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) courses. The program is administered by the Public Safety Office (PSO) under the Office of the Governor and is backed by state funds authorized through a Budget Execution Order by the Legislative Budget Board and Governor Abbott. The total anticipated funding for FY2026 is $2.9 million, with awards contingent on the availability of appropriated resources. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, higher education institutions, local government units, and educational entities that operate law enforcement agencies employing peace officers as defined in Article 2.12 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. However, applications must be submitted through the governmental unit associated with the law enforcement agency, such as a municipality or county. To apply, agencies must first obtain confirmation of ALERRT course registration, which must be provided before any grant award is issued. Funds may only be used to cover costs directly related to officer participation in ALERRT training. These include overtime to backfill positions for traveling officers, travel expenditures such as mileage and registration, and training stipends for host agencies. All ALERRT training must meet official standards, and only peace officers employed by a law enforcement agency are eligible for funded expenses. Training may be delivered directly by ALERRT or indirectly by certified trainers with ALERRT approval. Applicants must fulfill several program-specific eligibility requirements. These include compliance with Texas-mandated cybersecurity training, criminal history reporting thresholds, and Uniform Crime Reporting standards. Agencies must also participate in the statewide Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking System and adhere to immigration enforcement cooperation policies. Registration in the federal System for Award Management (SAM) and possession of a Unique Entity ID (UEI) are also mandatory. Applications must be submitted via the PSO’s eGrants platform, with the funding opportunity opening on September 1, 2025, and closing at 5:00 PM CST on August 31, 2026. Projects must commence on or after September 1, 2025, and cannot exceed a three-month duration. Although there are no minimum or maximum funding levels, all expenses must comply with relevant state and federal standards. For support, applicants may contact the eGrants help desk at eGrants@gov.texas.gov or call (512) 463-1919. Additional logistics details, including hosting ALERRT training, may be obtained from Zane Childress at childress@alerrt.org. Agencies must submit training certificates before expense reimbursement, and failure to meet any eligibility criteria may result in denial or termination of funding.

Ensure full compliance with data reporting and cybersecurity rules before applying; agencies must gather documentation such as training confirmations and certifications in advance.