Has anyone else heard about TxDot cutting funding for TEEX training programs for the SFSTs and other traffic programs this fiscal year? Whats going on? Rumors are flying here.

D

I received a copy of the letter from TEEX this morning. Effective 1 Oct 2004 TEEX will no longer fund their training programs. If anyone wants a copy of the letter from Tom Sheehan the Division Head, let me know and I can e-mail it to you.

The Federal Government allocates monies to the states in the form of grants for impaired driving programs. In Texas, if you want to apply for the grant money you must apply to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Texas A&M University (TEEX) has been the recipient of grant monies for numerous programs (including SFST) during the last 17 years.

The fact that TEEX will no longer be the recipient of these grant monies does not mean the death of the SFST program. I suspect that the grant has been awarded to another agency and would
anticipate an announcement in the coming weeks or months.

As an example, TEEX lost the DRE program to Sam Houston State University last October. I hope this dispels some of the rumors.