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FUNDING AVAILABLE

October 6, 2008

Subject:  Automated External Defibrillator Reimbursement

To the Administrator Addressed:

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is now accepting automated external defibrillator (AED) reimbursement requests from school districts and open-enrollment charter schools that purchased AEDs as of June 1, 2007 to comply with Senate Bill 7 and overlooked the initial round of funding.  Private schools are also invited to participate in this round of reimbursement requests.  Furthermore, an opportunity to request reimbursement for AED purchases made beyond the one per campus availability mandate of Senate Bill 7 is also available to any school district, open-enrollment charter, or private school.  Senate Bill 7, Section 38.017 requires that each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall make available at each campus at least one AED. The 80th Texas Legislature appropriated a total of $9 million in fiscal year 2008 for reimbursing the costs associated with the purchase of these devices.

Eligibility for Reimbursement
Each school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school campus that did not have an AED located at a campus prior to June 1, 2007, and purchased an AED device on or after June 1, 2007, is eligible to receive reimbursement for one AED.  The Commissioner Rule 19TAC§103.1101 defines a “campus” as a single physical facility with a unique physical address.  In addition, each school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school campus that purchased any additional AED devices as of June 1, 2007 to meet the availability standards as prescribed on the University Interscholastic League website may be eligible for reimbursement.   Information regarding availability standards may be found on the University Interscholastic League website at: http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/health/pdf/AED_implementation.pdf

The reimbursement amount per campus AED purchased is limited to the actual amount paid for the AED or a maximum of $1,475, whichever is less.  AEDs donated or funds donated to purchase AEDs are ineligible for reimbursement.  A copy of the invoice that documents the purchase and contains the purchase price and the purchase date must be included with the AED Reimbursement Form as supporting documentation of the purchase.

Applicants should be aware that funds may not be available to meet all requests as the total funding was limited to $9 million. Priority will be given to school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and private schools requesting reimbursement for AEDs required to be in place on each physical campus per Senate Bill 7 (Texas Education Code §38.017). These purchases will be reimbursed on a first-come-first- served basis.  Requests made to reimburse purchases of AEDs for UIL availability standards will be addressed with remaining funds on a first-come-first-serve basis.

AED Reimbursement Form
To download the AED Reimbursement Form, go to the Division of Formula Funding Current Announcements webpage at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/formfund/announce.html.

Deadline for Receipt of AED Reimbursement Form
The AED Reimbursement Form and supporting documentation must be received in the Division of Formula Funding by 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Monday, November 17, 2008.  Mail or hand-deliver materials to:
Texas Education Agency
Division of Formula Funding, Room 6-112
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701-1494

Information and Assistance
If you have any questions, please contact Dina Hernandez at (512) 463-8525 or e-mail formula.funds@tea.state.tx.us

Sincerely,

Ellsworth Schave
Senior Director, Division of Formula Funding