TEXAS TO GET $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR DRUG CONTROL

Thirty million dollars in federal grants will be divided among Texas cities
and counties for regional drug-control efforts, the governor's office
announced Monday.

The bulk of the money, $27.6 million, will support 45 narcotics task forces
covering 213 Texas counties.

The money is made available through the Byrne Formula Grant Program, which
assists state agencies and local governments in carrying out programs that
offer a high probability of improving the criminal justice system.

"Texas is using money seized from drug dealers to increase our investment
in programs that help our children avoid the heartbreak of illegal drugs
and the devastation these criminals are dealing," Gov. Rick Perry said.

Since 1987, Texas has used Byrne funding to establish multicounty narcotics
task forces to increase communication and coordination among federal, state
and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.