Border Security Council Report - Office of the Governor - Rick Perry

Section 1: Program Description
I. Overview
A. The Border Security Equipment and Technology (BSET) Grant Program, hereinafter referred to as BSET,
is state-funded grant program administered by the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management
(GDEM) for such border security expenditures as training, equipment, and technology acquisition by
state and local law enforcement agencies.
B. The BSET is a one-time grant opportunity. This package provides the formal grant guidance and
application materials needed to apply for funding under the BSET Grant Program, including the BSET
eligibility criteria, detailed application requirements, and application review information.
C. GDEM is responsible for the management and administration of all funds provided through this
award and is accountable for all the deadlines, requirements, and limitations of this award. GDEM is
responsible for obligating BSET funds to eligible pass-through recipients, as well as for overseeing and
monitoring the activity of these sub-recipients.
II. Source of Funds
State funds are made available for this program by Article IX, Section 19.69(c) of the 2008-2009 General
Appropriations Act to provide for such border security expenditures as training, equipment, and technology
acquisition. These are not federal dollars.
III. Background
The State of Texas has an urgent security challenge caused by the increased threat from organized crime,
terrorism, and their allies that is exacerbated by the continued flow of illegal immigrants. These threats
will continue to threaten the security of Texas and the United States for the foreseeable future. Organized
criminal, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration activities originating and transiting from Mexico to the
United States and Texas will continue until the air, land, and sea transit areas are secured. Criminal activities,
including drugs and human smuggling, are extensive in the border regions and within the transportation
corridors from the borders to major metropolitan areas.
IV. Goal
The Border Security Equipment and Technology (BSET) grant will facilitate the acquisition and deployment
of law enforcement technology as a means to help law enforcement agencies secure the border and
counter border centric crime.
V. Project Objectives
The BSET objectives are:
To deter crime along the Texas-Mexico border and improve border security for the safety of the
citizens of Texas and her guests.
To capture metrics on criminal activity and the effectiveness of law enforcement equipment and/or
technology.
To enhance the use of the law enforcement equipment and/or technology by the capturing, codifying,
and sharing of best practices and concepts of operations.
Appendix D: BSET Grant Guidance and Application Kit