Rep. Creighton files appraisal reform bills
AUSTIN, TX, Feb. 23, 2009 -- Confused at how the county arrived at your property's appraised value? Several bills filed recently by Representative Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), aim to end that, as well as give voters more control on who sits on property appraisal boards.
Creighton filed HB 1547, which would require appraisal districts to post on their website an explanation, in plain language, of the methods they use to appraise residential property. They must also indicate which method is used most frequently in the district.
"The goal of this legislation is to give taxpayers a better understanding of how their home's value was reached," said Creighton. "Homeowners deserve to have an explanation of the process, and it will better prepare them if they choose to go through the appeals process."
Another Creighton bill, HB 1548, allows counties to set requirements for the board of directors of appraisal districts. If a county chooses, they can require that the board be elected officials of taxing entities within the appraisal district, such as city councilmen or school board members.
"This measure will allow the public more oversight of the board by making directors responsible to voters," said Creighton. "Montgomery County already voluntarily uses this practice, but this legislation will allow counties around the state to ensure that future boards have improved public oversight."
Creighton says meaningful appraisal reform is a priority of his so that taxpayers see relief from constantly rising property tax bills.
"True tax relief will not be seen until we have more transparency and public oversight in the appraisal process as well," said Creighton.
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Attorney General Abbott, Senator Cornyn, Congressman Smith join forces to protect Texas children from predators
AUSTIN, TX, Feb. 19, 2009 -- Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Congressman Lamar Smith today joined forces to advance state and federal legislative efforts that will help protect young Texans from child predators.
“With sexual predators increasingly using new technology to prey upon children, it is critical that law enforcement stay ahead of the criminals,” said Attorney General Abbott. “Innovative legislative responses to high tech crimes are vital to the ongoing success of our crackdown on cyber predators and online child pornographers. Thanks to creative legislative initiatives at both the state and federal levels, law enforcement will have the legal tools we need to help protect Texas children.”
Citing recent developments in the Texas Legislature, Attorney General Abbott expressed his support for legislation by state Sen. Florence Shapiro and Rep. Aaron Peña that would update state sex offender registration laws. If enacted, Senate Bill 689 and House Bill 1239, would upgrade state sex offender registration laws to reflect modern technological innovations and communications platforms.
Specifically, the bills would require that convicted sex offenders provide their e-mail addresses, mobile telephone numbers, social networking aliases and other electronic identification information to the Department of Public Safety’s sex offender registry. In October 2008, Attorney General Abbott recommended that the Legislature act to increase law enforcement’s access to sex offender’s electronic identities. The Shapiro-Peña legislation reflects both legislators’ efforts to protect children by enacting the Attorney General’s recommendations.
At the federal level, Sen. Cornyn, a former Texas Attorney General, sponsored the Internet Stopping Adults Facilitating the Exploitation of Today’s Youth (SAFETY) Act of 2009 in the U.S. Senate. Congressman Smith, a former Texas legislator, sponsored companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m proud to join my colleague Lamar Smith from the House of Representatives in announcing our legislation, the Internet Safety Act, to combat Internet predators and create a safer environment for Texas children. It is our hope that we can garner the support of all our colleagues and pass this bill to strengthen penalties for child sex offenders and Internet predators,” Sen. Cornyn said. “Our legislation complements the hard work of Attorney General Abbott, who has been relentless in his efforts to crack down on violence against children. He is realistic about the dangers that exist on the Internet and makes every attempt to keep Texas families informed and equipped with the resources to protect their children.”
Rep. Smith added: “Of the nearly 600,000 images of graphic child pornography found online and reported to law enforcement officials, only 2,100 of these children have been identified and rescued. Federal, state and local law enforcement officials have reached a digital dead end in their battle against the online sexual exploitation of children. Investigators need the assistance of Internet Service Providers to identify users and distributors of online child pornography. The Internet Safety Act requires ISPs to retain subscriber records, similar to records retained by telephone companies, to aid law enforcement officials in their fight against child pornography.”
If enacted, the Internet SAFETY Act would:
• Create a new federal offense for the financial facilitation of child pornography;
• Create a new federal offense for facilitation of child pornography or child exploitation by an Internet content hosting provider or e-mail service provider;
• Require the U.S. Attorney General to promulgate regulations regarding the record retention of subscribers’ Internet Protocol addresses or user information by Internet Service Providers;
• Increase penalties for sexual exploitation of children;
• Increase penalties for activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of children, and those constituting child pornography; and,
• Provide $30 million a year over five years for the Innocent Images National Initiative.
Since its establishment in 2003, the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Cyber Crimes Unit has arrested more than 100 sexual predators for using the Internet to prey upon children. Together, the Cyber Crimes and Fugitive Units have arrested 28 convicted sex offenders who accessed MySpace in violation of their parole conditions.
Four additional subjects were arrested for using MySpace to meet and sexually proposition users whose online profiles indicated they were between the ages of 12 to 14 years old. In all four of those cases, the profile actually belonged to an undercover Cyber Crimes Unit investigator.
Since taking office, Attorney General Abbott has earned a national reputation for aggressively arresting and prosecuting online child predators. The Fugitive Unit and the Cyber Crimes Unit, which protects children from online sexual exploitation, have combined to arrest more than 900 sex offenders since 2003. Cyber Crimes Unit investigators also have traveled to schools and communities statewide to offer educational cyber safety programs
Source: OAG Press Release
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Appeals court upholds Oklahoma law similar to proposed Texas legislation
Feb. 18, 2009 -- A unanimous ruling today by the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Fairfax, VA. supports the intent of a bill introduced recently in the Texas Senate, aimed at allowing employees to store legally owned firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked in employer parking lots.
The bill, SB 730, was filed by Senator Glenn Heger (R-Katy) last week. A companion bill, HB 1301, filed in the Texas House by Stephen Frost (D-Atlanta) on Monday, is identical.
Yesterday, Heger was joined by Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), who signed on as a co-author.
"I support SB 730 by Sen. Hegar, and in fact, have signed on to the legislation as a co-author." Eltife said. "Many of my constituents travel long distances to work and I believe they should not be prohibited from keeping a firearm in their vehicle while at their place of employment."
He said the same legislation was introduced in 2007, but did not gain passage.
The ruling handed down today in Virginia upheld a similar amendment passed in 2004 by the Oklahoma legislature. That law holds employers criminally liable for prohibiting employees from storing firearms in locked vehicles on company property.
A number of Oklahoma corporations filed suit opposing the law, calling it an unconstitutional taking of private property. They also claimed the law was preempted by federal statutes.
The lower court in Oklahoma sided with the corporations, granting a permanent injunction against the law in it's ruling.
That ruling was in turn challenged by Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who in October 2008 appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Today's ruling reversed the lower court’s decision, and immediately drew praise from gun rights advocates across the country, including the National Rifle Association.
“This is a victory for the millions of American workers who have been denied the right to protect themselves while commuting between their homes and their workplace,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “This effort was aimed at skirting the will of the American people, and the intent of legislatures across this country while eviscerating Right-to-Carry laws. This ruling is a slap at the corporate elitists who have no regard for the constitutional rights of law abiding American workers.”
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Dist. 1 Rep also reappointed Chairman of Human Services Eligibility System Legislative Oversight Committee
AUSTIN, TX, Feb. 12, 2009 -- Speaker of the House Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) today named Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee. Hughes was also appointed to the Human Services Committee and reappointed Chairman of the Human Services Eligibility System Legislative Oversight Committee.
The eleven member House Judiciary Committee has broad jurisdiction over matters related to civil law including family law, probate and guardianship matters, courts and their jurisdiction, and thirteen state agencies including the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Office of the Attorney General. Hughes, a graduate of Baylor Law School and former federal law clerk, has served on this committee since 2003.
"The courts are an important part of protecting the rights of everyday Texans, and I'm pleased to serve as Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee," said Hughes.
As Chairman of the Health and Human Services Eligibility System Legislative Oversight Committee, Hughes oversees the State's efforts to modernize our welfare system, with a goal of making the system more efficient and cost-effective. Hughes was also reappointed to the Human Services Committee, which oversees the State's largest agency, the Human Services Commission. On this Committee, Hughes will continue to look for ways to control costs and protect taxpayers' money, while delivering services to those truly in need.
"The State of Texas spends close to $60 billion on human services programs, so we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to find efficiencies and cost savings," said Hughes.
Hughes has represented Camp, Harrison, Upshur, and Wood Counties in the Texas House of Representatives since 2003
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Emergency designation allows lawmakers to consider items in first 30 days of session
AUSTIN, TX, Feb. 3, 2009 -– Gov. Rick Perry today declared emergency items for the 2009 legislative session. The emergency designation will allow lawmakers to begin considering these issues in the initial 30 days of the legislative session.
The emergency items include:
* Legislation to provide supplemental appropriations to state agencies and institutions related to hurricane response and recovery associated with the hurricanes of 2008;
* Legislation to assist public and private entities with recovery from the hurricanes of 2008;
* Legislation to reform the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) and legislation to fund the Catastrophe Reserve Trust Fund related to TWIA;
* Legislation to improve state schools and centers operated by the state of Texas; and
* Legislation to appropriate funds to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the purchase and use of screening and detection devices for contraband and personnel, as well as comprehensive security equipment.
“By designating these items emergencies, lawmakers are able to begin considering these important issues relating to the safety, security, recovery of our state,” Gov. Perry said.
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Never shy about tackling an issue head on, Texas District 5 Representative Bryan Hughes lists his top priorities for the current legislative session.
AUSTIN, TX, Jan. 29, 2009 -- If Rep. Bryan Hughes has his way, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is in for a shake-up.
The Advocate asked Hughes to detail his agenda for the current 81st Legislative session, and he listed fiscal responsibility, education and transportation as his top three items of focus.
On transportation, he noted that along with 26 other agencies, a sunset review of TxDot was due. The reviews are conducted by the legislature to determine whether agencies should continue to be funded, be abolished, or be reformed.
Regarding the review of TxDot, Hughes said "...one of the most hotly contested agency reviews will be of the Texas Department of Transportation. As we review every aspect of TxDOT's operations, my focus will be on providing quality roads while respecting private property rights."
It will be interesting to see if Hughes finds a friend in Governor Perry on that issue. Perry, a strong supporter of the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC), has also highlighted protecting Texas property owners from Imminent Domain abuse as a focus of this year's session.
TxDot recently said the TTC project was dead, but announced intentions to move ahead on the concept by breaking it into smaller pieces. Landowner advocates, budget hawks and environmental groups have waged a pitched battle against the project since it's inception.
Regarding that, Hughes went on to say "Our roads should never be sold to foreign companies, and abuses like the Trans Texas Corridor must be stopped. I also support requiring greater transparency at TxDOT, so taxpayers know exactly what road projects cost and the justification for each project."
On Fiscal Responsibility:
"The Comptroller recently announced that the State would have about $9 billion less in revenue than we had two years ago. This means we have to find a way to provide critical services (such as) education, transportation, public safety, human services, to Texans, with less money.
"There are some in the Legislature that would like to make up this gap with increased taxes. I feel strongly that now is not the time to be increasing taxes on Texas families and the Legislature should cut wasteful spending and use tax dollars wisely, cut, simply and reform taxes so that Texas families can keep more of what they earn and businesses can create new jobs, return surplus tax revenues to taxpayers, and spend dedicated funds on their intended purpose.
"Six years ago, the State faced similar budget problems, and we correctly balanced the budget without raising taxes. We can and must do that again."
On Education:
"Texas should be a leader in public education. We will focus our efforts on driving more of our tax dollars into the classroom and away from administrative overhead.
"The Legislature will also look at ways to increase accountability for school districts. We want to reward and recognize when our schools improve student performance. In addition to academic performance, there will be efforts to look at a school district's fiscal health and financial management practices in measuring a school district's overall performance."
Hughes closed by saying "I will also be working on making health care more affordable for Texas families, doing everything in the State's power to secure our border with Mexico, and protecting our State's natural resources and energy supplies."
The Advocate will be asking Hughes for updates throughout the year. Readers are encouraged to post questions and concerns, and we'll include them in our questioning.
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Governor pushes legislators for movement on critical issues in his annual State of the State address.
AUSTIN, TX., Jan. 27 – In light of a bleak national economy that is beginning to impact Texas, Gov. Rick Perry today called on legislators in his State of the State address to stay the course with proven fiscal principles and policy initiatives that have made Texas the number one job creator in the nation.
“As shockwaves of this crisis begin to resonate in Texas, we’re reminded that we’re not immune to these forces, yet we’re still in better shape than most other states,” Gov. Perry said. “I credit our relatively strong economic condition to tough, principled decisions made in this building over the past three legislative sessions.”
Despite a sobering revenue estimate, the governor said the state can still invest more money in important priorities that will help Texans weather the economic downturn.
“In tough times, others see threats; Texans see opportunity,” Gov. Perry said. “The nationwide struggles are creating a buyer’s market for economic development, so let’s be bold and win even more jobs for Texans.”
One of the major policy initiatives outlined in the governor’s speech was the call to freeze college tuition for four years at the rate a student pays as an entering freshman.
“Let’s work together to make college accessible and affordable for more qualified, motivated students than ever before,” Gov. Perry said. “Freezing a student’s tuition rates will help families plan for the long term, and give students a powerful incentive to finish college in a timely manner.”
In his address, Gov. Perry also recommended revisiting the business margins tax and looks forward to working with legislative leaders to consider changes like raising the small business exemption to $1 million in an effort to protect small businesses in Texas.
“With one collection cycle under our belts and plenty of feedback from the comptroller and business owners, we now know enough to improve it; the question is how,” the governor said. “Our guiding priority must be shrinking, not expanding, the burden on the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy.”
Education remains a key priority for the state. Gov. Perry urged legislators to continue emphasizing student performance accountability, and funding of teacher incentive and dropout prevention programs like the Texas High School Project.
In setting the state’s priorities, the governor asked legislators, “Will the decisions we make in this session ensure your children and grandchildren have the resources they need to thrive in Texas?”
To that end, he encouraged lawmakers to tap the Rainy Day Fund to pay for critical water needs outlined in the state’s well-researched and locally-produced Water Plan, and to continue diversifying the state’s energy sources.
Gov. Perry also emphasized the need to solidify Texans’ private property rights through a Constitutional amendment limiting government’s eminent domain authority to traditional public uses.
In outlining public safety needs, the governor said Texas must aggressively combat violent transnational gangs and establish a fund to help local communities prepare for and respond to disasters, such as hurricanes Ike and Dolly, which struck the state last year.
The governor also presented his proposed budget for the 2010-11 biennium, telling lawmakers he is adopting the budget proposed by the Legislative Budget Board as a starting point to meet the state’s needs for the next two years.
“Writing the state’s 2010-11 budget in this economic environment is the most significant challenge facing the 81st Texas Legislature,” the governor said in his budget message. “I believe Texas is best served if the governor and the Legislature work together over the next 126 days to jointly craft a budget that reflects our principled commitments to this state. I look forward to working with lawmakers to finalize a responsible budget that keeps Texas a great place to live and work, and ensures we will weather the nation’s financial crisis with the strength and vision characteristic of this great state.”
The governor’s proposed budget lists his policy priorities, including:
· Replenishing the state’s economic incentive funds with $260 million to the TEF and $203.5 million to the ETF – the state’s most powerful tools for job creation and research and commercialization funding – and $60 million to the Texas Film Incentive Program, a growing economic resource for the state, which contributed $102.4 million to the state’s economy in 2008.
· Allocating $622.5 million to continue and expand teacher incentive and reward programs, including the District Award for Teacher Excellence and Texas Educator Excellence Grant programs. Those programs are designed to improve student performance and retain good teachers in critical subjects and hard-to-staff campuses.
· Increasing funding for higher education incentives and funding for nursing education.
Increasing student financial aid with $110 million for the TEXAS Grant program; tripling funding for community college financial aid through the Texas Education Opportunity Grant; expanding the Skills Development Fund program to $60 million for the next biennium; and funding $10 million for the hospital-based nursing program that leverages partnerships between hospitals and academic institutions to graduate more nurses.
· Protecting the safety and security of Texans by allocating $150 million for a disaster contingency fund, which would enable the state to quickly mobilize funding for essential needs prior to and following natural disasters, including assisting local communities in recovery efforts.
· Improving border security with $135 million to continue the state-led border security strategy and to combat the growing threat of transnational gang activity across the state.
The governor acknowledged in his State of the State address that the economic situation may make negotiations difficult over the next 126 days.
“As we work on behalf of all Texans, we may disagree, and sometimes disagree vigorously, but when the day is done, we’ll hammer out the details and we’ll make things happen, Texas-style, by putting the people first.”
For more information on the State of the State Address and Gov. Perry’s budget and policy priorities, please visit: http://www.governor.state.tx.us.
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