WEEK IN REVIEW
AUSTIN - Legislation offering health insurance for younger Texans through the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, passed unanimously out of the Senate Thursday, March 11. The Committee Substitute for Senate Bill (CSSB) 445, as amended on the Senate floor, covers children of Texans who make too much money to qualify for medicaid but cannot afford health insurance. It focuses on a health plan for certain low income children. In Texas, 1.4 million children, or one in four, do not have health insurance.
Bill sponsor Senator Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth said, "It's seldom you're able to do something in this legislative process that's going to affect so many lives. And it's a tremendous responsibility to make sure that you do it right." The federal government will also help the state pay for the program, providing three federal dollars for each state dollar.
Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus celebrated the passage of children's health insurance legislation in a press conference Thursday, but said it is not enough. They say the Legislature should focus their attention--and money--on issues like higher education, child care and teacher pay not tax cuts. They expect tax cut legislation to appear sometime next week.
Lt. Governor Rick Perry declared that Texas should be tougher on drunk drivers at a press conference on Wednesday, March 10. Members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee agreed, passing legislation later in the day strengthening the laws against driving drunk. The committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 114, by Galena Park Senator Mario Gallegos Jr., lowering the blood alcohol content from .10 to .08 percent. Other bills voted out of committee increase civil and criminal consequences for driving drunk. Perry says the threat of losing federal highway funding and the safety of Texans are two reasons to support the changes.
Victims of domestic violence would have greater protections under legislation passed in the Senate Tuesday, March 9. Flower Mound Senator Jane Nelson sponsored the bills which are part of her plan to increase protection for victims and penalties for abusers. SB 23 extends an emergency protection order, giving victims more time to get a permanent order. SB 50 extends a protective order to five years and makes it easier for victims to receive an extension. CSSB 461, allows a judge to require a person convicted of family violence to help fund women's shelters as a condition of probation.
Other legislation passed this week includes: CSSB 306, by Lucio, makes it more difficult for people convicted of a felony to get out on bail while waiting to appeal their case; SB 262, as amended, by Brown, requires that a municipality reimburse landowners or developers prior to the effective date of annexation for existing public improvements. In cases of dispute, the money would be kept in escrow until the amount is verified; SB 152, by West, makes the escape of a high-risk inmate from a juvenile correctional facility a third degree felony. Currently, it is only a misdemeanor; and CSSB 107, by Truan, designating March 31 an optional state holiday in honor of farm worker leader Cesar Chavez.
In committee action this week, legislation requiring parental consent and notification when minors want an abortion passed out of the Human Services Committee. Nelson sponsored CSSB 27 requiring parental consent. Senator Florence Shapiro of Plano sponsored CSSB 30 requiring parental notification. Legislation opening the electric utility market to competition, CSSB 7, passed out of the Senate Special Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring Monday, March 8. Legislators are trying to work out a proposal designed to benefit consumers with more options and lower prices, while protecting electric companies from losing their investments. A bill placing a cap on public assistance to people, who continue to have children while on welfare, SB 64 by Nelson, passed out of the Health Services Committee by a narrow vote. Legislation banning the use and possession of eight-liner machines in Texas, SB 970, by Waco Senator David Sibley, was left pending in the Economic Development Committee.
Teachers could be getting a bonus under legislation Amarillo Senator Teel Bivins filed Thursday, March 11 creating a Master Reader Teacher program. SB 3 which has strong support from Perry, rewards specially trained reading teachers with a state-funded bonus of up to $7000 a year. March 12 is the last day for legislators to file bills with statewide impact without permission from their fellow members.
The Senate will reconvene Monday, March 15 at 1:30 p.m.
NOMINEES CONFIRMED 3/8/99
Texas Public Utility Commission
Brett A. Perlman Appointed 01-11-99 for a Brown
Harris County term to expire 09-01-03
Texas Transportation Commission
John W. Johnson Appointed 02-02-99 for a Ellis
Harris County term to expire 02-01-05
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
John T. Steen, Jr. Appointed 01-08-98 for a Wentworth
Bexar County term to expire 11-15-03
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Martin Basaldua Appointed 09-18-97 for a Lindsay
Harris County term to expire 08-31-03
Robert W. Shepard Appointed 09-18-97 for a Lucio
Cameron County term to expire 08-31-03
Pamela P. Willeford Appointed 09-18-97 for a Barrientos
Travis County term to expire 08-31-03
State Commission on Judicial Conduct
Dee Coats Appointed 05-13-98 for a Lindsay
Harris County term to expire 11-19-03
Gilbert M. Martinez Appointed 05-13-98 for a Barrientos
Travis County term to expire 11-19-03
Texas Judicial Council
James R. Brickman Appointed 09-15-97 for a Shapiro
Dallas County term to expire 06-30-01
Joseph Alan Callier Appointed 06-30-01 for a Lindsay
Harris County term to expire 06-30-03
Diego J. Pena Appointed 09-15-97 for a Wentworth
Bexar County term to expire 06-30-99
Sharon W. Wilkes Appointed 10-30-97 for a Barrientos
Travis County term to expire 06-30-99
University of Houston Board of Regents
Suzette T. Caldwell Appointed 09-22-97 for a Brown
Fort Bend County term to expire 08-31-03
Theresa W. Chang Appointed 09-22-97 for a Lindsay
Harris County term to expire 08-31-03
George E. McDavid Appointed 09-22-97 for a Lindsay
Harris County term to expire 08-31-03
Thad "Bo" Smith Appointed 05-14-98 for a Brown
Fort Bend County term to expire 08-31-03
University of North Texas Board of Regents
Roy Gene Evans Appointed 07-09-98 for a Shapiro
Dallas County term to expire 05-22-03
George W. Pepper Appointed 09-29-97 for a Moncrief
Tarrant County term to expire 05-22-03
Gayle W. Strange Appointed 09-29-97 for a Haywood
Denton County term to expire 05-22-03
Martha F. Turner Appointed 09-29-97 for a Gallegos
Harris County term to expire 05-22-03
Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation
Gina Parker Appointed 03-12-98 for a Ogden
McLennan County term to expire 02-01-01
Patricia P. Stout Appointed 02-09-99 for a Wentworth
Bexar County term to expire 02-01-05
Leo R. Vasquez, III Appointed 02-09-99 for a Lindsay
Harris County term to expire 02-01-05
Commissioner, Texas Fire Fighters' Pension
Morris E. Sandefer, Jr. Appointed 09-19-97 for a Nixon
Hardin County term to expire 07-01-99
Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Mike Cantrell Appointed 06-15-98 for a Carona
Dallas County term to expire 08-31-03
Mary Craft Appointed 06-15-98 for a Ellis
Harris County term to expire 08-31-03
William E. "Bill" Miller Appointed 06-15-98 for a Duncan
Lubbock County term to expire 08-31-03
Byron K. Reed Appointed 02-09-99 for a Shapiro
Collin County term to expire 8-31-03
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
Paddy Lann Burwell Appointed 02-12-99 for a Armbrister
DeWitt County term to expire 02-01-05
Lafayette Collins Appointed 02-12-99 for a Wentworth
Williamson County term to expire 02-01-05
Linda Garcia Appointed 02-12-99 for a Jackson
Harris County term to expire 02-01-05
James Paul Kiel, Jr. Appointed 02-12-99 for a Ratliff
Smith County term to expire 02-01-05
Filiberto "Bert" Reyna Appointed 02-12-99 for a Sibley
McLennan County term to expire 02-01-05
Lucinda "Cindy" Simons Appointed 02-12-99 for a Bivins
Deaf Smith County term to expire 02-01-05
Crime Stoppers Advisory Council
Vernon V. Cook Appointed 04-30-98 for a Sibley
McLennan County term to expire 09-01-99
Janice C. Gillen Appointed 04-30-98 for a Brown
Fort Bend County term to expire 09-01-99
Juan F. Jorge Appointed 12-01-99 for a Gallegos
Harris County term to expire 01-09-99
Lennie C. Sims Appointed 04-30-98 for a Haywood
Collingsworth County term to expire 09-01-99
Judge, 18th Judicial District Court, Johnson and Somervell Counties
John Edward Neill Appointed 11-20-98 until Harris
Johnson County the next general election
Presiding Judge, Third Administrative Judicial Region
B.B. Schraub Reappointed 02-03-98 for a Wentworth
Guadalupe County term to expire 4 years
from date of qualification
Presiding Judge, Fifth Administrative Judicial Region
Darrell Hester Reappointed 02-03-98 for a Lucio
Cameron County term to expire 4 years
from date of qualification
Presiding Judge, Seventh Administrative Judicial Region
Dean Rucker Appointed 04-02-98 for a Bivins
Midland County term to expire 4 years
from date of qualification
Presiding Judge, Ninth Administrative Judicial Region
Ray D. Anderson Reappointed 02-03-98 for a Duncan
Lubbock County term to expire 4 years
from date of qualification
Midwestern State University Board of Regents
Jamie A. Davidson Appointed 06-10-98 for a Carona
Dallas County term to expire 02-25-04
Carolyn Park Appointed 06-10-98 for a Harris
Tarrant County term to expire 02-25-04
Chaunce O. Thompson, Jr. Appointed 06-10-98 for a Fraser
Stephens County term to expire 02-25-04
Texas State Technical College Board of Regents
Bernie Francis Appointed 10-08-97 for a Nelson
Denton County term to expire 08-31-03
Jere M. Lawrence Reappointed 10-08-97 for a Fraser
Nolan County term to expire 08-31-03
Amy R. Tschirhart Appointed 10-21-97 for a Wentworth
Comal County term to expire 08-31-03