Mar
25
Church & State
HB 492 (pdf) by Rep. Zerwas (R-Katy) aims to expand the outreach capacity of faith- and community-based organizations to serve Texans in need of basic social services. HB 492 would achieve this goal by helping to improve the infrastructure of faith- and community-based organizations and by forging stronger partnerships between those organizations and state agencies. The bill provides a framework for awarding grants to organizations to be used for building capacity to provide charitable services. The bill also establishes governmental liaisons, an interagency group, a non-profit task force, and an advisory committee that will all function to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of faith- and community- based organizations and improve the collaboration between state agencies and these organizations.
This bill is the latest version of a bill the CLC has supported and worked on a version of this bill for the past several sessions.
Environment
On Tuesday, March 17, the CLC registered support for SB 184 (pdf) by Sen. Watson (D-Austin) in a hearing of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. This bill, often referred to as the “no regrets” bill, would direct the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to compile a list of strategies for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in this state. SB 184 requires that the strategies either result in net savings for consumers or businesses or can be achieved without financial cost to consumers or businesses.
Though some individuals continue to dispute the affects of greenhouse gases on global warming, SB 184 looks at the issue from a financial standpoint, rather than a purely environmental one. The strategies laid out by the TCEQ would save money for individuals and businesses over the long term, offsetting any immediate short-term costs. As the federal government moves forward with environmental regulations, this bill will help prepare the State of Texas for any new measures enacted by federal legislation. After hearing from the bill author and members of the public, the committee left the bill pending.
Regulation of Youth Recreational Facilities
The CLC was recently contacted by our friends and colleagues with Baptist summer camp programs concerning a bill they were afraid would have negative consequences for camps and churches. The intent of the bill, HB 2740 (pdf) by Rep. Bolton (D-Austin), is to provide regulations and a state licensing requirement for overnight recreational youth facilities that parents might reasonably assume had some state oversight but do not under current law. Several individuals and organizations representing already licensed summer camps of all types were concerned that the bill would actually impose undue burdens on their operations. Specifically, they were concerned that the requirements of the bill would apply to non-summer seasons when they function primarily as retreat facilities. At this point in the process the author of the bill has agreed to consider changes that should resolve the most critical concerns. The bill has been referred to the House Human Services Committee but has not yet been scheduled for a hearing. The CLC will continue to monitor this bill and work with our camping program partners to insure the bill would not adversely affect summer camps.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
During the last legislative session the legislature passed a strong compromise bill that reinstated drastic cuts made to Children’s Health Insurance Program in 2003, which caused over 201,000 children to fall from the CHIP rolls between 2003 and 2007.
Rep. Sylvester Turner (D, Houston) authored HB 109 (pdf) that rolled back the recent changes and made it easier for qualifying families to apply for and receive health insurance for their children.
However, for the 81st Session, there is still much more work to be done. A new ranking of Americans’ overall health compiled in December 2008 shows that Texas has dropped from #37 to #46, due to the state’s high level of child poverty and the skyrocketing number of uninsured Texans.
On Thursday, March 19th, The House Committee on Human Services held a public hearing and heard testimony on a number of bills with the goal of improving the health of children in this state. The bills seek modifications to both CHIP and children’s Medicaid. The list of bills before the committee includes bills that would create special buy-in Medicaid programs for children with disabilities, extend children’s Medicaid coverage to 12 months and several bills attempt to extend CHIP coverage to families making 300% of the federal poverty level (some with conditions and larger buy in investments from parents.)
Gambling
A new website covering the Texas Legislature recently published a thorough examination of the prospect of expanded gambling in Texas. Gambling in Texas – a Four Part Series by James Bernsen is worth a read for anyone looking to be better educated on the issue.
Friday, March 13 was the last day to file stand alone bills for the 81st legislative session. As with every session there have been numerous bills related to gambling filed. By our count there are 75 this session.
At this point no major gambling bill is set for a hearing but several are sure to get hearings soon. It is important to remember that provisions expanding gambling in this state may also be amended on to any with at similar subject at any time during the session. The following is a breakdown of the bills filed by subject matter.
14 Identical Gambling Bills filed in both the House and Senate (28 Total)
5 – Relating to Eight-Liners
2 – Relating to Lottery Commission
2 – Relating to Racing Commission-Horse and Dog Tracks
2 – Expansion- Casino/Video Lottery at Tracks
1 – Expansion- Indian Casinos
2 – Possible Vehicles/Non-Substantives
38 Individual Gambling Bills filed in the House
3 – Relating to Eight-Liners
5 – Relating to Lottery Commission
2 – Relating to Racing Commission-Horse and Dog Tracks
1 – Relating to Interim Gambling Study
12 – Relating to Bingo
6 – Expansion- Casino/Video Lottery at Tracks
6 – Expansion- Indian Casinos
2 – Expansion- Poker
1 – Expansion- Keno
9 Individual Gambling Bills filed in the Senate
4 – Relating to Eight-Liners
3 – Relating to Lottery Commission
1 – Expansion- Casino/Video Lottery at Tracks
1 – Possible Vehicle
Criminal Justice
On Monday, March 16th the CLC appeared before the Subcommittee on Criminal Procedure of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in support of HB 788 (pdf) by Rep. Thompson (D-Houston). The bill would create the Texas Innocence Commission as an independent body outside of the judicial, political and criminal justice system. The nine member commission would have the responsibility to 1) study all post conviction exonerations, 2) ascertain errors and defects in each case, 3) identify errors and defects in the criminal process generally, 4) develop solutions and methods to correct those defects, 5) identify procedures and programs to prevent future wrongful convictions and finally to 6) make any necessary policy recommendations to the governor and the legislature. The CLC provided the following testimony:
Established in 1950 the CLC speaks to and with Texas Baptists on matters of ethics, public policy and citizenship. We’ve long advocated for a criminal justice system that protects our citizens, pursues justice, and values offenders as fellow human beings worthy of a chance for rehabilitation. For several sessions now we have supported the creation of a Texas Innocence Commission. A wrongful conviction is a tragedy that is too often repeated. An innocence commission is a simple but effective step to insure that this tragedy occurs as seldom as possible. An innocence commission will help to protect the presumption of innocence that is the foundation of our system. It will help protect the public by insuring that the guilty are off the streets and reassure the public’s trust in the criminal justice system. An innocent commission will help the state learn from past mistakes by proposing improved procedures and will be one more mechanism that will aid in the pursuit of justice. The Christian Life Commission is happy to support HB 788 (pdf) by Rep. Thompson and urges passage.
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