Local representatives' priority bills gain Senate approval

Local representatives' priority bills gain Senate approval

By Patrick Brendel Wednesday, 27 May 2009

AUSTIN — The Texas Senate passed several bills by central Austin state representatives Tuesday that they have deemed as priorities this session, including two pilot projects on electronic health information and a group focused on Texas seniors. The bills are set to become law, pending Gov. Rick Perry's approval.

House Bill 583 by state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, expands a pilot project she created in 2007 on electronic eligibility information for human services programs. The project allows local networks to exchange information with the state's Health and Human Services Commission in order to get more eligible people enrolled in human services program.

HB 1218 by state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, creates a new pilot project that allows for the secure electronic exchange of medical records between local entities and HHSC.

HB 610 by state Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, establishes the Legislative Committee on Aging to present biannual reports to state legislators on the needs of Texas seniors. It also creates the Chris Kyker Endowment for Seniors Fund to finance a study on aging-related issues and possible solutions.

Senators also passed HB 3468 by Naishtat, formally creating the position of presiding criminal judge for Travis County. According to the bill analysis, the seven district court judges in Travis County have informally selected a presiding criminal judge since 1991. Under Naishtat's bill, the Commissioners Court will have the option of providing compensatory pay to the presiding criminal judge.

The following bills also received Senate approval Tuesday:

HB 1739 by Howard, designates the third full week of October as Texas Native Plant Week.

HB 3216 by Naishtat, requires the Texas Ethics Commission to notify individuals by phone or e-mail when complaints have been received against them.

HB 3352 by Naishtat, relates to federal firearm background checks.

The Texas house passed the following bills by local state Senators on Tuesday:

Senate Bill 1299 by state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, enables Travis County to develop regulations and assess development permit fees to implement the stormwater management plan.

SB 1344 by Watson introduces alcohol awareness into high school health curricula.

SB 1485 by Watson authorizes emergency services districts to sell surplus firefighting equipment to other emergency services districts or volunteer fire departments. (State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, authored an identical bill and carried Watson's bill through the House.)

SB 1514 by Watson relates to child support and disability payments.

SB 2028 by Watson allows private citizens to erect monuments honoring peace officers killed in the line of duty near state highways. (Currently, the monuments are only available for Department of Public Safety troopers.)

SB 2526 by Watson creates Travis County Improvement District No. 1, a taxing and bonding authority designed to promote economic development outside the Austin city limits. (Bolton sponsored the bill in the House.)

SB 313 by state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, authorizes a city or county to extend the termination date of a reinvestment zone.

SB 940 by Wentworth regulates the public practice of geoscience.

SB 1617 by Wentworth aims to give notice to a potential buyer of a motor vehicle if that vehicle had been repurchased by a manufacturer because it was defective.

SB 1620 by Wentworth authorizes the Finance Commission of Texas to investigate and audit property tax lenders.

SB 2534 by Wentworth creates the Task Force on Economic Growth and Endangered Species, designed to help government entities and communities reconcile economic development activities with endangered species laws.

SB 313 was amended in the House and could be sent to conference committee for reconciliation. All of the other bills listed above are slated to become law, barring a gubernatorial veto.