Area legislators lay out policy proposals
Area legislators lay out policy proposals
By Patrick Brendel Friday, 17 April 2009
Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown
Gattis has introduced legislation to reform property appraisals, increase health insurance for public employees, incentivize rural development and overhaul the Texas Residential Construction Commission.
House Bill 2290, HB 2291 and HB 2292 are a property appraisal reform package. Together, they allow for the election of appraisal district board of directors, simplify calculation of the effective tax rate and repeal additional taxes on agricultural land converted to other purposes.
HB 2470 paves the way for the independent Texas Mutual Health Benefit Company, which would potentially be the health insurance company for the Employee Retirement System and Teachers Employee Retirement System, as well as small businesses and individuals wishing to participate.
HB 2312 creates a rural economic development and investment program.
HB 2695 abolishes the Texas Residential Construction Commission, which has come under fire by legislators who think the commission protects homebuilders over homeowners.
Donna Howard, D-Austin
In her second session, Howard is taking on the State Board of Education, proposing several reforms to the often-controversial group. The former nurse has also filed legislation related to health care.
HB 772 has enjoyed immediate support from legislators. It requires the state school board to webcast its meetings in real time (already standard practice for many major governmental organizations, including the State Legislature and Austin City Council).
HB 420 provides for the nonpartisan election of state school board members.
HB 2037 takes control of the permanent school fund away from the state school board and gives it to a newly created Permanent School Fund Management Council.
HB 137 strengthens government nurses’ protections against retaliation by their employers for engaging in patient advocacy.
HB 1218 creates a pilot program for electronic health records.
Steve Ogden, R-Bryan
As chair of Senate Finance, Ogden’s time is dominated by the task of writing the state’s budget. He also has proposed providing greater oversight of the state pension system and helping fund transportation projects.
Senate Bill 1 is Texas’ general appropriations bill for the 2010-2011 budget. Challenges to writing the budget this session include hurricane damage, a down economy and an influx of federal stimulus funds. Ogden has been focusing on the health and human services portion of the budget, particularly mental health and mental retardation. He is very concerned about residents of state schools being abused by staffers.
SB 1548 gives greater authority to the State Pension Review Board, which oversees state and local government pension funds.
SB 505 authorizes the designation of ‘transportation finance zones’ near state highway projects. State taxes collected from each zone would be used to pay for construction or maintenance of the adjacent project.
Kirk Watson, D-Austin
The most ambitious legislation by Watson this session is a bill package that would completely reform the state’s budgeting process. He also has proposed ways to develop renewable energy and help existing businesses be more environmentally friendly.
SB 736, SB 737, SB 738, SB 739, SB 740 and Senate Joint Resolution 21 are a six-pronged approach to reforming the state’s budgeting process. Together, they end diversions of tax money, present budget information online, institute a review of state programs, transfer Texas Performance Reviews to the state comptroller’s control, ensure that Texas maximizes federal dollars for children’s health insurance and increase the small business tax exemption while closing loopholes in the law.
SB 541 and 542 provide incentives to promote the growth of Texas’ renewable energy.
SB 608 creates the Texas Center for Sustainable Business, aimed at helping businesses reduce greenhouse gases and carbon emissions.
State officials are coordinating how to spend stimulus funds from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Representatives formed the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding to keep track of the nearly $17 billion expected to flow through the Texas state government. (That does not include money in the form of direct federal grants or tax cuts.) About $11 billion will go to state and local agencies for medical, environmental and infrastructure projects.
The select committee has created a clearinghouse for information on Texas stimulus funds, committee meetings and updates from chair state Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco. Visit www.txstimulusfund.com.
State Comptroller Susan Combs also has a new stimulus website, which is set up to track the spending of funds after the state government receives them. Visit www.window.state.tx.us/finances/stimulus.
Additionally, the independent StimulusWatch.org has its own database of “shovel-ready” projects. Visit www.stimuluswatch.org.
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