During the interim between regular sessions, the legislative committees conduct hearings and studies on legislative issues. The Speaker assigns issues for study by House committees; the Lt. Governor assigns issues for study by Senate committees.
Speaker Craddick has released his assigned charges for study by House committees. During the coming months, these committees will conduct hearings and prepare reports and recommendations on these issues. Please discuss these matters with your legislators. Some of the more important issues for county government include the following:
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONS
Charge #1: Explore the use of technology practices that improve efficiency, safety, and coordination of criminal justice activities on the state, local and county levels.
Charge #3: Provide a comprehensive analysis and study of the Texas state jail system, including original intent for use, sentencing guidelines and effectiveness. Develop suggestions for changes and improvements in the state jail system.
Charge #4: Study the organizational structure of the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission to determine if the current system is effectively and efficiently addressing the needs of the juvenile justice system in conjunction with the sunset review of these agencies. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues)
Charge #8: Assess the relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior and offer reforms needed to address the proliferation of mental illness in the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems. This review should include an examination of data sharing between criminal justice and health and human services agencies, proper screening, assessments, treatment, discharge planning, post-release supervision, and community services. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Appropriations)
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE
Charge #1: Examine problems associated with the current system of deferred adjudication in Texas.
Charge #4: Study the prosecution and effectiveness of current drunk driving laws in Texas and recommend any legislative changes needed to further combat the problem.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
Charge #1: Study the general issue of electronic voting technology, including the issues of general benefits and risks, security and accuracy, paper trails, etc.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Charge #2: Examine the current Texas court system, including its complex layers of trial courts with overlapping and varying jurisdiction. Consider whether the system needs modernization to improve judicial efficiency.
Charge #3: Study the issue of municipal sovereign immunity for damages to citizens’ private property, and recommend any necessary statutory changes.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT
Charge #3: Study the funding of Texas 9-1-1 and poison control systems and the requirement to transition Texas 9-1-1 systems to the next generation of technology to meet future expectations for emergency communication systems.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Charge #2: Examine alternative spending limit methodologies found among the various states as they impact state and local spending and recommend potential changes to the Texas budget process to bring long-term, innovative strategies to control costs of major governmental programs.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY AFFAIRS
Charge #1: Study the issues surrounding the sale, use, and regulation of fireworks in urbanized, unincorporated parts of the county.
Charge #2: Examine county procurement statutes to identify areas for increasing efficiency without sacrificing internal controls.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Charge #4: Examine the effectiveness of the Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act (Chapter 2007, Government Code).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAYS AND MEANS
Charge #2: Review provisions for local government notices on potential tax rate increases and clarify potentially conflicting statutes. Look at requiring two (rather than one) public hearings on the tax rate increase.
Charge #3: Examine the addition of members to the board of directors of appraisal districts who are not appointed by the taxing jurisdictions of the district. Determine methods for appointing these additional directors.
Charge #4: Examine the system for appraising property for property tax purposes:
Study the implementation and effects of HB1010, 80th Legislature, Regular Session.
Consider whether the statutory system for choosing the Central Appraisal District Board of Directors and governing the board’s operation adequately protects the public interest.
Evaluate whether the authority of the chief appraiser should be limited.
Consider alternative methods and procedures for conducting the Comptroller’s School Value Study to ensure both the equitable distribution of state school aid and a more stringent review of local appraisal practices.
Examine constitutional and statutory constraints on the enforcement of uniform appraisal standards across the state and the ability of the state to provide oversight of appraisal districts.
Consider ways to improve appraisal district efficiency, transparency and services, including, but not limited to, the reconfiguration of appraisal districts.
Evaluate changes in the property valuation appeal system that could expedite and reduce the cost of dispute resolution.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH
Charge #2: Research issues relating to the Indigent Health Care and Treatment Act (Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code) and related local health care initiatives (Chapter 534, Government Code), and make recommendations to address any imbalance between counties for the provision of health care.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Charge #2: Study the concept of using corridor planning organizations to provide a mechanism for local involvement in the Trans-Texas Corridor.
For more information, please call me at 1-800-733-0699.
Jim Allison, General Counsel, CJCAT