Insider's Report
March 4, 2003
State Representative Dennis Bonnen
Bill Would Allow Baccalaureate Degree at
Brazosport College
I am filing a bill today aimed at providing greater educational
options for area residents. Under my proposal, Brazosport College will be
allowed to begin a pilot program to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science
degree. The program will extend opportunities currently unavailable in our
area to those wishing to further their education in order to access
higher-paying and more stable jobs. Local industry has jobs available to
those with the necessary training and this bill will give them that
training.
Because the program is tied to Brazosport College,
students will be able to obtain this degree at an affordable price, close to
home, at an institution with an established reputation for excellence.
Bills Underway to Clean Air, Fund SIP
I filed HB 1365 last week and it is scheduled for a hearing by the
Environmental Regulation Committee, of which I am Chairman, today. This
bill will improve the underfunded Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) with
the overall goal of enabling the state to better comply with the 1990
federal Clean Air Act.
TERP was established by SB 5 of the 77th legislature
to create incentive programs to assist Texas in reaching attainment by
2007. Three of the most important provisions of HB 1365 include:
eliminating the early morning construction ban, freeing business to operate
freely without unnecessary regulation; allowing us to maintain speed limits
of up to 70 miles per hour, regardless of the federal government's proposed
efforts to roll back speed limits to 55 miles per hour in 2005; providing
local control by ensuring that Texans and not the Environmental Protection
Agency in Washington will decide how best to comply with the
federally-mandated Clean Air Act, preventing the loss of federal highway
dollars, a two-for-one offset and even the possibility of no-drive days.
HB 3 Would Provide Medical Liability Reform
I am co-authoring HB 3 to put a common-sense $250,000 cap on
non-economic damages. Excessive lawsuits have put our medical providers into
a state of crisis. In order to help lower health costs, we must first get a
handle on medical liability costs. Those with legitimate claims should be
compensated fairly but our entire health care industry should not be at the
mercy of trial lawyers.
HB 4 Addresses Changes in Civil Justice System
I am co-authoring legislation to implement comprehensive reforms to curb
lawsuit abuse - providing remedies for those wrongly accused by frivolous
lawsuits. Flaws in our civil justice system are hurting our citizens and
our businesses. A key component of this bill is proportionate
responsibility, which requires all responsible parties in a lawsuit to be
submitted to a jury to determine their percentage of responsibility. The
bill provides incentives for parties to make and accept reasonable
settlement offers early in a lawsuit.
Insurance Committee Presented 71 Bills
In our first step towards solving the insurance crisis, Gov. Perry signed
SB 310 last week to require major insurers to explain how they set their
rates and to give information on the rates they plan to impose within the
next six months. At this time 71 bills have been referred to the committee,
ranging from banning credit scoring to requiring insurers to respond to
claims for water damage within 24 hours.
Remembering Our Texas History
The Declaration of Independence was adopted at the convention at
Washington on the Brazos on March 2, 1836, setting up the Republic of Texas.
March is filled with so many important dates that HB 294 has been filed to
recognize March as Texas History Month. The bill is asking that appropriate
celebrations and activities be observed in public schools and other places
to promote Texas history. The bill has been approved by committee and is
now ready for the second reading on the House floor.
Several Bonnen Bills In Committees
The Justin Wollam Act, HB 103, will be heard by the Criminal
Jurisprudence Committee today. My bill will add an additional $100 fine for
all alcohol-related traffic tickets. The additional money will go to local
law enforcement agencies to provide more equipment to be used to fight
alcohol-related offenses. Danbury native Justin Wollam was killed in the
line of duty as an Alaskan police officer by an underage drunk driver. His
parents, W. R. and Beverly Wollam of Danbury, proposed the idea for this
bill.
HB 252, the Move Over Act, will also be heard by the
Transportation Committee today. This bill will require drivers to clear a
path for emergency vehicles and provide emergency personnel with clear, safe
access to the scene of an accident. While most drivers do this as a matter
of courtesy, emergency personnel have been injured or killed by reckless
drivers. This bill was proposed by Brazoria County emergency medical
personnel.
Visitors to the Capitol
This week I met with Dr. Howard LaRoche Jr, a neurologist in Lake
Jackson, to discuss medical malpractice reform. He presented me with a
letter signed by 20-plus area doctors who are supporting these reforms.
I also met with a local group from Associated Builders and Contractors,
who wanted to discuss HB 4 on tort reform from a home builders' perspective.
Visitors to the Capitol from Lake Jackson were Lee Ann McDaniel, Sasha
Tamart, and Harvey Yarborough.
On My Calendar
March 3 - Legislature in Session, Austin
Insurance Committee Meeting
Committee Chairs Meet with Speaker
March 4 - Legislature in Session, Austin
Galveston/Brazoria County Delegation Meeting
Move Over Act at Committee Hearing
Meeting with Texas Association of Realtors
Environmental Regulation Committee
Wollam Act at Committee Hearing
March 5 - Legislature in Session, Austin
March 6 -Legislature in Session, Austin
My Office Works for You
If you have any concerns, please contact my office. We
may not always know the answer but you will be heard and we will obtain
information for you. My job is to be your advocate.
Angleton Office: 979-848-1770
Austin Office: 512-463-0564
Toll Free: 1-800-647-3809
E-Mail:
dennis.bonnen@sbcglobal.net
Or
Web:
www.dennisbonnen.com
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