Wollam Act Approved by House
     The House quickly approved HB 103, the Justin Wollam Act, last Wednesday.  If this bill successfully passes this session, anyone convicted of an alcohol-related offense would be required to pay an additional fine of $100 that will go to cities and counties for the enforcement and prevention of alcohol-related offenses. Drunk drivers impose a tremendous cost on society and it is only fair that they pay more of the burden of enforcing alcohol-related offenses.
     This bill is a great tribute to the memory of Justin Wollam, a former area policeman killed by a drunk driver in 2001 while on duty as an Anchorage police officer.  It is also a tribute to the dedication of his mother, Beverly, who wanted to do something to help Justin's fellow officers.  It was an honor to sponsor this bill.  By being so courageous through their tragedy, the Wollam family has reminded all legislators as to why they choose to serve.

 

Firefighters Benefit from Amendment, HJR 61
    The adoption of my amendment to HB 4 will limit the liability of volunteer fire departments and volunteer fire fighters when responding to an emergency.  These men and women volunteer their time and risk their lives  to protect more than 80 percent of the population and property of Texas. I believe they deserve the same liability protections as the brave firefighters that are employees of the county and I was pleased to have this amendment approved. 

     On a similar note for rural fire departments, I co-authored HJR 61 which would authorize municipalities to donate surplus fire-fighting equipment or supplies for the benefit of rural volunteer fire departments. HJR 61 has been approved by the House.
 
Community College Baccalaureate Program Out of Committee
     Things are looking very positive for HB 1544, which will establish a pilot program to allow selected junior colleges to offer limited baccalaureate degrees. This bill was successfully voted out of committee and is headed to Calendars for a date on the House floor. Dr. Millicent Valek of Brazosport College and Steve Hazlewood of Dow Chemical spoke about the community college's great importance to industry and workforce training.

     Although I filed this bill at the request of Brazosport College, HB 1544 will have a strong economic impact across the state by allowing local colleges to offer four-year degrees in needs specific to their areas. For example, Brazosport College will offer a Bachelor of Applied Science degree.  Students with a two-year associates degree in a technical area such as process chemistry can build on to that degree by taking junior and senior courses that would qualify them for supervisory job roles. This is a big need in an area where workers need college access close to their jobs and homes.

 

Amendment Adds $524 Million to Education
     I worked to ensure that an amendment to the appropriations bill was passed  to restore needed funds for Texas schools. The Texas Education Agency received an additional $33 million to purchase new textbooks, including new Texas history books. Other funds are directed to the Instructional Facilities Allotment Fund, which allows districts to access funds for construction and renovation of instructional facilities.  The amendment also added $220 million to retired teachers insurance plans to keep that program solvent for the next biennium.  Despite our budget situation, I demanded that legislators protect our dedicated teachers so that they can continue to devote their great service to the children of Texas.

 

HB 4, Medical Malpractice and Tort Reform
     House Bill 4, which makes sweeping changes in tort reform, was passed by the House and is now going to the Senate. The House approved HJR 3, a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would allow caps on non-economic damages in lawsuit, including a $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages set on medical malpractice lawsuits.  This bill does not affect the ability of the plaintiff to recover economic damages due to medical expenses and lost wages, present and future.  By redefining some important laws, we can halt many of the inflated lawsuits that have crippled health care in our state.
     The election for the resolution, which would be held Sept.13, is necessary to implement changes without having the legislation tied up in courts with lengthy lawsuits.

 

Bill Addresses Frustration with TPWD
    I have filed HB 3156 as a response to local frustration with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Despite long discussions with TPWD regarding flooding problems in the Jones Creek area, these issues have not been resolved.  In addition, TPWD has unfairly cut their budget at the expense of our local parks system.  This is unacceptable.  The purpose of this bill is to transfer all real property under TPWD to the General Land Office.  It will be heard by the House Committee on Land and Resource Management.

 

Bill Filed to Assist Angleton-Danbury Hospital District
    HB 3561, as heard by the County Affairs Committee on April 9, was filed at the request of Angleton-Danbury Hospital District to give them flexibility in their construction projects.  This bill simply adds a section to the district's enabling statute which grants them the same powers and duties as municipalities with respect to fair and cost-efficient design and construction of public facilities.  It will allow the district to benefit from modern procurement procedures, such as competitive proposals and design-build contracts, as alternatives to traditional competitive bidding. 

     Mrs. Paula Tobon-Stevens, Director of Business Development for the Angleton-Danbury Hospital District, testified at the hearing and was a valuable resource in explaining to the committee the savings that could be realized by the district as a result of this legislation.