ADDITIONAL ISSUES TO BE REVIEWED BY HOUSE COMMITTEES
As outlined in the previous articles, the Speaker of the House Joe Straus has released a list of interim committee charges for the standing committees of the Texas House of Representatives. These committee charges and the resulting recommendations that will be developed during the interim could form the basis for legislation to be considered during the next legislative session. House committees were each given several issues to study. Committee hearings will be held over the course of the interim period (2014) giving the public an opportunity to testify on a variety of issues. At the end of the interim, each committee will have the opportunity to submit a formal report to the Speaker of the Texas House with their recommendations on possible future legislation to be handled by the next Texas Legislature.
The following is a sampling of charges given to different House committees. If you would like a complete list of the study charges or if you would like more information about issues being studied by any particular committee, please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office at 512-463-0672 or visit The Texas House of Representatives
Here are some examples of charges given to the standing House committees:
House Committee on Investments and Financial Services
• Review Texas home equity laws. Study and make recommendations for ensuring Texas consumers have appropriate access to the equity in their homes and adequate protections.
• Review the state regulatory and administrative systems related to public school bond issuances. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Public Education)
House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
• Examine the constitutional qualifications and term lengths for appellate court judges, and consider whether changes would benefit the public and the judiciary.
• Review the methods used by state agencies and courts to prepare and publish electronic legal materials. Examine the processes used to ensure reliability and permanence of these materials and strategies used to harmonize those processes with national standards, including possible adoption of the Uniform Electronic Legal Materials Act.
• Study issues that inhibit the use of wills and access to the probate process in Texas, particularly for low-income individuals.
• Study the issue of whether Regional Presiding Judges should be appointed by the Chief Justice rather than the Governor.
House Committee on Land and Resource Management
• Examine population growth in Texas cities and the impact the growth has had on housing, available land resources, city centers, businesses, and the state’s economy. Evaluate Texas’s preparedness to respond to future growth and ensure economic stability. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Urban Affairs)
• Study the effectiveness of the implementation of HB 3459 (83R) and examine the feasibility and desirability of creating and maintaining a coastal barrier system.
• Study current regulatory authority available to municipalities in their extraterritorial jurisdiction. Examine how citizens are involved in the zoning process, and make necessary recommendations to ensure a proper balance between development activities, municipal regulations, and the effect zoning decisions have on Texas citizens.
House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures
• Evaluate and consider cost-saving technologies and programs used by the Department of Licensing and Regulation to increase efficiencies and access to those with licensing occupations. Identify and make recommendations to implement these goals.
• Study appropriate methods to expand the right of individuals to challenge occupational licensing rules and regulations, and identify occupational licenses that may not be necessary for public safety or health.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
