AN UPDATE ON THE CRUISE SHIP STUDY BILL AND OTHER BILLS TO WATCH
Over the past month or so of articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to the March 8th deadline. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
On April 3, 2013 the Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism heard House Concurrent Resolution 56, which calls on the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding the development and potential economic impact of the cruise industry on the Texas coast between Calhoun and Cameron Counties, in a public hearing. Following public comments HCR 56 was voted out of the committee unanimously and was sent to the Local and Consent calendar. We will keep you posted as this bill and others continue to move.
As of March 8th, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Of the 5,944 total bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions which have been filed, 4,046 of those bills were filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and 1,898 were filed with the Secretary of the Senate’s offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 1759 is relating to a correction, clarification, or retraction of incorrect information published.
• HB 1776 addresses the definition of “drought” for the purposes of emergency orders concerning water rights issued by the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
• HB 1784 is relating to the provision of career and technology education courses in certain partnership programs to provide high school dropout recovery.
• HB 1849 is concerning criminal asset forfeiture, the disposition of proceeds and property from criminal asset forfeiture, and accountability for that disposition.
• HB 1931 relates to the compensation of property owners whose property is damaged as a result of a suspect fleeing apprehension by a peace officer.
• HB 1966 addresses a project that may be undertaken by certain development corporations in connection with infrastructure improvements necessary for municipal area development and revitalization.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 857 is relating to the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding the initiation, consolidation, or elimination of a degree or certificate program offered by a public institution of higher education.
• SB 858 relates to the number of classroom hours required in a handgun proficiency course that is taken to obtain a concealed handgun license.
• SB 868 is related to the exclusion of certain flow-through payments related to petroleum and mineral interests in determining total revenue for purposes of the franchise tax.
• SB 892 is relating to the application of certain concealed handgun license laws to the attorney general and to assistant attorneys general, United States attorneys, assistant United States attorneys, and special assistant United States attorneys, and to the authority of those attorneys to carry certain weapons.
• SB 897 addresses the offenses of interference with public duties, required obedience to the order or direction of a police officer, and assault, certain unsuccessful prosecutions therefor, and related civil liability of a governmental unit.
• SB 924 deals with the strategic plans to address hunger, food, nutrition, and obesity in this state.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at Texas Legislature Online.
If you have questions or comments regarding any of the filed bills 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 currently represents Part of Nueces County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
