More New Laws To Watch Go Into Effect
On June 1st, 2015, the 84th Texas Legislative Session officially came to an end. On June 21st, the Governor had a deadline to veto or allow bills to go into effect.
Here are certain bills in addition to those featured in last week’s article, which were passed and have been signed by the Governor:
• House Bill 530 is relating to the use of proceeds from criminal asset forfeiture to provide college scholarships to children of peace officers killed in the line of duty and to an annual report regarding the total value of forfeited property in this state. The bill would authorize a law enforcement agency to transfer no more than 10 percent of the gross amount credited to the agency’s forfeiture fund into a special fund to provide college scholarships to children of peace officers killed in the line of duty. The bill would also require the Attorney General to publish an annual report detailing the total amount of funds forfeited, and credited after the sale of forfeited property, in the preceding calendar year.
• House Bill 642 is relating to an alcohol awareness program or drug education program for certain minors convicted of or adjudicated to have engaged in, or placed on deferred disposition or community supervision for, certain drug or alcohol related offenses; authorizing a fee. The bill would permit a judge to require certain defendants, as a condition of community supervision, to attend and complete an alcohol awareness program. The bill would require a judge to order the defendant to pay the cost of attending the program, unless the defendant is found to be indigent or unable to pay the cost. Under certain circumstances, the judge would be permitted to require the defendant’s parent or guardian to pay the cost of attending the program.
• House Bill 1762 is relating to the creation of a health care advocacy program for veterans. The bill would create a program within the Texas Veterans Commission to resolve access issues raised by Texas veterans at VA healthcare facilities. The healthcare advocacy program for veterans will strategically place healthcare liaisons in VA facilities throughout the state, coordinating with VA medical administrators to resolve access issues raised by veterans.
• Senate Bill 458 is relating to the aerospace and aviation office of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office and to the aerospace and aviation advisory committee. The bill reforms the existing aerospace-related division in the Governor’s Office and improves the manner by which the state addresses the planning, development, and support of aerospace initiatives to ensure that Texas is on the forefront of the aerospace industry in the nation.
I invite you to follow the governor’s latest actions by going to Office of the Governor Gregg Abbot or to see the bills that have already been signed, please visit Office of the Governor bills . If you would like to see more about the legislature, please visit the Texas Legislature Online .
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. 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 (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
