Thread: TX: What Legislation Did/Did Not Pass

80TH LEGISLATURE

Legislation update
A look at what did and didn't pass.
ASSOCIATED PRESS


Monday, May 28, 2007

Where legislation stands

A look at some notable bills that made it, and some that didn't, in the regular session of the 80th Texas Legislature. The session ends today.

Passed, signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry

•Castle doctrine: Allows Texans to defend themselves with deadly force in their homes, cars and workplaces.

•Firearms in disaster: Prohibits law officers from confiscating firearms and ammunition during a state of disaster, such as a hurricane, except in cases of a clear threat.

•Elderly drivers: Requires Texans ages 85 and older to renew their drivers' licenses and pass a vision test every two years.

•Handgun records: Reclassifies state licenses granted to residents to carry concealed handguns as records that are not public.

Passed, headed to Texas voters

•Cancer research: A proposed constitutional amendment allowing the state to borrow up to $3 billion over the next decade to pay for cancer research aimed at finding a cure.

•Recorded votes: A proposed constitutional amendment requiring the Texas House and Senate to record individual lawmakers' votes on final passage of bills.

Passed, becoming law without governor's signature

•Cervical cancer vaccine: Blocks state officials from following Gov. Rick Perry's order requiring sixth-grade girls to receive the vaccine against the human papillomavirus. The vaccine protects against strains of the sexually transmitted virus that cause most cases of cervical cancer.

Passed, vetoed by governor

•Ex-convicts voting: Would have required the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to notify former inmates of their eligibility to vote.

Passed, awaiting action by governor

•Sex offenders: Makes the death penalty possible for sex offenders who are twice convicted of raping children under 14.

•Marriage fee: Increases the Texas marriage license fee from $30 to $60 but waives the fee and a 72-hour waiting period for couples who take a premarital education course.

•Toll-road moratorium: Freezes most new privately financed toll road projects for two years.

•Search warrants: Allows judges to seal some search warrant information from the public for up to 60 days.

•Sudan sanctions: Requires state pension funds to divest from companies doing business with Sudan, where more than 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million have been chased from their homes since 2003 because of civil strife.

•Violent dogs: Makes dog owners whose pets attack people subject to a third-degree felony with possible prison time of two to 10 years and a possible fine of up to $10,000. If the victim dies, the charge could become a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

•Friendly dogs: Calls for the state to assist in plans for the humane evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of pets during times of disaster, such as a hurricane. •Under God: Adds the words 'under God' to the Texas pledge of allegiance.

•Texas Youth Commission overhaul: Puts an executive commissioner in charge of the Youth Commission for two years. Improves staff-to-inmate ratios, creates new investigative powers to check abuse claims, and prohibits courts from sending youths to state lockups for misdemeanors.

•Bible classes: Allows high schools to offer elective Bible courses.

•Religious expression: Provides Texas students greater freedom to express their religious views on campuses.

•Strip club fee: Charges strip club patrons a $5 admission fee, with money going to help sexual assault victims.

Failed

•Smoking ban: Would have banned smoking in workplaces and many other public places statewide.

•Voter ID: Would have required voters to show photo identification or two other forms of ID, not just a voter registration card.

•Texas lottery sale: Would have sold the state lottery to a private firm for at least $14 billion and used the proceeds for cancer research, education and health insurance, a proposal made by Gov. Rick Perry.

•Casino gambling: Would have created full-scale destination resort casinos in major cities and some coastal tourist spots.

•Private school vouchers: Would have created a pilot program to allow some parents to send their children to private schools using taxpayer money.

•Shield law: Would have created limited immunity for journalists from revealing their confidential sources in court cases.

•Abortion ultrasound: Would have required doctors to perform ultrasounds on pregnant women seeking an abortion.

•Drunken driving checkpoints: Would have allowed police to set up checkpoints to see whether motorists exceed the legal blood alcohol level for driving.

•Futile care: Would have extended the 10-day time limit for medically futile patients before hospitals can cut off their life support.

•Private schools in UIL: Would have allowed private schools into the University Interscholastic League, Texas' public school athletic league.

•Bicycle passing: Would have required motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing.

•Covenant marriage: Would have allowed couples applying for a marriage license or couples already married to designate theirs a 'covenant marriage,' making divorce more difficult.

•Firearms in disaster: Prohibits law officers from confiscating firearms and ammunition during a state of disaster, such as a hurricane, except in cases of a clear threat.

•Handgun records: Reclassifies state licenses granted to residents to carry concealed handguns as records that are not public.

Won't the PRES EXEC ORDER make these laws MOOT?

dual designation of NSPD-51, as a National Security Presidential Directive, and HSPD-20, as a Homeland Security Presidential Directive.
The directive establishes under the office of the president a new national continuity coordinator whose job is to make plans for "National Essential Functions" of all federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations to continue functioning under the president's directives in the event of a national emergency.

National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 9-12.html#

Thanks Tyrant for laying this all out so clearly.....there's been a whirlwind of activity in TX and it's been hard to keep up!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRAVELING BULLETIN BOARD

To everybody out there hanging in the backround yes you!! we invite you to...
let your voices be heard, Its time to get involved, calls, faxes, and e-mails, post at the links below to let everyone know what you are hearing, it helps our leaders to make decisions on what steps to take next. Lets all let congress know what real Americans Want!!

Instructions here to help you !! "MEMORIAL WEEK CRACKDOWN"
post results at either link
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... sc&start=0
LETS RALLY TO "MEMORIAL WEEK OPERATION BRING IT HOME"
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=63301

If anyone can't find information for contacting senators or not sure what to do, just ask, we have lots of nice people to help you

HINT: EASY WAY TO HELP OUT.....When you post on another site with good non-racist patriotic Americans leave behind a Momentous message, the link to ALIPAC ( http://www.alipac.us/index.php ).
Any donations to help keep ALIPAC afloat will be much appreciated