The follwoing meetings have been posted for the week of April 7-11.
Monday, April 7
Senate Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security Committee
Monday, April 7 – 9:00 AM
Capitol Extension E1.016
The Committee will take up the following Interim Charges:
Monitor the state's efforts to secure the border, including the state's increased investment in border security during the 83rd legislative session. Examine the most effective methods to address the evolving threats with securing the border and evaluate policies that deter illegal immigration and assist in border security efforts, including prohibiting sanctuary cities and requiring electronic verification of worker status. Make recommendations on the most effective policy options to prevent and stop illegal entry into Texas at the border and to deter transnational and drug-related violence and crime. Examine the implementation and effectiveness of the recent Department of Public Safety surge operation on the border and make recommendations on options for the improvement and expansion of future surge operations.
Study the current practice of reporting crime statistics in Texas, including border security crime statistics. Examine the different indices currently utilized and identify potential barriers regarding statewide adoption of a more comprehensive system. Determine whether current crime statistic reporting accurately measures all crime and whether it adequately measures crimes related to illegal border activities. Make recommendations on how to best take advantage of the available crime data maintained by modern law enforcement record systems and recommend any additional crime data that would improve law enforcement and border security efforts.
Study and make recommendations on removing barriers to Second Amendment Rights, including but not limited to open carry legislation. Consider other state laws related to open carry.
Testimony will be limited to three minutes.
House Public Health Committee
Monday, April 7 – 10:00 AM
Capitol Extension E2.012
The committee will meet to consider invited and public testimony on the following interim charges:
Charge #1. Assess the prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use in the state (including opioid analgesics, stimulants, tranquilizers, and sedatives). Identify adverse health impacts. Recommend strategies to curb emerging substance abuse trends among children, pregnant women, and adults, as well as to reduce health care costs and mortality.
Charge #5. Monitor transition of the state's immunization registry to a new system. Determine whether the registry can be better utilized to prevent and/or respond to communicable disease outbreaks, including pertussis. Identify potential factors contributing to the rise in the number of pertussis cases and strategies to prevent future outbreaks.
Tuesday, April 8
Texas Railroad Commission
Tuesday, April 8 – 9:30 AM
1701 North Congress, Austin, Room 1-111, First Floor
Agenda Part I, Agenda Part II, Agenda Part III
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Tuesday, April 8 – 2:00 PM
12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Building E, Room 201S
The commission will hold a public hearing on this proposal.
The proposed rulemaking would implement House Bill (HB) 252, HB 1973, and Senate Bill 1086, §1 and §2, 83rd Legislature, 2013, and HB 1814, §2, 82nd Legislature, relating to requiring retail public utilities and the system(s) that provides the utility's wholesale water service to provide the commission a report on the status of their water supply once the supply is less than 180 days. The proposed rulemaking would also develop standards for municipalities to require a utility to maintain a sufficient water flow and pressure to fire hydrants in a residential area or an industrial district located in the municipality or the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction for purposes of emergency fire suppression. The proposed rulemaking additionally proposes non-substantive changes to update citations and conform with Texas Register requirements.
Thursday, April 10
House Elections Committee
Thursday, April 10 – 10:00 AM
Capitol Extension E2.028
The committee will meet to consider invited and public testimony on the following interim charges:
1. Examine the use of Help America Vote Act funds and methods to ensure the efforts required by the Help America Vote Act continue.
2. Study the Interstate Voter Crosscheck Program. Specifically, study the results of the program used in other states, how other states use the data, and make recommendations about whether the state of Texas should establish this program.
3. Evaluate the Move Act, specifically the implementation of HB 1129 (83R), relating to a program allowing certain military voters on active duty overseas to cast a ballot electronically.
House Economic & Small Business Development Committee
Thursday, April 10 – 1:00 PM
Capitol Extension E2.014
The committee will meet to consider the following interim charge:
Review the statutes and state agency rules pertaining to public-private partnerships to ensure a fair, competitive, and transparent process that benefits all parties engaging in the partnership. Review how other states and countries utilize public-private partnerships and make recommendations on how to improve the process in Texas, specifically looking at whether there needs to be a single state entity responsible for administering the public private partnership program.
Invited testimony only.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Thursday, April 10 – 2:00 PM
12100 Park 35 Circle, Austin, Building E, Room 201S
The commission will hold a public hearing on this proposal.
The proposed rulemaking would implement House Bill 3233 from the 83rd Legislature, 2013, Regular Session, relating to modifying the requirements of the permitting process for interbasin transfers of surface water.
April 8, 9, 10 & 11
State Board of Education
1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin
The State Board will be holding meeting throughout the week. Please use the link above to view meeting agendas.