Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen have announced the formation of the Senate and House Select Committees on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety. In response to the recent tragedies in El Paso, Midland, and Odessa, Lt. Gov. Patrick and Speaker Bonnen have each formed a select committee to study and recommend effective legislative solutions that will help prevent mass gun violence and improve community safety. Each committee will be tasked with examining a comprehensive cross-section of policy-related charges.
House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety
- Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo (Chair)
- Rep. Poncho Nevarez, D- Eagle Pass (Vice-Chair)
- Rep. César Blanco, D- El Paso
- Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R- Southlake
- Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth
- Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D- San Antonio
- Rep. Julie Johnson, D- Carrollton
- Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R- Odessa
- Rep. Mike Lang, R- Granbury
- Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso
- Rep. Geanie W. Morrison, R-Victoria
- Rep. Four Price. R- Amarillo
- Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston
Specifically, the House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety is directed to:
- Evaluate options for strengthening enforcement measures for current laws that prevent the transfer of firearms to felons and other persons prohibited by current law from possessing firearms;
- Assess challenges to the timely reporting of relevant criminal history information and other threat indicators to state and federal databases;
- Examine the role of digital media and technology in threat detection, assessment, reporting, and prevention, including the collaboration between digital media and law enforcement;
- Consider the ongoing and long-term workforce needs of the state related to cybersecurity, mental health, law enforcement, and related professionals; and
- Evaluate current protocols and extreme risk indicators used to identify potential threats and consider options for improving the dissemination of information between federal, state, and local entities and timely and appropriate intervention of mental health professionals.
The committee will be required to submit a preliminary assessment to the Speaker within 90 days of the committee’s creation, produce periodic progress reports thereafter, and submit a final report. To maximize the opportunity for public input, the committee is required to make every effort to coordinate hearing dates with the Senate Select Committee when scheduling hearings during which public testimony will be heard.
Their first meeting will be held on September 17 at 11:00 am.
Senate Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety
- Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston (Chair)
- Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo (Vice-Chair)
- Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels
- Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills
- Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound
- Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock
- Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso
- Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood
- Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston
Their first meeting will be held on September 26 at 10:00 am.
Senator Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, will assume the chairmanship of the Senate State Affairs Committee beginning October 1. Senator Huffman will continue in her role as chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee.
Senator Huffman will coordinate select committee hearings with the House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety Chairman.
Lt. Gov. Patrick gave the select committee the following charges:
- Learn firsthand, the personal, family, and community impact of mass shootings in Texas by hearing from victims of mass violence in Dallas, Santa Fe, Sutherland Springs, El Paso, and Midland/Odessa. Conduct hearings in Austin, El Paso, and the Midland/Odessa area to meet with victims and their families in those communities.
- Examine ways to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who would not pass a federal background check, while protecting the Second Amendment and Texans’ right to bear arms. Examine whether stranger-to-stranger gun sales in Texas should be subject to background checks.
- Consider the role digital media, dark web networks, and overall cultural issues play in the promotion of mass violence and how these contribute to the radicalization of individuals and incitement of racism, white supremacy and domestic terrorism. Research the link between violent video games and recent mass shootings in Texas and examine the impact of the overall fraying culture on mass shootings, including increased violence, tolerance for violence, and extremist views in our society.
- Assess how state and local law enforcement agencies, fusion centers, mental health providers, digital platforms and social media companies such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., can better collaborate to detect, prevent, and respond to mass violence and terroristic activity. Examine what resources, staffing and protocols are necessary to enhance these partnerships and whether state funding is needed to assist local authorities in this endeavor.
- Determine the effectiveness of current laws that are used for timely reporting of criminal history information, emergency protective orders, and other threat indicators to keep firearms out of the hands of individuals who would not pass a federal firearms background check. Review workforce and resource challenges impeding current laws and identify accountability measures needed for law enforcement, courts, firearm distributors, and private sellers who fail to follow reporting requirements under current law.
