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One of the duties of the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is to assign interim charges to legislative committees within the House. Interim charges are the issues that the Speaker asks committees to study during the time between regular legislative sessions in order to make recommendations for legislation for the following legislative session. Similarly, the Lieutenant Governor assigns interim charges in the Senate. Each committee will typically hold hearings in order to study the issues to which they were assigned and will conclude the studies with a report submitted to the Speaker prior to the legislative session.
Speaker Tom Craddick recently announced the charges for House committees. This interim, there are thirty-six regular committees to which interim charges are assigned. This week's column will begin a series of Capitol Watches in which I will share some highlights of the interim charges for a few legislative committees of interest.
House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism:
Review the status of the Texas Cultural Endowment Fund.
Examine the penalties and enforcement relating to the desecration of archeological sites and cemeteries.
Consider how the Texas State Library and Archives Commission could better support and enhance public school libraries.
Research and explore new ways to promote economic development through increased tourism in the state.
House Committee on Government Reform:
Research the current use of performance and public accountability measures in state agencies; explore possible improvements and innovations.
Study synergies between state agencies and private non-profit organizations that perform state functions; explore opportunities for assisting non-profits with improvements in operations, procurement, and information technology and management.
Review the feasibility and benefits of consolidating existing health professions licensing boards.
House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues:
Review the Texas Youth Commission's capacity and policies on abuse and neglect.
Study current law relating to who is authorized to conduct marriages, and make recommendations of any possible changes.
Evaluate child support guidelines and formulas, considering whether the current methods provide adequate support to a child. Also study child support for the costs of college.
Research and report on how the courts handle truancy cases.
Consider the law governing presumption of parentage, and examine the adequacy of relief available to presumed parents who are child support obligors and who assert a claim of paternity fraud.
Study the effectiveness of prevention programs, such as after school programs, in reducing the actual indices of crime, and the rate of young offenders entering the criminal justice system.
If you have any comments or input with regard to any of these interim charges, I encourage you to contact my office or the committee to which the charge has been assigned. You can find contact information for committees of the Texas House of Representatives at www.house.state.tx.us.
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