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This week I will continue discussing the interim charges for House
committees. The charges are good indicators of what legislation the
legislature will take up during the next session. 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. Legislators
rely on public input when crafting legislation, and it is important that
they hear from people during the interim. This week I will review the
charges for the Committee on County Affairs, which has jurisdiction on
all matters pertaining to counties, including their organization,
creation, boundaries, government, finance and the compensation and
duties of their officers and employees; establishing districts for the
election of governing bodies of counties; regional councils of
governments; multicounty boards or commissions; relationships or
contracts between counties; other units of local government.
House Committee on County Affairs
* Study the current practices and tools available to counties to
manage growth and development. Consider incompatible land uses and
county rulemaking authority, including rulemaking authority bracketed to
counties of a certain population.
* Study county-level health care delivery models for indigent
health care that emphasize community-based care to improve the
continuity and quality of care. Compare urban and rural health care
delivery models and make necessary legislative recommendations.
* Study county oversight related to pretrial release on bond in
criminal cases.
* Examine how local governments can better inform the public about
local government debts.
* Survey rural economic development programs. Analyze the economic
relationship between rural communities and the agriculture industry and
their combined impact on the state's economy. (Joint Interim Charge with
House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock)
* Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's
jurisdiction: the Commission on Jail Standards.
The House Committee on Corrections can be reached at (512) 463-0760.
For more information on these charges or any other matter of state
government, please contact my office by writing to P.O. Box 2910,
Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by emailing me at
larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us. My district office phone number is
(903) 891-7297.