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As bills complete the legislative process of being passed both in the House and the Senate, they go to the governor's desk for final approval. The governor can choose to sign a bill, veto a bill or allow a bill to become law without his signature. Bills have already begun to reach the governor's desk and he has signed more than sixty of them already.
One bill recently signed, HB 1370 by Rep. Vilma Luna, addresses the critical issue of water availability and potential sources of consumable water for the future. The bill requires the Texas Water Development Board to study the development of cost-effective seawater desalination and to pursue federal funding for desalination projects in Texas. Supporters of the bill note that the State Water Plan indicates that Texas' total demand for water will increase by 18 percent over the next 50 years, while available supplies will fall by 19 percent. An efficient method of desalination of seawater would ensure a drought-proof and virtually endless water supply.
Another bill recently signed, SB 339 by Sen. Jane Nelson, will allow doctors and health care providers more flexibility in obtaining short-term liability coverage from the insurer of last resort. This will allow providers and facilities to remain covered while they look for less expensive or more appropriate liability insurance in the private market.
Finally, another bill, HB 1236, by Rep. Chuck Hopson, will require additional information about convicted criminals being sent from county jails to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Currently, inmates have a pen packet, which informs TDCJ about the inmate, including the nature of his offense, a victim's impact statement, and several other relevant documents. HB 1236 will require counties to include in the pen packet any detainers or orders placed on an inmate by agencies of the federal government or warrants filed by other counties and states. A detainer is a request for notification prior to the release of an inmate, and is commonly filed by agencies such as the INS. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that any federal, state, or county agency that has filed against an inmate is notified of his or her release. By providing notification to the agency prior to the release date, the agency can then take the appropriate action at the time an inmate is paroled.
For any of you who were wondering, I was in Austin this past week.
I encourage you to contact me during these last few weeks of the legislative session. You can reach me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.
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