Legislative Update From Senator Joan Huffman

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Senator Joan Huffman <senatorjoanhuffman@gmail.com> jwhillery <jwhillery@aol.com> Legislative Update From Senator Joan Huffman Thu, Dec 12, 2013 3:56 pm

H avi ng t roubl e vi ew i ng t hi s em ai l ? Cl i ck here

83RD LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

Dear Friends and Neighbors, As your state Senator and voice in Austin, I am honored by the opportunity to serve you. With the 83rd session and three special sessions of the Texas Legislature behind us, I want to take this opportunity to begin updating you on what we achieved. Thanks to all of you who provided feedback on issues considered during the sessions. The hundreds of letters, more than 7,000 emails, and countless phone calls from constituents assisted me in making decisions that best represent your values. There were 3,939 votes taken during the regular session, and I had a 100% voting record. Nineteen of the bills I authored were passed into law, and I served as the Senate sponsor on 22 successful bills authored by House members. (Click here and here for a complete list of my legislation.) It's great to be back home and to see so many of you at the various events going on throughout the district. As always, I will continue to work to do my best to improve the lives of Texans in SD 17 and across the state. Because I rely on input from constituents, please feel free to call, write or e-mail my office about the issues that concern you. My staff and I are here to assist you. Please don't forget to find me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. Sincerely,

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1/18/2014

Legislative Update from Senator Huffman

More than $2.5 billion for the Texas Department of Public Safety, which will improve administration of driver's licenses, keep our highways safe, and help to secure our border. A budget rider that ensures the Health and Human Services Commission would have to seek legislative approval before reforming our Medicaid program--and ensures any proposed changes are consistent with our conservative principles and lowering taxes. A final version of the state budget will be crafted from Senate and House proposals in a joint conference committee before the current legislative session adjourns on May 27. As you know, infrastructure needs are one of Texas' highest priorities to meet the water and transportation demands of our growing population. Two state constitutional amendments are proposed that would authorize withdrawals from the state's rainy day fund to finance local water and transportation projects. Each amendment would likely propose a withdrawal of over $1 billion from the rainy day fund, which is expected to grow to nearly $12 billion by the end of 2015. Loan repayments would enable our state to maintain a revolving account to make additional loans in the future. A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature andvoter approval on a statewide ballot. Thank you for continuing to honor me with the privilege to serve as your state Senator. As always, please contact my office if you need any assistance. Sincerely,

Key Legislation
Friday, March 8, was the deadline for filing all legislation this session. Many of the 49 billsI've filed reflect my background and experience as a former prosecutor and judge, and my long-standing commitment to public safety. They include: SB 12: Aids prosecution of child sex assault cases by allowing evidence of prior similar offenses to be admitted in cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse of children. Under current Texas law, a defendant's criminal sexual record is admissible as evidence only in cases where a child was previously victimized by the same person. SB 263 & 264: Provide law enforcement with additional tools in the ongoing battle to protect public health and safety against the production and sale of dangerous synthetic drugs known as K2 and 25I. Texas poison centers received 470 exposure calls on K2 last year. 25I has been blamed for the recent deaths of two young Houston residents. SB 263 makes illegal several new chemical compounds of synthetic cannabinoids created since K2 was banned in 2011. It will allow law enforcement to keep up with street chemists who alter the chemical compounds to skirt existing drug laws. SB 264 bans 25I and makes it a felony to possess, manufacture or sell. 25I acts as a psychedelic, similar to

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Legislative Update from Senator Huffman

LSD. The Houston Police Department supports both bills. SB 462: Addresses the need for accountability in the operation and performance of the state's growing number of specialty courts. These courts have increased from nine to about 140 over the last ten years. I want to make sure that specialty courts continue to do what they were designed to do: keep nonviolent offenders from going deeper into the criminal justice system. A state registry will help ensure that the courts are held accountable for the outcomes of participants. Click here for a complete list of the bills I've filed this session.

Mental Health - S.B. 1185

One of my top legislative priorities this session is to find effective and efficient ways of increasing accessibility and delivery of mental health care services. Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are going to the treatment of the mentally ill in emergency rooms and the criminal justice system due to inadequate community-based services. I have been working with Judge Ed Emmett and others on the development of a pilot program to reduce recidivism of mentally troubled inmates in the Harris County jail. In the last two years, hundreds of them have cycled in and out of the jail five or more times. The program would take advantage of existing county best practices to Rally for mental health at the Capitol. implement a service model that can be replicated statewide at a substantial cost saving to Texas counties, cities and taxpayers. It stands to become a mental health care program that will make the entire nation take notice! You can read details about my legislation, Senate Bill 1185, here. Read my op-ed about SB 1185 in the Houston Chronicle here.
Contact Senator Huffman with your issues, perspectives, or concerns joan.huffman@senate.state.tx.us Houston Office
6217 Edloe St. Houston, Texas 77005 Phone: 713-662-3821 Fax: 713-682-3842

Lake Jackson Office

129 Circle Way, Suite 101 Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 Phone: 979-480-0994 Fax: 979-480-9122

Capitol Office
PO Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711 Phone: 512-463-0117 Fax: 512-463-0639

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Legislative Update from Senator Huffman

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Joan Hu!man STATE SENATOR ! DISTRICT 17

JANUARY 2013 NEWSLETTER

Sen. Huffman (l-r) taking oath of ofce; visiting with Tina Gibson and Bernadette McLeroy; and pictured with U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

Conservative Values Keep TX Strong

Friends, Its hard to believe I have begun my third session serving you in the Legislature. January 8th was the 83rd time in the history of Texas that 31 senators have stood together and taken the oath: I, Joan Huffman, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties of the office of Texas state Senator for District 17 of the state of Texas, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution laws of the United States and of this state, so help me God. I always choke up when I say the words so help me God. Its humbling to serve, and reciting the oath in that beautiful Senate chamber with all its history, beauty, and tradition just seems to make it so clear to me the awesome responsibility I have been entrusted with and how grateful I am to those of you who have put your faith in me to represent you. Although the session is young, news already abounds. Just recently I was elected as chairwoman of the Texas Senate Republican Caucus. In addition, I have been appointed to Senate Finance by the Lieutenant Governor. I look forward to working with my colleagues to prioritize state spending, balance a transparent budget without raising taxes, and make sure Texas government lives within its means. It is no coincidence that the Texas economy is thriving with conservative leadership at the helm. I am enthusiastically looking forward to working on a productive legislative session that continues to make Texas stronger and safer. Sincerely,

Senator Joan Huffman joan.huffman.senate.state.tx.us www.electjoanhuffman.com

Follow me on Twitter
@joanhuffman

Contact My Office
P.O. Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711 ~ 512-463-0117

SB 12 To Aid In Prosecution Of Child Predators

Sen. Huffman has pre-filed Senate Bill 12, which allows evidence of prior similar offense to be admitted in cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse of children. Under current Texas law, a defendants criminal sexual record is admissible as evidence only in cases where a child was previously victimized by the same person. Sexual assault cases are often difficult to prosecute and may not have any relevant evidence other than the testimony of the alleged Flanked by local law enforcement officials, Senator Huffman announced the filing victim, said Huffman, who is a of Senate Bill 12 during a joint news conference with Lieutenant Governor David former prosecutor and judge. Dewhurst at the Childrens Advocacy Center in Houston. When the testimony of a young child is all the evidence the State can present against the word of an adult, juries often find it difficult to determine guilt Sen. Huffman will lead the Texas State Affairs Committees. She is Senate Republican Caucus as its relinquishing her duties on the beyond a reasonable doubt. Yet if there have been outcries by other chairwoman this year. The caucus J u r i s p r u d e n c e a n d H i g h e r Education Committees. c h i l d r e n a g a i n s t t h e s a m e comprises all the GOP members of the state Senate; each session defendant, their testimony can be Huffman cautions that although relevant and have crucially its leaders strategize, coordinate Texas will have $101.4 billion in and organize the Senate important value. available revenue for the biennial Republican agenda. budget, and the Rainy Day Fund !!!!!!"#$%#&'#()'&*+)(#,-#./-0&()######### With Republican leadership at is projected to reach $11.8 billion */)1,)/#/)'-2/3)'#,-#./-')32,-/'# the helm, Texas has experienced by the end of fiscal year 2015, 1+(#0&345'#-6#')7218#1''128,9 tremendous business, job and sound fiscal conservative policies population growth while so many remain the key to the states Texas Lt. Gov. Dewhurst voiced other states continue to struggle, future. his support for Huffmans Huffman said. It is important We need to make careful and legislation at a Houston news that Senate Republicans continue intelligent decisions about conference: This session, we are to work together on conservative, spending money wisely for those sending a strong, clear message to common sense solutions to the things that are important and vital those looking to harm our kids: many challenging issues facing us to the citizens of our state, not in Texas. this session. Huffman said. Said Huffman: I wrote this Meanwhile, the Lt. Governor has legislation to serve the publics appointed Sen. Huffman to the Key Dates interest in prosecuting those Senate Committee on Finance. Its March 8: Deadline for filing accused of committing the most main task is to prepare the all bills. heinous crimes against some of 2014-15 state budget. Huffman our most vulnerable citizens--our remains as vice chairwoman of March 11: First day Legislature can vote on bills. children--while still protecting the the Criminal Justice Committee constitutional rights of and will continue to serve on the April 18: TFRW Legislative Day. defendants. Health and Human Services and

Huffman Elected Senate GOP Caucus Chair; Joins Senate Finance Committee

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