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HEARINGS 3/18-3/25
If you would like to make your position known on a bill and cannot register your position in person at a kiosk, or testify in person, please email the members of the committee directly and let them know if you are “FOR” or “AGAINST” a bill. Thank you!
You can find committee member lists & their email addresses here:
Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, Monday, March 18, 2019, 1:30 PM
For- HB 1139 Thompson, Senfronia | et al.
Relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with an intellectual disability. (The supreme court has ruled that sentencing someone with an IDD-Intellectual or Developmental Disability- to death violates the 8th amendment because it is cruel and unusual punishment).
Relating to the applicability of the death penalty to a capital offense committed by a person with an intellectual disability. (The supreme court has ruled that sentencing someone with an IDD-Intellectual or Developmental Disability- to death violates the 8th amendment because it is cruel and unusual punishment).
House Public Education Committee, 8:00 AM, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Room: E2.036
HB 1453 Bernal
For- Relating to updating requirements for special education training and the make up of the State Board for Educator Certification Board. (A special ed. certified teacher with classroom experience must be on the board that makes decisions on teacher certification requirements).
House Human Services Committee, Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Room: E2.030
10:30 AM or upon final adjournment / recess or bill referral if permission granted
For- HB 1585 González, Mary
Relating to a study on interest or other waiting lists maintained for certain Medicaid programs providing services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Senate Education Committee Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 9;00 AM
Room: E1.028
For- SB 213 Seliger
Relating to the use of individual graduation committees and other alternative methods to satisfy certain public high school graduation requirements. (This allows students in special education to graduate based on other factors like grades/coursework instead of STAAR & End of Course exams).
For- SB 1256
Requires TEA to make and maintain a list of teachers who cannot be hired or employed for a number of reasons and imposes penalties for those districts/schools that do so.
Against- SB 316 Hughes
Relating to the attorney general’s duty to defend public school teachers.
For-SB 364 Watson
Requires school districts to adopt a formal recess policy for the district.
For-SB 1256 Bettencourt
Relating to employing, terminating, and reporting the misconduct of public school personnel and related entity personnel, including creating a registry of persons ineligible for hire; creating criminal offenses.
Childcare Bill- assistance requested!
We are supporting HB 2883 & companion bill in Senate, SB 1744, to require childcare & after school care providers be trained about autism & disabilities, & prevent discrimination. We need the bills to go to a committee for a hearing! Please email or call members of Senate Health & Human Services (for SB 1744) AND House Human Services (for HB 2883) and ask them to support these bills!
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General information about testifying & logistics:
How to register your position or log in to testify from your own device while you’re at the Capitol (scroll down to “Mobile Device Access” once you open the link):
Senate Bills: The Senate usually has cards that you fill out by hand or you can try to register your position online here: https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/SWRSPublic/About.aspx\
If you use the kiosks at the Capitol, they look like ipads and are set up near hearing rooms. You can use them instead to register to testify OR to log your position on a bill if you cannot stay & testify. Als0, sometimes the Senate will have you fill out a card instead of registering online, so check at the hearing room, even if you just want to register your position.
Capitol Address: 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Capitol Visitor Parking Garage address: 1201 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Here are some great tips on testifying from Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities:
Please email Jacquie with any questions, or call 512-479-4199, Ext. 4.