Weekly Newsletter: March 20, 2011
March 20, 2011
Dear Friends,
The legislative session reached its midway point this week, and it has been plenty busy!
This week I laid out my first bills in the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence.
HB 976 allows for the use of advanced technology to aid law enforcement in procuring warrants and summonses. We heard testimony from various groups and agencies that feel that this bill, as written, would help law enforcement do their jobs better by making it faster and more efficient to request and receive a warrant. Representatives from Dallas County, as well as the Chief Magistrate for Dallas County, Judge Boyd Patterson, testified on its behalf.
HB 1343, which would clear up some legal red tape in the prosecution of mortgage fraud, was also heard. Testimony was heard from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, as well as the Texas Association of Appraisers, who spoke of the need for the increase in the efficiency of prosecuting those engaged in mortgage fraud. This bill is a priority item at Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office.
In the Committee on Energy Resources, I heard testimony on the first set of bills. These ranged from increased efficiency for public school buildings and the odorization of certain toxic gases in populated areas to the issuance of drilling permits within certain boundaries near schools.
My office also hosted two Spring Break interns, Teresa Peña of Mountain View College and Adan Ramirez of Eastfield College, both from the Dallas County Community College District. They were incredibly helpful and able to sit in on some committee hearings and a floor session, where they saw the process of lawmaking.
It was also a pleasure to welcome numerous constituents to my office here in Austin, including the Hord Family who brought along their beautiful children. If you’re ever in Austin, drop by my office and say hello!
Next week promises to be an eventful one as SB 14, also known as the voter ID bill (of which I am a cosponsor), will be laid out for debate on the House floor starting on Monday. Stay in touch by visiting my House website.
As always, I’m honored to be your voice in Austin.
Sincerely,
Stefani Carter
