Legislative Update From Senator Joan Huffman Page 1 of 6

From: Senator Joan Huffman <senatorjoanhuffman@gmail.com>

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

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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,

http://mail.aol.com/38289-111/aol-6/en-us/mail/PrintMessage.aspx 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 and voter 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
bills I'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 Lake Jackson Office Capitol Office

6217 Edloe St. 129 Circle Way, Suite 101 PO Box 12068
Houston, Texas 77005 Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: 713-662-3821 Phone: 979-480-0994 Phone: 512-463-0117
Fax: 713-682-3842 Fax: 979-480-9122 Fax: 512-463-0639

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Legislative Update from Senator Huffman

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