May
29
It’s O-V-E-R!
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
As of late last night, the 80th regular legislative session is over!! Thank you so much for the phone calls and hard work you’ve put in all session long – your efforts have made a huge difference!
Below are updates on 3 major things –
1. A recap of the TAASA legislative agenda and how we fared
2. An explanation of Jessica’s Law
3. A list of other legislation relating to rape crisis centers or sexual assault survivors that was passed
May
23
MySpace Sex Offender Ban
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
This month, the popular social networking site MySpace.com launched a program that is designed to automatically identify, ban and delete any registered sex that tries to creat a MySpace profile. Additionally, earlier this week, MySpace agreed to share information on sex offenders using MySpace with state Attorneys General upon request.
TAASA supports any measure designed to increase safety, we are concerned that the MySpace bans may result in a false sense of security in users of MySpace.
In Texas, only 1 in 5 sexual assaults are every reported to law enforcement. Far fewer ever result in a conviction. When MySpace (or any social netowrking service) elects to ban registered sex offenders, they’re really impacting only a very small minority of sexual predators.
May
23
HB1751 passes the Senate!
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
The Texas Senate just passed HB1751!
Thank you so much to everyone who made phone calls to Senators and that encouraged family, friends and colleagues to call as well. Every single phone call made a huge impact, so give yourselves a huge pat on the back.
Next, the bill will return to the House , where Rep. Cohen can recommend to weither concur with the Senate amendment or to appoint a conference committee to work out the differences in the House and Senate version.
The Senate amendment did three things:
1. Strengthened the definition of sexually oriented businesses
2. Increased the amount of funding going to the sexual assault fund from $18 million to $25 million in recognition of the potential for an increase in demand for services in the future
3. Changed where the remaining funds raised would go from general revenue to the health opportunity pool (created by a bill passed by Senator Nelson), funding uncompensated care.
TAASA supports HB1751 as amended.
The appropriation of the funds raised by HB1751 is still up in the air. Much of the appropriations process happens in private, so when we know more, we’ll be sure to pass that on.
May
18
HB1751 passed out of committee!
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
HB1751 was voted out of Senate committee late today. No one testified in opposition of the bill, and Senators West, Nichols and Wentworth were the three yes votes. The other two committee members (Senator Gallegos and Senator Patrick) were absent.
The bill will be elegible to be heard on the Senate floor Tuesday, May 22. This is risky, as Wednesday, May 23 is the last day that the Senate can pass House bills.
May
16
HB 1751 hearing delayed…
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
Senator Gallegos, a committee member from Pasadena, has tagged HB1751. It was not heard today as planned, but should be heard Friday. More coming soon…
May
14
HB1751 to be heard in Senate Intergovernmental Relations Cmte
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
HB 1751, implementing an adult entertainment fee to finance sexual assault-related services, will be heard in the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee Wednesday, May 16. This is a good thing because the committee chair, Senator Royce West, is the bill’s Senate sponsor.
May
9
HB1751 Passes!
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
Finally. Now on to the Senate.
TAASA’s official statement on the passage of HB1751 through the House is as follows:
For Immediate Release – May 9, 2007
TAASA Statement on Passage of HB1751 through Texas House
Funds raised to benefit Texas sexual assault programming“The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) applauds the Texas House of Representatives on the passage of HB1751. The funds generated by implementing a $5 cover charge on specific sexually-oriented businesses are desperately needed to prevent sexual violence in Texas and to ensure that, if sexually assaulted, all Texans have access to high-quality care as they recover.
“Sexual violence is a pervasive problem in Texas. One in five Texas women and one in 20 Texas men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. Sexual assault is a crime that does not discriminate – it impacts every Texas community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic class.
“The legislation’s sponsor, freshman Rep. Ellen Cohen (D-Houston), worked extensively with Rep. Jim Keffer (R-Eastland), the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Beverly Woolley (R-Houston) and Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) to ensure passage of the bill. The legislation now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) will guide it through committee and to the Senate floor.
“Funds generated by the adult entertainment fee will finance research about sexual assault in Texas; efforts to prevent sexual violence; programs to improve the response to sexual violence by law enforcement, medical practitioners and victim advocates; and improvements in the management and treatment of convicted sex offenders.
About Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)
The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) is the statewide organization committed to ending sexual violence in Texas. A non-profit educational and advocacy organization based in Austin, TAASA member agencies comprise a statewide network of more than 80 crisis centers that serve rural as well as metropolitan areas. Founded in 1982, the agency has a strong record of success in community education, legal services, youth outreach, law enforcement training, legislative advocacy, and curricula and materials development. Additional information about TAASA can be found at www.taasa.org.# # #
May
9
HB1751 passes on second vote
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
Late Tuesday night, HB1751 passed on second reading. To view the bill or see how your Representative voted, click here. The bill will be read and voted on a third and final time today before being passed on to the Senate.
May
8
Texas Jessica’s Law receiving national ink
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | 1 Comment
Jessica’s Law in Texas, specifically the death penalty aspect, has captured media attention nationwide. Time magazine online posted the following article recently, and used TAASA as one of their sources. The piece does a great job of outlining the viewpoints of the many groups concerned about HB8.
Death Penalty for Child Molesters?
By Hilary Hylton/AustinIn the state that is the nation’s undisputed death penalty leader, Texas, you might think there is no such thing as a punishment considered too harsh. But as legislators there consider joining the small but growing number of states making certain convicted pedophiles eligible for the death penalty, a surprisingly vocal group of critics has emerged, arguing that the measure is shortsighted, counterproductive and probably unconstitutional.
For the full article, click here.
May
8
Jessica’s Law Conferees Announced
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Karen Amacker | Comments Off
Members of the conference committee for the Jessica Lunsford Act (HB8) were announced last week for both the House and Senate. They are as follows:
Senate:
Deuell (R-Greenville) – Chair
Brimer (R-Fort Worth)
Hinojosa (D-Mission)
Ogden (R-Bryan)
Shapiro (R-Plano)
House:
Riddle (R-Tomball) – Chair
Gattis (R-Georgetown)
Pena (D-Edinberg)
Madden (R-Richardson)
Deshotel (D-Beaumont)
TAASA staff will begin educating the conferees on TAASA’s concerns about Jessica’s Law this week.