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TALES FROM THE WEST TEXAS DUST 3/6/2001
What are those rascals in Austin up to now? FIND OUT HERE in the LATEST installment of the saga that is the 77th Legislative Session: (1.) BITS AND PIECES [Compiled from reports from the Austin American-Statesman (http://www.statesman.com), Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com) and the Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com)...please patronize these sites as you have opportunity to do so!] TEACHER'S INSURANCE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT...The issue of teacher health insurance has heated up again this week with more hearings and the return of Rep. Paul Sadler (D-Henderson, who heads a special House committee examining what's become one of the most contentious issues of the session. The committee has not met the past few weeks because Sadler has been out most of that time after a car accident that seriously injured his son. Both the House committee and the Senate Education Committee, headed by Teel Bivins, RAmarillo, have scheduled hearings today on health insurance for school employees. And apparently, it's generally one of the few issues on which most Texas Republicans and Democrats agree: School employees need state-funded health insurance. The problem is how to pay for it...Meanwhile, Senate Dems on Thursday endorsed a statewide teacher health insurance plan that would cost $2.65 billion a year but still allow small property tax cuts to occur in most school districts... THE PAROLE BOARD GETS ITS SAY...Testimony on a series of bills that would restructure and reorganize the 18-member Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will be heard in committee Tuesday. The House Corrections Committee will consider a bill that would require the board members to meet to discuss clemency issues. Another bill would require established work hours. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, has said it would improve accountability for board members, who are appointed by the governor. The committee also will hear testimony on another bill sponsored by Gallego that would reduce the board to six members, still appointed by the governor. That board could hire 18 parole commissioners to conduct prison release business. Board members make about $80,000 per year. With the fewer members, it would free up about $960,000, which would be divided among the commissioners... I THOUGHT THE ASBESTOS WAS ALREADY OUT OF HERE!!--Three bills that Texas Department of Health officials say would better protect workers and the public from asbestos hazards are scheduled to get a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday before the House Public Health Committee.
The copyright of the article TALES...LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP in Texas Culture is owned by Coy Holley. Permission to republish TALES...LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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