Capital Highlights
Governor signs border security legislation
Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

A USTIN - Gov. Rick Perry signed SB 11 into law on June 6,

creating a border

security council to advise him on how to allocate funds along the Texas-Mexico border.

Perry will appoint all of the members of the council, and among its many duties, the council is to:

t Define the role of emergency management directors;

t Create disaster districts, outline the process for political subdivisions to request and provide mutual aid assistance; and

t Provide for reimbursement of costs.

The legislation, which takes effect Sept. 1, was authored by Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, and sponsored in the House by Rep. Frank Corte, R-San Antonio. SB 11 also does things such as:

t Allow up to 350 amateur radio operators who are state employees to be granted leave from their jobs so they can participate in emergency management activities;

t Expand wiretapping to catch kidnappers, human traffickers and money launderers;

t Authorize the Health and Human Services Commission to maintain a registry of immunization and medication administered during a disaster; and

t Expand information the state can collect about criminal street gangs.

Perry lauded the bill, saying it "removes bureaucratic hurdles when seconds count and lives are in jeopardy."

"If a city has been hit by a wildfire, a chemical spill, a biological threat, or an act of terrorism, bureaucracy should not impede compassion," he said.

Bill targets funeral disrupters

Gov. Perry on June 4 signed HB 1093 by Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. Geren's bill, which took effect as soon as the governor signed it, makes it illegal to disrupt the funeral service of a fallen member of the U.S. military.

The bill increases the distance barrier for individuals picketing from 500 feet to 1,000 feet of a facility or cemetery being used for a funeral service, beginning one hour before the service and ending one hour after the service is completed.

School food study to be done

The Texas Department of Agriculture wants to find out what schoolchildren are eating.

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples appointed a committee of 12 people to conduct a study of school breakfast, lunch and afterschool snack programs.

The study, due before the next school term starts, should help to:

t Determine if there are barriers to participation in school meal programs;

t Identify changes in the nutritional policy that would increase student wellness, increase meal participation and decrease obesity; and

t Examine availability of processed or prepackaged foods in meal programs and note the trans fat content of those foods. Governor signs smog control bill

Gov. Perry signed SB 12 into law on June 8, in support of the state's clean air incentive grant programs TERP (Texas Emissions Reduction Plan) and LIRAP (Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program).

SB 12 extends TERP to 2013 and raises the cap on amount of grant dollars allowed per ton of nitrogen oxide emission reduction from $13,000 to $15,000 per ton.

LIRAP, now tiered to allow vehicles up to two years old to qualify as replacement vehicles, also expands eligible participants to those who earn up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Bill to attract TV, film jobs

Gov. Perry signed HB 1934, the film incentive bill, a $22 million package to help Texas attract jobs in television and film production.

The bill provides filmmakers with grants equal to 5 percent of what they spend in Texas. To qualify, they must spend at least $1 million in Texas, shoot at least 80 percent of the project within state borders and hire at least 70 percent of actors, crew and extras in Texas.

The Texas Film Commission reports there were 32 film projects in the last four years that researched Texas for their production location but instead chose other states that offered incentives.

Ed Sterling is director of member services for the Texas Press Association in Austin.