Bill Analysis

BILL NAME SESSION ANALYSIS
HB 5 85(R) - 2017 This bill would make the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) a standalone state agency instead of remaining under the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). This effectively removes the HHSC executive director out of the chain of command of DFPS. Significantly, the DFPS commissioner would now be appointed by the governor and serve at the governor’s pleasure rather than being appointed by and serving at the pleasure...Read More
HB 4 85(R) - 2017 This bill would allow the Department of Family and Protective Services to give monetary assistance to relative caregivers with family income of less than or equal to 300% of the federal poverty level. The bill  would require the department to provide assistance to a relative "caregiver who has a family income that is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty level" at a rate not to exceed 50% of the department's daily...Read More
HB 3563 85(R) - 2017 This bill would change the notification requirements for schools to notify a parent or guardian regarding certain teachers. The current law requires notification when a teacher is not highly qualified. This would change that to require notification when a teacher does not meet certification requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher is assigned.Read More
HB 3484 85(R) - 2017 HB 3484 would add a subsection to the Tax Code that would authorize certain municipalities to use the revenue collected from the hotel occupancy tax for sports facilities and fields for the purpose of promoting tourism and the convention and hotel industry.This bill is a local bracketed bill which would only pertain to certain municipalities eligible to use the funds collect to encourage tourism and develop municipally owned convention centers...Read More
HB 970 85(R) - 2017 This bill would create a state plan for prevention and treatment of diseases caused by streptococcus pneumoniae using existing resources.Read More
HB 3124 85(R) - 2017 This bill would allow health benefit plan issuers to release certain physician specific comparison data to a participating physician or designated entity. The measures and methodology used for cost comparison would be required to use risk and severity adjustments to account for health status differences among different patient populations. The health benefit plan issuers would also be required to give notice to the participating physicians...Read More
HB 2931 85(R) - 2017 This bill would make nonsubstantive conforming changes to certain sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This bill does not make any substantive changes. Read More
HB 2466 85(R) - 2017 HB 2466 would require the Health and Human Services Commission to include in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program a maternal depression screening for an enrollee’s mother before the enrollee’s first birthday.Read More
HB 2068 85(R) - 2017 HB 2068 amends code relating to the repeal and redirection of fees associated with the driver responsibility program (DRP).   Current law states that the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP), which was enacted in 2003, requires the Texas Department of Public Safety to apply surcharges to individuals with certain traffic convictions.   First, the bill would modify fees associated with certain state traffic...Read More
HB 2115 85(R) - 2017 HB 2115 would amend the Transportation Code to create a new specialty license plate for people who serve or have served in the Third United States Infantry Regiment as a guard for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.Read More
HB 2053 85(R) - 2017 HB 2053 would amend the Labor Code to have the Workers’ Compensation Division maintain an investigation unit to now conduct investigations related to alleged criminal offenses. Also, an offense would now be classified as a Class A misdemeanor if the value of benefits or premium avoided is less than $2,500, a $1,000 increase from current law. An offense would constitute a state jail felony if the value of benefits or premium avoided is...Read More
HB 2008 85(R) - 2017 HB 2008 would amend the Finance Code to prohibit a lender who engages in a deferred presentment transaction with a member of the U.S. military or a dependent of a member from charging interest unless agreed to under the terms of the credit agreement or promissory note.Read More
HB 1570 85(R) - 2017 Under current law, the Texas Department of Public Safety is authorized to create and establish training procedures in order to certify municipal law enforcement officers of certain specified municipalities so that they may enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. Only officers in statutorily bracketed municipalities may apply for the certification.HB 1570 is a local bracketed bill which would allow officers in the bracketed municipalities...Read More
HB 1494 85(R) - 2017 HB 1494 is a bracketed bill for the City of Rockport. This bill would allow the municipality to allocate up to 30 percent of revenue from hotel occupancy taxes to the encouragement of the arts, subject to certain conditions.Read More
HB 846 85(R) - 2017 HB 846 would amend the Education Code to mandate that a public or private institution of higher education may not impose additional obligations or burdens concerning payment or registration on a student eligible for state and federal student financial assistance programs available to veterans or their family members that are not otherwise required by those programs. A public or private university would also be required to adopt a deferred...Read More
HB 1442 85(R) - 2017 This bill would slightly modify the portion of the code pertaining to the release of a defendant on bond pending appeal. If a defendant has been convicted of a misdemeanor and is incarcerated pending the determination of their motion for a new trial, or for an appeal, they would be entitled to release after the completion of their sentence of confinement for their conviction. The court may require the defendant to give a personal bond...Read More
HB 1355 85(R) - 2017 Under current law, the Texas Department of Public Safety is authorized to create and establish training procedures in order to certify municipal law enforcement officers of certain specified municipalities so that they may enforce commercial motor vehicle safety standards. Only officers in statutorily bracketed municipalities may apply for the certification.   HB 1355 is a local bracketed bill which would allow officers...Read More
HB 1217 85(R) - 2017 This bill would establish guidelines and procedures for online notarization. The Secretary of State would be tasked with developing and maintaining certain standards for credential analysis and identity proofing. This bill provides some guidelines such as the requirement that the notary public shall keep an electronic record of notarizations, security for the electronic signature, and requirements for verifying one’s identity. In addition,...Read More
HB 785 85(R) - 2017 This bill would require a physician to inform a patient getting an assisted reproduction procedure involving the creation of a human embryo of the option of embryo donation for unused human embryos. The bill would also require the Department of Health to put information regarding embryo donation on the department's website.Read More
HB 561 85(R) - 2017 HB 561 would amend current Transportation Code by adding a new subchapter that would regulate package delivery vehicles. The vehicles regulated in this subchapter include: all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, motor carriers, neighborhood electric vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles, and utility vehicles.   The bill would require package delivery vehicles be equipped with license plates designating the vehicles...Read More