Here are a few of the bills filed by state Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress:
House Bill 377
The bill would amend the state Transportation Code to allow the surviving spouse of certain military veterans—including distinguished flying cross medal recipients, World War II veterans, veterans recognized for extraordinary service, legion or merit medal recipients and defense superior service medal recipients—to register one vehicle for the specialty license plate that the veteran is otherwise eligible for, as long as the spouse remains unmarried. If passed, the law would take effect Sept. 1, 2017.
House Bill 378
The bill would require that online admission application forms for public institutions of higher education include a prominent link to the Texas Consumer Resource for Education and Workforce Statistics report on gainful employment. If passed with support of two-thirds of state legislators, the act would take effect immediately. If passed with less than two-thirds support, it would take effect Sept. 1, 2017. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the governing boards of public university systems would be required to comply no later than Jan. 1, 2018.
Here are a few of the bills filed by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston:
Senate Bill 151
The bill would require voter approval for a municipality to issue an obligation to fund all or part of an unfunded liability related to public pensions. If passed with support of two-thirds of state legislators, the act would take effect immediately. If passed with less than two-thirds support, it would take effect Sept. 1, 2017.
Senate Bill 152
The bill relates to municipal control of certain public retirement systems established for the benefit of municipal employees. It would allow a municipality that is the sponsoring authority of a public retirement system created under state statute—but is not a part of a statewide public retirement system—to adopt provisions that supplement or supersede the system's existing provisions. New provisions can relate to the source or amount of funding, benefit/participation/eligibility requirements and the administration of the system. New provisions would only apply to people who become eligible for membership in the system after Dec. 31, 2017. If passed with support of two-thirds of state legislators, the act would take effect immediately. If passed with less than two-thirds support, it would take effect Sept. 1, 2017.
Senate Bill 153
The bill would allow a person of 70 years of age or older to use an expired form of identification to vote if the identification is otherwise valid and is one of the following:
• Driver's license
• Election identification certificate
• Personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety
• U.S. military ID with photo
• U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
• U.S. passport
• License to carry handgun issued by the Department of Public Safety
If passed, the law would take effect Sept. 1, 2017.
Senate Bill 7
Bettencourt plans to file SB 7 on Friday, Nov. 18, which seeks to strengthen and enhance the educator misconduct law in Texas. The bill would strengthen the reporting and training requirements and establish penalties related to inappropriate educator-student relationships.
