Capitol Steps

from the office of Representative Ken Paxton

Texas Homeland Security

On October 1, 2001, Governor Rick Perry appointed the Texas Homeland Security task force.  This group worked under the direction of its Chair, then Land Commissioner David Dewhurst, to create a report for the Governor just five months later.  This report includes 44 recommendations to advance the state=s ability to detect, deter, and respond to terrorism.  Since the issuance of this report, the Governor has created a division in his office to obtain funding, strengthen communication among first responders, law enforcement officials and community leaders, and provide information to the public for the purpose of improved homeland security in Texas.

Since it was established, the Governor=s Homeland Security Division has secured hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government.  This funding was given for several different purposes, such as healthcare preparedness, border inspection, airport improvements, hospital preparedness, port security, equipment, training, and a national biocontainment laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

This Division also works closely with cities, counties, and Councils of Government to facilitate communication among local elected officials and emergency/law enforcement professionals to ensure a timely, coordinated effort among neighboring municipalities in the event of an emergency.  The Governor=s office also disburses federal funding to local jurisdictions for goods and services such as training, infrastructure and public awareness programs. 

Texas Homeland Security Division encourages everyone to remain diligent and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement immediately.  Additionally, tips may be reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Special Crimes Service, Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit at (866) 786-5972 or via email at Counter.Terrorism@txdps.state.tx.us. 

Some examples of suspicious activity listed on the Texas Homeland Security website include:

$        Someone showing unusual interest in utilities, government buildings, historic buildings, or similar infrastructure.  Pay particular attention to someone photographing, videotaping, inquiring about security, drawing diagrams or making notes about such facilities. 

$        Suspicious or abandoned packages, luggage, or mail in a crowded place, such as an airport, office building or shopping center. 

$        A stranger loitering in your neighborhood or a vehicle cruising the streets repeatedly.

$        Someone peering into cars or the windows of a home.

$        A high volume of traffic going to and coming from a home on a daily basis.

$        Someone loitering around schools, parks or secluded areas.

$        Strange odors coming from a house or building.

$        Open or broken doors and windows as a closed business or an unoccupied residence.

$        Someone tampering with electrical, gas or sewer systems without an identifiable company vehicle and uniform.

Efforts such as reporting suspicious behavior and preparing for a possible disaster are the responsibility of all Texans.  Next week, I will offer information on creating your own family safety plan and other ways to prepare in case of an emergency. In the meantime, for more information on Texas Homeland Security, please visit their website at http://www.texashomelandsecurity.com/.

Texas Historical Commission

Last week, First Lady Anita Perry was in town for the dedication of the City of McKinney as an official Texas Main Street City.  The Texas Historical Commission created the Texas Main Street Program to help cities revitalize their historic downtown areas and neighborhood commercial districts.  The purpose of the program is to preserve the heritage of local communities as well as encourage economic development in these areas.

Since it was established in 1981, more than 130 Texas cities have received assistance through the Texas Main Street Program.  The program is one of the most successful downtown revitalization programs in the nation and, as such, it has generated approximately $860 million in private reinvestment of Texas downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.  Additionally, the program has led to the creation of over 18,200 jobs and the establishment of 4,600 businesses.

In addition to the Texas Main Street Program, the Texas Historical Commission offers a number of other historical preservation programs, including:

The Certified Local Government Program - The Texas Historical Commission collaborates with state and federal agencies to offer this program, which helps local municipalities create and implement a strategy for preserving a wide-range of historic properties.  Such properties may include courthouses and historic residences. 

Texas Heritage Trail Program - This program is a combination of preservation and tourism and is designed to encourage economic growth and raise the public=s awareness of Texas= rich history and culture.

Historic Texas Cemetery Program - Because cemeteries serve as records of the past for many historians, the Commission created this program, which creates records for as many cemeteries as possible, designates family and community graveyards as official historic cemeteries, and encourages preservation of historic cemeteries.

Excavation and Archeological Projects - The Texas Historical Commission=s Archeology Division is responsible for the identification, protection, and preservation of archeological artifacts.  Through its marine archeological program, the Commission has excavated a ship from the coast of Texas relating to the famous 17th century explorer, La Salle.

The Texas Historical Commission has a number of other initiatives in addition to the programs and projects listed above.  For more information on the Texas Historical Commission, please visit their website at http://www.thc.state.tx.us/.

Special Session on Public School Finance

On April 15, Governor Perry signed a proclamation calling members of the legislature back to Austin for the purpose of considering legislation to address the public education finance system in Texas.  Specifically, the Governor requested members to consider legislation that will offer a more equitable distribution method to replace the Robin Hood plan, create a viable revenue option for school funding, and provide for performance-based incentives to schools that attain higher levels of achievement. The legislature and the Governor are specifically working to develop a new funding mechanism for our schools to both strengthen the quality of education in Texas and to bring property tax relief to property owners.   The session began April 20, 2004.

The House Select Committee on Public School Finance has met regularly since last summer and has and continues to solicit input from citizens and experts in order to formulate its legislation.  I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Committee, serve on the Cost Adjustments sub-committee, and offer suggestions based on feedback I have received from my constituents in Collin County.  

The Select Committee is currently meeting and debating issues concerning its school finance plan.  The Committee will then draft legislation and send it to the full House for debate late this week or early next week.  The House will deliberate and make necessary changes to the bill.  The House anticipates a vote will take place either the last week in April or the first week in May.

Once the bill passes the House, it will then be sent over to the Senate, where it will go through the committee process, be debated and changed.  The two chambers will then work to reach a consensus via a Conference Committee consisting of both House and Senate members.  Agreeing on a proposal that the Governor will approve and sign will be the most challenging and time-consuming part of this process.  However, because lawmakers are committed to developing a plan to improve education for all students while providing tax relief to property owners, we will continue to work toward creating and implementing the best possible solution for public school finance.                         

I will continue working in Austin until we finish the required business before us.  I welcome your input as we move forward with this process. For more information on the Governor=s proclamation, please see his website at www.governor.state.tx.us. As always, I consider it the highest privilege to serve you in the Texas House of Representatives.

Low Interest Loans Available to Many Homebuyers

Besides offering security and comfort, owning a home is often one of the best means for low to moderate income households to build financial security. For many, however, circumstances such as income or prevailing interest rates make home ownership seemingly unattainable. That is why there are state programs available to assist individuals with low to moderate income or other particular qualifications to help make the AAmerican dream@ a reality.

The First Time Homebuyer program is offered by the state of Texas to help Texans buy their first home. The program channels low interest rate mortgage revenue bond funds through participating Texas lenders to provide 30-year mortgage loans at interest rates as low as 4.99% to eligible families and individuals who are purchasing their first home or who have not owned a home in the past three years. Assistance is also available for down payments and closing costs. Eligibility is determined by a variety of factors, including income and first time homebuyer status.

You may view and download the participating lender list along with a complete information packet from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs' website at www.tdhca.state.tx.us.  Or, you may request that a package be mailed to you by calling 1-800-792-1119.

Another program for homebuyers is directed at assisting veterans with financing to purchase a home. The Veterans Housing Assistance Program (VHAP), administered through the Texas Veteran's Land Board, provides financing up to $240,000 toward the purchase of a home to qualified Texas veterans. The term of the loan can be 15, 20, 25 or 30 years.

There is no maximum sales price with the VHAP; however, the Veteran's Land Board can only loan up to $240,000 towards the purchase. If the purchase price is more than $240,000, the VHAP can be used in conjunction with Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veterans Administration (VA) or conventional financing. All Veteran's Land Board loans are subject to credit approval. For more information on the Veterans Housing Assistance Program, contact the Veteran's Land Board at 1-800-252-VETS (8387) or visit the Board's website at www.glo.state.tx.us/vlb.

Finally, the Texas Professional Educators Home Loan Program is designed for teachers, full-time paid teachers= aides, librarians, school nurses and school counselors. This program provides home ownership opportunities to eligible professional educators through affordable 30-year mortgages with down payment and/or closing cost assistance.

Eligible teachers and educators must apply through a participating lender. A list of lenders, details on the application process and more information on the program, including eligibility requirements, can be found at www.tsahc.com/programs/single_proed.php.   

Special Session and House Bill 1

In an effort to improve public education in Texas, the Texas House passed House Bill 1 on Wednesday, May 5th.  I have heard misinformation about the legislation that we sent to the Senate, and I would like to take this opportunity to clarify our actions and the misconceptions that many people have had.

The Select Committee on School Finance has met regularly and worked diligently over the past 11 months to find a fair and cost-effective solution to finance public schools in Texas while improving the quality of education for all public school students.  The House worked to address the public's call for a more simple distribution method making it possible for the general public to see how and to whom the state gives money.  We also developed an accountability system to produce data that would assist educators in their quest to give the best education possible to our children and other ways to make our system the most effective and efficient possible.

The Committee commissioned a team of researchers to conduct multiple studies.  This team of researchers used the results of these studies to propose new ideas to the  Committee.  Much of what is in HB 1 stems from those studies.  To give districts, teachers and parents more local control, we provided block grants for districts. We also created an accountability system that stems from a "results based" approach and, rather than telling teachers exactly what to do in their classrooms, we described the end results desired to allow teachers, principals and districts to come up with the best methods for their children.  We provided more money for high schools because studies indicate that it is more expensive to teach high school students than elementary students, and we provided allotments for bilingual education, accelerated education and special education.

Some other highlights from HB 1 include:

_           $3 billion in school property tax relief, reducing the rate 30 cents from $1.50 to $1.20 for all properties in Texas.  That represents a 20% school property tax cut.

_           A vehicle to increase funding by at least $600 million of new money for schools.  The Legislature's goal is to do even better.

_           Assurances that no school district gets less money than they do under current law.  The Legislature's goal is to do even better.

_           $1000 for health insurance pass-throughs for teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses.

_           An incentive program to reward our best teachers by providing grants to local school districts to support performance incentive plans designed in consultation with teachers.

_           Formulas increasing school funding as inflation rises and strengthening the linkage between funding and results.

_           An improved accountability system in Texas with a focus on high school reforms and, for the first time, accountability for the quality of bilingual education programs.

_           A much higher degree of equalization than in the current system.

The process has just begun, and I believe that we are moving in the right direction.   There is still a lot of work ahead, and I will continue to work for a school system that provides quality education to the children of Texas while maintaining the positive business environment that is crucial to our economy.

Please contact me at ken.paxton@house.state.tx.us or by calling 972/562-4543 or 512/463-0356 with any comments or concern.