Capitol Newsletter

OFFICE OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS PAUL Texas House of Representatives Fights to Eradicate Human Trafficking Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed HB 10, a bill aimed at curbing, catching and stopping the criminals committing the crime of human trafficking in the state of Texas. Specifically, HB 10, would among other things, create a Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit, require the Texas Education Agency to report trafficking of a child, and make it easier for victims of trafficking to seek compensation from the Crime Auxiliary Fund.   The intent of HB 10 is to curb coerced prostitution and sex trafficking within the state of Texas. To achieve that goal this bill would expand the power and authority of the Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force that is under the jurisdiction of the office of the Attorney General. According to data from the Texas Crime Information Center, the number of state charges for trafficking has increased annually over the past five years so this clearly continues to be an ongoing issue in Texas.  I was happy to support this bill to help put a stop to this horrible crime in Houston and across Texas.    Border Security-A Top Priority of the Texas House of Representatives   $418.3 million in available funds have been appropriated to DPS, TPWD, the Trustee Programs within the Office of the Governor, and Texas Department of Criminal Justice in House Bill 1 for border security.  The majority of the funding, $407.2, was provided to DPS for border security.  Through the committee process, an additional $105 million was appropriated to provide 300 additional troops over the next biennium, 250 to be at the border.    All funds for Article V, Public Safety and Criminal Justice agencies for the 2016-2017 biennium total $11,378.8 million, tis is a reduction of $386.4 million or 3.3% from 2014-2015 biennium.  All fund reductions are primarily the result of the reduction in estimated federal funds.  The House is taking immediate action on border security, and will begin floor debate on HB 11 soon.  For more information on legislation, please visit the Texas Legislature Online.   House Appropriations Committee to fully fund TRS-Care!   The House will commit an estimated $768 million in the supplemental bill (HB 2) to fully fund TRS-Care, a health insurance program for retired teachers (TRS).  TRS-Care covers more than 250, 000 people.  This conservative measure will fill the short term gap in retiree health insurance funding.  It will also help retired teachers avoid premium increases over the biennium.    Without new money, TRS-Care will have accrued an estimated $768 million shortfall by the end of the fiscal year 2017.  Given the uncertainty that the Affordable Care Act has brought to the healthcare system, it is important to make this commitment to our retired teachers.  We can fix the underlying issues once we get a better grasp of what healthcare in Texas will look like going forward.     Texas House proposes its fix to Employee Retirement System House Bill 1 provides the necessary funding to make the ERS pension system actuarially sound.  Employees, who are already scheduled to have a 7.2% contribution rate, will now be putting in 9.5%. The State is constitutionally forbidden from contributing more than 10% and HB1 provides for 9.5% state contribution and .5% agency contribution (total of 10%). Capitol Visitor Information   My staff and I welcome everyone to visit our office as well as the historic Capitol building.  If you are planning a trip to the Capitol be sure to stop by our office, Room E2.814.  Here are some helpful tips for your visit: Texas Capitol Visitor Center Texas State Preservation Board The Bullock Texas State History Museum State Representative Dennis Paul       Texas State Capitol P.O. Box 2910 Office: E2.814 Austin, TX 78768 512-463-0734 Office 512-463-0401 Fax District Office 17225 El Camino Real, Suite 415 Houston, TX  77058 (Coming Soon)   STAY CONNECTED

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