State Representative Al Edwards
Legislative Accomplishments
A recap of his successes from the 81st Legislative Session
A recap of his successes from the 81st Legislative Session
31 Successful pieces of Legislation, Out of 99 Pieces with which he was involved
Authored Legislation by Rep. Edwards which became law in 81st Legislative Session:
HB 2154- Bringing Doctors to Needy Communities- This historic piece of legislation provides significant loan repayment assistance to Primary Care Physicians who agree to practice in underserved and needy areas. In fact areas of District 146, including Sunnyside & South Park and the Central Care Community Health Center, are designated as underserved areas, which is why I fought so strongly for this legislation. This bill will help underserved areas and Community Health Centers to attract doctors to serve in the area, thereby leading to better health care access for the most needy residents of our area. Also, this historic bill provided the funding for small business tax cuts for those with revenues up to $1 million.
HB 2153- Homeless Sex Offender Registration- Another key piece of legislation, I passed HB 2153 to help protect our children from the horrors of sex offenders. This bill closes a loophole in the sex offender registration laws which previously did not allow for the tracking of sex offenders who claimed to be "homeless". Our police had no way to know where these sex offenders were. With the passage of this bill, a sex offender who claims to be "homeless" would be required to physically check-in to law enforcement authorities where they are located at least once every 30 days and give a description of the location or area in which they are staying. This new piece of legislation will significantly help law enforcement to protect citizens from sex offenders.
HB 3206- Pollution Control Tax Credits- This successful bill establishes a framework for industrial companies to apply for and receive pollution control equipment tax credits on a fair and equitable basis. The bill sets up a TCEQ regulator-driven formal application process to ensure that evaluation methods for the tax credit applications is based on the actual pollution control usage of the equipment in question. This will stop industrial companies for receiving tax breaks on equipment that is used to make profits and not control pollution, which has been costing our school districts, counties, and even homeowners by not requiring these companies to pay their fair share.
HB 4777- Which creates a new management district in District 146 that will beautify the community and bring about job development South of the 610/Astrodome area which will brings thousands of jobs and homes to District 146.
Sponsored Legislation by Rep. Edwards which became law in 81st Session:
SB 1377- Crime Victim Fund Solvency- I sponsored this successful piece of legislation which is designed to ensure that the Crime Victims Compensation Fund remains a solvent source of funds to provide victims of crime financial assistance to help get their lives back in order. This bill provides a mechanism so that 50% of year-end balance funds greater than $5 million which accumulate in the Crime Victims Compensation Auxiliary Fund are automatically directed to the main Crime Victims Compensation Fund. This great bill will ensure that payments to victims for costs incurred as a result of a crime committed such as medical bills or counseling are available to be made. In recent years the Crime Victims Compensation Fund had been in danger of insolvency, with this bill's passage in the future this will no longer be the case.
SB 1206- Helping Good Prisoners Get Out (Bill vetoed by Gov. Perry)
I also sponsored this necessary piece of legislation to reduce the delays for the processing of parole for incarcerated persons. This bill only affects inmates who had been granted parole contingent upon completion of a rehabilitation program. Offenders were completing all their necessary programs and requirements needed to be released, however they were doing so earlier than their estimated completion date. The delays in releasing these offenders for parole limited bed capacity and causing a back log in the system producing further unnecessary expenses. The bill, as passed, allows a range of dates to release these offenders only once they've completed their approved rehabilitation program, in a range of time which is 15 to 45 days prior to the established target completion date. This streamlining process will help save the state $13.5 million over the next two years.
Rep. Edwards' Joint-Authored Legislation which became law in the 81st Session:
HB 67/ SB 487- Creating a health insurance buy-in for parents with children with mental development disabilities.
HB 200- Streamlining continuing education requirements for public school principals.
HB 610- Establishing the Legislative Committee on Aging, which will study issues affecting the elderly population in Texas and make recommendations to the Legislature on how to provide a better quality of life for our seniors.
HB 968- Regulating the use of crossbows for hunting.
HB 1637- Which clarified the normal weekly hours of work under the shared work unemployment compensation program to ensure that benefits are available for those in need.
HB 1830- Which created a streamlined and efficient structure for information technology security practices amongst State Agencies.
HB 1831- Revising and establishing new disaster preparedness & emergency management practices.
HB 2242- Abolishes the Texas cultural endowment fund and transfers the balance to the Texas Commission for the Arts.
HB 2729- Relating to payment of certain judgments against the State of Texas.
HB 2806- Relating to the reinstatement of a firefighter or police officer to a previously held position based on seniority on the return of another firefighter or police officer from a military leave of absence.
HB 3226- Relating to the payment of temporary housing costs for certain individuals who are released or are eligible for release on parole or to mandatory supervision.
HB 3857- Relating to foreclosure of liens on real property and certain personal property owned by members or dependents of the military; providing a criminal penalty.
Co-Authored Legislation by Rep. Edwards which became law in the 81st Session:
HB 3- Reforming the public school educational system's accountability, curriculum, and promotion requirements.
HB 38/SB 297- Provides in-state college tuition to veterans whose residence is outside of Texas.
HB 51- Establishes a pathway for additional Tier 1 colleges & universities in Texas, including the University of Houston.
HB 394- Allows small businesses with less than 250 employees to become eligible for funding opportunities from the Texas Enterprise Fund.
HB 795/SB 482- Establishes the Texas Holocaust & Genocide Commission.
HB 873- Provides incentives for film, television, video, and digital interactive media production companies for filming in Texas.
HB 1310- Regulation of tanning facilities.
HB 1452- Enhances the eligibility for participation in job training and employment assistance programs by veterans in Texas.
HB 3097- Creates the Texas Dept of Motor Vehicles to streamline registration issues.
HB 3452- Establishes the Texas Armed Services Scholarship in Texas.
HB 3613- Provides property tax exemptions for disabled veterans.
HJR 39- Historic Civil Rights measure ratifying the Texas Constitution to prohibit use of poll taxes.
SB 455- Regulating the practice of dental assistants.
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