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15 Document(s) [ Subject: ]

Committee:	House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Appellate courts | Border issues | Court congestion | Drug courts | Family law courts | Guardianship | Juries | Operation Lone Star (Border security) | Specialty courts | Veterans courts |
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View report [49 pages  File size: 3,204 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine current caseloads and capacity issues for courts handling matters related to the Texas-Mexico border. Evaluate the preparedness of the court system to handle increases in caseloads that may result from the border crisis response and make recommendations to ensure the continued fair and efficient administration of justice in the state in addressing any increased caseloads. (Joint charge with Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues)
2.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation.
3.	Study potential solutions to improve the judicial efficiency of the state courts of appeals by analyzing caseloads and making appropriate recommendations.
4.	Evaluate the use and types of guardianships in Texas and the effect of guardianship on individual rights. Study the financial costs to families related to attaining and maintaining guardianship and compare costs to those associated with guardianship alternatives, such as supported decision-making.
5.	Study the operations of specialty courts. Determine whether additional specialty courts should be considered to address needs within specific populations. Review specialty court methods and best practices that have been implemented for specialty courts in other states, including their impact on judicial efficiency.
6.	Study state laws and procedures relating to jury service eligibility, including a review of existing jury exemptions, and make recommendations to ensure the privilege, right, and duty of jury service is protected and promoted.
Committee:	House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Coronavirus | Court records | Criminal justice | Guardianship | Highway construction | Juries | Jurisdiction (Legal) | Sex crimes | Sexual harassment | Statutes of limitation | Wills and estates |
Library Call Number:	L1836.86 J898
Session:	86th R.S. (2019)
Online version:	View report [79 pages  File size: 5,349 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following: HB 2899, which specifies that highway construction contractors are not liable for design defects. Investigate whether expansion of those policies to other areas of public/private contracting is in the best interest of the state. HB 3809, which raises the statute of limitations for suit for injuries from a sexual assault of a child from 15 years to 30 years. Study and deliberate ways to enhance protections for victims of sexual abuse. Review other Texas laws relating to reporting and investigating incidents of workplace sexual harassment. Make recommendations to remove barriers to reporting and investigating incidents of sexual harassment and to make improvements to existing policies where necessary. HB 4531, which authorizes adults under guardianship to consent to forensic medical examination protocols. Monitor the impact of the legislation on the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of sexual assault, and study the impact on other related offenses and the treatment and services provided to victims of those offenses. SB 2342, which increases the amount in controversy for certain courts and expedited proceedings and makes reforms to jury requirements in order to improve access to courts. Review the impact of the legislation on the administration of justice and access to courts for Texas citizens
2.	Study opportunities to modernize and improve local and statewide data collection throughout the criminal justice system in Texas, including improving the collection and reporting of court records, to promote transparency and ensure uniform data collection processes.
3.	Study the Rule Against Perpetuities as used by trusts. Examine whether statutory changes are necessary and appropriate to make Texas more competitive and keep trust capital and estate planning business in Texas.
4.	Monitor the State Auditor's review of agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Chair shall seek input and periodic briefings on completed audits for the 2019 and 2020 fiscal years and bring forth pertinent issues for full committee consideration.
5.	Compile information regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the judiciary, with particular reference to the following questions: 1. Have you had any difficulty acquiring PPE for your court, county, or staff? 2. How have your caseloads been impacted by COVID-19? Do you have a backlog of cases? 3. What has been your experience in using Zoom or other online platforms for court proceedings? 4. How has the pandemic impacted court staff, e.g. space, teleworking, flexible work shifts, etc.? *
Committee:	Senate State Affairs
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Campus carry | Eminent domain | Employees Retirement System of Texas | Ethics Commission, Texas | Ethics complaints | Freedom of religion | Government ethics | Guardianship | Guns | Judge salaries | Judicial selection | Military personnel | Open carry | Organized labor | Police chiefs | Public Integrity Unit | Public retirement systems | Religious conservatives (Politics) | Religious discrimination | Straight ticket voting | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | Texas Rangers (Law enforcement) | Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act | Voting systems | Weapons |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 St29a
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [70 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Religious Liberty: Examine measures to affirm 1st Amendment religious liberty protections in Texas, along with the relationship between local ordinances and state and federal law. Make recommendations to ensure that the government does not force individuals, organizations or businesses to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.
2.	Union Dues: Examine the practice of using public funds and employees for the payment processing of union dues. Make recommendations on whether Texas should end this practice.
3.	Chief Law Enforcement Officers: Examine whether there are chief law enforcement officers within the state who deny NFA applications without any cause. Examine the application and certification process and recommend ways to eliminate no-cause denials.
4.	Judicial Matters: Examine the need to adjust Texas judicial salaries to attract, maintain, and support a qualified judiciary capable of meeting the current and future needs of Texas and its citizens. Study and recommend whether Texas should delink legislators' standard service retirement annuities from district judge salaries. Examine the effect of eliminating straight-party voting for candidates for judicial office and make recommendations to ensure candidates are given individual consideration by voters.
5.	Eminent Domain: Gather and review data on the compensation provided to private property owners for property purchased or taken by entities with eminent domain authority. Examine the variance, if any, between the offers and the fair market values of properties taken through eminent domain. Make recommendations to ensure property owners are fairly compensated.
6.	Ethics: Review current ethics laws governing public officials and employees and recommend changes necessary to inspire the public’s confidence in a transparent and ethically principled government. Review public officials’ reporting requirements to the Texas Ethics Commission. Examine the categorization of ethics reporting violations and make recommendations to encourage accurate reporting and timely correction to inadvertent clerical errors.
7.	Monitoring Charge: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on State Affairs during the 84th R.S. and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following: 1) Implementation of open and campus carry legislation and determine if the current laws regulating the places that handguns can be carried are easily understood or if clarification is needed to ensure the average citizen understands when, where, and under what circumstances it is lawful to carry a weapon, versus when it is a criminal offense for which there may be a defense; 2) Requirements for guardianships; 3) The electronic voting program for certain military members serving overseas; 4) Changes made to the Employment Retirement System regarding member contributions and proposed reforms to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; and 5) The establishment of a public integrity unit under the authority of Texas Rangers.
Committee:	House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Asbestos lawsuits | Bankruptcy | Child custody | Court Administration, Texas Office of | Court costs and fees | Court records | Family violence | Guardianship | Lawsuit lending | Legislative intent | Ombudsmen | Protective orders | Rules and regulations | Statutory revision | Wills and estates |
Library Call Number:	L1836.82 J898
Session:	82nd R.S. (2011)
Online version:	View report [34 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the potential effects on victims of family and domestic violence in the judicial process if courts are allowed to issue agreed protective orders without a finding of violence.
2.	Study and make recommendations regarding the discrepancies in guardianship and child custody statutes. Review potential solutions to the problems surrounding "arbitrary and capricious" findings by trial court judges.
3.	Study the rules of statutory construction and establish a method of determining legislative intent.
4.	Study the degree of transparency in asbestos bankruptcy trusts and how it affects litigation of asbestos exposure claims in Texas courts.
5.	Study the public policy implications of lawsuit lending and its effects on the civil justice system.
6.	Study whether the asbestos and silica multidistrict litigation courts should be allowed to dismiss, without prejudice, claims on the courts' inactive dockets for want of prosecution under certain circumstances.
7.	Study best practices regarding corporate governance. Make recommendations on the confidentiality of communications to ombudsmen in order to provide more protections to complaining parties.
8.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 82nd Legislature.
Committee:	Senate Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the 82nd Legislature
Subjects:	Adult Protective Services | Aging and Disability Services, Texas Department of | At-risk youth | Child custody | Consumer credit and debt | Credit service organizations | Guardianship | Parents | Personally identifiable information |
Library Call Number:	L1836.81 J979
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View report [36 pages  File size: 932 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the effectiveness of current regulation and practices of debt management providers in Texas, including credit service organizations, and assess the extent to which individuals' estates are protected in transactions with debt management providers. Make recommendations to enhance protections.
2.	Study the guardianship program implemented by the Department of Aging and Disabilities and the Department of Adult Protective Services, including the efficiency and effectiveness of the program, the relationship between the two agencies, the appropriate rights for parents, and whether clients and their assets are adequately protected.
3.	Study and make recommendations to promote and enable confidential information sharing among state agencies and courts serving at-risk children and youth to ensure that comprehensive and appropriate services are being provided. The study should focus on the technological, legal, and fiscal barriers that prevent information sharing among these entities regarding affected children and youth.
4.	Evaluate the voluntary relative placement process in issues of guardianship and the ability of nonparent relatives to make decisions for children under their care. Monitor the progress and implementation of SB 1598 relating to an agreement authorizing a nonparent relative of a child to make certain decisions regarding the child.
5.	Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.
Committee:	Senate Health and Human Services
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 80th Legislature
Subjects:	211 telephone system | Adult Protective Services | Caseworkers | Child nutrition programs | Child Protective Services | Children's Health Insurance Program enrollment and eligibility | Children's mental health | Diet and nutrition | Family and Protective Services, Texas Department of | Federally qualified health centers | Guardianship | Health care | Immunizations | Influenza | Medicaid | Medical assistants | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Mentally ill persons | Nurses | Nursing shortages | Obesity | Pharmacists | Physical fitness | Physicians | Services for persons with disabilities | Social service agencies | Stem cell research | Telemedicine | Texas Emerging Technology Fund |
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 H349
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [201 pages  File size: 3,167 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study and make recommendations for improving delivery of Texas' mental health services; consider local and regional delivery systems including access to care, cost effectiveness, choice and competition, and quality of care.
2.	Monitor state and federal Medicaid reform proposals, including their impact on the Medicaid program in Texas, as well as cost-containment measures in other states, and make recommendations for legislative action, as appropriate.
3.	Study and make recommendations relating to filling shortages in the health care workforce and improving medical educational services. Evaluate the state's use of the National Health Service Corps and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to address the needs of the Medicaid/Medicare and underinsured populations
4.	Examine the strategies used by other states that have had success with FQHCs and make recommendations for increasing the number of FQHCs in Texas.
5.	Study and make recommendations relating to policy issues surrounding the use of emerging skin cell research, and other technologies.
6.	Study and make recommendations for improving vaccination rates and ensuring an adequate vaccination supply in the state. Include an analysis of vaccine manufacturing and purchasing policies.
7.	Evaluate and make recommendations relating to the creation of a comprehensive and statewide nutrition and physical activity plan to address obesity and chronic diseases. Examine options for funding components of such a plan.
8.	Monitor the implementation of SB 6, 79th R.S., relating to Child and Adult Protective Services. Study and make recommendations for development and enhancements to protocols for joint investigations by child protective service workers and law enforcement and for interviews with children for disclosure of abuse.
9.	Study the current use of the 2-1-1 network to provide access to information on federal, state, and local resources. Examine and make recommendations on strategies that improve the coordination of service information and expand the availability of information on services currently provided by community and faith-based organizations.
10.	Monitor the implementation of HB 2292, 78th R.S., relating to health and human services. Focus on implementation of service coordination and consolidation efforts to assess the impact on service quality, while reducing costs.
Committee:	Senate Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Senate Committee on Jurisprudence interim report : report the 80th Legislature
Subjects:	Alternative dispute resolution | Child support | County courts | Court costs and fees | Court records | Court reporters | Debt collection | Fines | Guardianship | Legal fees | Probate courts | Probation |
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 J979
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [121 pages  File size: 5,464 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine and make recommendations relating to the jurisdiction of statutory county courts, including the development of standardized language for Chapter 25, Government Code, to confer specific types of jurisdiction on statutory county courts and to ensure the statutes are clear and concise.
2.	Examine and make recommendations to improve court oversight of fiduciaries appointed to make financial and personal decisions for wards as well as those appointed to administer an estate or trust.
3.	Study and make recommendations relating to the use and cost benefits of electronic recording as an alternative method of preserving records of official court proceedings.
4.	Monitor the implementation of SB 1863, 79th R.S., specifically the Collection Improvement Program, which seeks to improve the collection of criminal court fees, fines and costs. Make recommendations to increase the effectiveness of the Collection Improvement Program and determine if any statutory changes are necessary.
5.	Study and make recommendations relating to the possible uses and need for statutory directives regarding the use of collaborative law procedures.
6.	Review statutes, regulations, guidelines, and formulas relating to child support and make recommendations, if necessary, to ensure adequate support, including educational expenses, for children.
Committee:	House Judicial Affairs
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Judicial Affairs, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2002 : a report to the House of Representatives, 78th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Campaign finance reform | Conflicts of interest | Contraceptives | County clerks | Court Administration, Texas Office of | Court costs and fees | Court reform | Crime prevention | District court clerks | Drug courts | Drug enforcement | Elder abuse | Electronic business filings | Ethics | Facsimiles | Guardianship | Judicial Council, Texas | Judicial districts | Judicial elections | Judicial selection | Law clerks | Redistricting | Searches and seizures | Senior citizens | Sex crimes | Tulia, Texas | Voter education | Wrongful convictions |
Library Call Number:	L1836.77 j899
Session:	77th R.S. (2001)
Online version:	View report [31 pages  File size: 242 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the Uniform Durable Power of Attorney Act, including witnessing, notarization, and notification; possible abuse of elders; refusal of financial institutions to accept Texas' law; and accounting and liability issues concerning attorneys-in-fact.
2.	Develop a plan for judicial redistricting as required by the Texas Constitution, Article V, Section 7a.
3.	Evaluate the rules of ethical conduct, conflict and disclosure for briefing clerks of the appellate courts.
4.	Study the feasibility of creating a statewide sexual assault prevention program.
5.	Make an assessment of all issues related to the current organization of the Texas Judicial Council and the Office of Court Administration. Consider the efficiency, responsiveness and accountability of the current organization, and make any appropriate recommendations for change.
6.	Monitor the progress of efforts to enable the filing of court documents of all kinds by facsimile or other electronic means, including the use of electronic signatures, actual or electronic notarization, and the need for verification.
7.	Assess the current state of judicial campaigns in regard to financing, accountability, immunity and candidate qualification. Make any appropriate reform recommendations.
8.	Study the fees assessed by district and county clerks for filing and processing civil cases and consider the establishment of a uniform schedule of fees.
9.	Actively monitor agencies and programs under the committee's oversight jurisdiction, including the new Court Interpreter's Board.
Committee:	Senate Health and Human Services, Interim
Title:	Interim report - Guardianship
Library Catalog Title:	Guardianship laws and practices in Texas / Senate Interim Committee on Health and Human Services.
Subjects:	Guardianship | Mentally disabled persons | Mentally ill persons | Persons with disabilities | Senior citizens |
Library Call Number:	L1836.72 g931
Session:	72nd R.S. (1991)
Online version:	View report [64 pages  File size: 1,891 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	The Committee shall study current laws relating to guardianship and the feasibility of establishing a public guardianship program in Texas. The Committee shall review existing programs, private programs, and offices of public guardianship in other states.
Committee:	Senate Human Resources
Title:	Interim Report - Alternate care and family violence issues
Library Catalog Title:	Response to Senate resolution 692 : review of alternative care, coordination of services, and family violence issues : 1980 report and recommendations / Senate Committee on Human Resources.
Subjects:	Family violence | Guardianship | Long-term care | Persons with disabilities | Protective orders | Senior citizens | Services for persons with disabilities |
Library Call Number:	L1836.66 l854
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View report [25 pages  File size: 1,061 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the following areas in furtherance of recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Long-Term Care Alternatives; (1) coordination of all services and programs for the aging through the appropriate agency or commission; (2) development of the means to protect the rights of the elderly in the area of self-determination; (3) monitoring the development of a single pre-admission assesment instrument and procedure for all applicants for community or institutional care administered by the Texas Department of Human Resources who are eligible for Medicaid and MAO; (4)further investigation of the transfer of assets by patients upon entry into long-term care facilities; (5) investigation of the difficulties encountered by the elderly and handicapped in obtaining adequate insurance coverage; and (6) monitoring the implementation of the various alternate care programs mandated by the 66th Legislature in an effort to ensure that the needs of all recipients are met.
2.	Conduct a study which includes monitoring the the contract system mandated by HB 1075, 65th R.S., between the Texas Department of Human Resources and certain family violence shelters in Texas, and also includes assessment of the services and needs of the shelters.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Senate Human Resources
Title:	SR 692
Library Call Number:	SR 692
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View document [3 pages  File size: 1,718 kb]
Committee:	Senate Human Resources Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs
Title:	Interim Report - Rights of the elderly and disabled
Library Catalog Title:	Final staff recommendations, Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs : report on the protection of the rights of the elderly and/or disabled in Texas.
Subjects:	Guardianship | Long-term care | Persons with disabilities | Senior citizens | Services for persons with disabilities |
Library Call Number:	L1836.66 c765re
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View report [81 pages  File size: 2,947 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Study the following areas in furtherance of recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Long-Term Care Alternatives; (1) coordination of all services and programs for the aging through the appropriate agency or commission; (2) development of the means to protect the rights of the elderly in the area of self-determination; (3) monitoring the development of a single pre-admission assesment instrument and procedure for all applicants for community or institutional care administered by the Texas Department of Human Resources who are eligible for Medicaid and MAO; (4)further investigation of the transfer of assets by patients upon entry into long-term care facilities; (5) investigation of the difficulties encountered by the elderly and handicapped in obtaining adequate insurance coverage; and (6) monitoring the implementation of the various alternate care programs mandated by the 66th Legislature in an effort to ensure that the needs of all recipients are met.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Senate Human Resources Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs
Title:	SR 692
Library Call Number:	SR 692
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View document [3 pages  File size: 1,718 kb]
Committee:	Senate Human Resources Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs
Title:	Press Releases
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1836.66 C765PR
Session:	66th R.S. (1979)
Online version:	View document [155 pages]
Committee:	House Judiciary
Title:	Interim Report - Probate Code
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report : proposed revision of the Texas probate code / Committee on the Judiciary, Sixty-sixth Legislature.
Subjects:	Guardianship | Probate courts | Statutory revision |
Library Call Number:	L1836.65 j898p
Session:	65th R.S. (1977)
Online version:	View report [78 pages  File size: 2,650 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	A review of the probate laws of Texas, including a study of the advantages and disadvantages of enacting, in whole or in part, the Uniform Probate Code. This study should also include recommendations as to the need for further recodification of the existing probate laws.

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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