legislative news
THE 85TH LEGISLATURE
(January 10, 2017 - may 29, 2017)
Key Dates for the 85th Legislative Session
Step 1: Educate Yourself
10 EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS MOST LIKELY TO IMPACT PEOPLE WITH IDD:
http://www.tcdd.texas.gov/hhsc-budget-request-10-things/
http://www.tcdd.texas.gov/public-policy/texas-legislature/hhsc-budget-request-85th-legislature/
SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES FACING THE 85TH LEGISLATURE:
http://www.teachthevote.org/news/2016/11/22/guest-post-special-education-issues-facing-the-85th-legislature/
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE COALITION OF TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES:
http://www.txdisabilities.org/legislative-agenda
AUTISM LIFE LINKS ADVOCACY & LEGISLATION:
https://autismlifelinelinks.org/Get-Help-Get-Involved#tab_advocacy
WORLD INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY:
What the Next Administration Can Do to Support Americans with Disabilities
https://wid.org/2016/12/02/post-election-results2016/
- Monday, May 29, 2017 — Sine Die (last day of legislative session)
- Sunday, June 18, 2017 — Last day governor can sign or veto bills passed during regular session
- Monday, August 28, 2017 (91st day following final adjournment of 85th Regular Session) — Date that bills without specific effective dates, other than bills with immediate effect, become law.
Step 1: Educate Yourself
- Visit the Texas Legislature Online website to follow the action and visit My TLO to create a list of bills to track.
- Learn how a bill becomes a law and how to follow a bill, see the “Guide to Texas Legislative Information (Revised)” PDF on the Texas Legislative Council Legislative Reference webpage.
- Learn how to read a bill, see “Reading Statutes and Bills” PDF on the Texas Legislative Council Legislative Reference webpage.
- Familiarize yourself with legislative language and terminology, see the “Guide to Texas Legislative Information (Revised)” PDF Appendix: Legislative Glossary on the Texas Legislative Council Legislative Reference webpage.
- Follow the legislature on the go with your mobile device.
- Make sure you are subscribed to receive eNews from TCDD. You can also receive updates by following TCDD on Twitter and ‘liking’ TCDD on Facebook.
- Find out who represents you in the Texas Legislature and contact them by phone, email or letter. You can also schedule an appointment to meet with your legislators and tell them how their decisions on the state budget and disability issues affect you and your family.
- Share your story at a committee hearing in person or in writing. View Texas Legislature House Committee Meetings notices and Texas Legislature Senate Committee Meetings notices to see which bills are scheduled to be considered at a particular committee meeting.
10 EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS MOST LIKELY TO IMPACT PEOPLE WITH IDD:
http://www.tcdd.texas.gov/hhsc-budget-request-10-things/
http://www.tcdd.texas.gov/public-policy/texas-legislature/hhsc-budget-request-85th-legislature/
SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES FACING THE 85TH LEGISLATURE:
http://www.teachthevote.org/news/2016/11/22/guest-post-special-education-issues-facing-the-85th-legislature/
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE COALITION OF TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES:
http://www.txdisabilities.org/legislative-agenda
AUTISM LIFE LINKS ADVOCACY & LEGISLATION:
https://autismlifelinelinks.org/Get-Help-Get-Involved#tab_advocacy
WORLD INSTITUTE ON DISABILITY:
What the Next Administration Can Do to Support Americans with Disabilities
https://wid.org/2016/12/02/post-election-results2016/
Let us know about legislative issues that are important to people with disabilities and their families. For information on state and federal bills go to http://bexar.tx.networkofcare.org/aging/legislate/index.cfm. Search by bill number or topic and sign up for email updates. If you would like information on a bill highlighted on this page, email us at [email protected] with a brief description of the issue and why you think it is important.
Click here to find out who represents you in the Texas and U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Download tips from The Arc of Texas that help you tell your story.
Learn about writing letters to elected officials and how to communicate when you visit the state capital.
Submit a Video Testimony to your Legislator. Shine On Group Homes is offering free Video Testimony services for individuals who are not able to make it up to Austin to visit with their state legislators. Contact Sheila Koeppen at (210) 646-7805 or [email protected] for information about your video testimony today.
Click here to find out who represents you in the Texas and U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
Download tips from The Arc of Texas that help you tell your story.
Learn about writing letters to elected officials and how to communicate when you visit the state capital.
Submit a Video Testimony to your Legislator. Shine On Group Homes is offering free Video Testimony services for individuals who are not able to make it up to Austin to visit with their state legislators. Contact Sheila Koeppen at (210) 646-7805 or [email protected] for information about your video testimony today.
Stakeholder Meetings For The Merger Of All Vocational Rehabilitation Services Into One Program (Deadline For Comments - January 27, 2017)
The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities is sharing information on public hearings regarding the merger of programs within the vocational rehabilitation system. If you have questions, please contact the Texas Workforce Commission at 512-463-8942 • www.texasworkforce.org.
On December 13, 2016, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced public stakeholder meetings for January 2017. These meetings will address combining the two designated state units (DSUs) into a single Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. TWC will seek public input on combining the two DSUs, including the proposed organizational structure, the combined VR goals and related policy changes. Presently VR is delivered through a Division for Blind Services and Division for Rehabilitation Services with distinct program and policy differences. The schedule, time and locations of the public meetings are listed below.
Monday, January 9 – Austin, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Texas Workforce Commission
101 E. 15th Street, 244
Austin, TX 78701
Thursday, January 12 – Harlingen, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Texas State Technical College Cultural Arts Center
1825 North Loop 499
Harlingen, TX 78550
Friday, January 13 – Houston, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
United Way Houston Community Resource Center
50 Waugh Drive
Houston, TX 77007
Thursday, January 19 – Lubbock, 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Workforce Solutions South Plains Workforce Development Board
1301 Broadway, Basement Level Conference Room
Lubbock, TX 79401
Friday, January 20 – Dallas, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Dallas County El Centro College – Bill J. Priest Campus, Room 1530
1402 N. Corinth St.
Dallas, TX 75215
TWC will have Communication Access Real-time Captioning (CART) services and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at each meeting. People who have additional communication or other accommodation needs who are planning to attend the public meetings should contact TWC Conference Planning at 512-463-6389 or by email at [email protected]. Requests for accommodations should be made five business days prior to the public meeting date.
The Commission will accept written comments until January 27, 2017.
Please send your comments by Friday, January 27, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. CST to TWC Policy Comments:
Email to [email protected]
Mail to TWC Policy Comments, Workforce Policy and Service Delivery, attn.: Workforce Editing, 101 East 15th St., Rm. 440T, Austin, Texas 78778
Fax to 512-475-3577
The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities is sharing information on public hearings regarding the merger of programs within the vocational rehabilitation system. If you have questions, please contact the Texas Workforce Commission at 512-463-8942 • www.texasworkforce.org.
On December 13, 2016, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced public stakeholder meetings for January 2017. These meetings will address combining the two designated state units (DSUs) into a single Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. TWC will seek public input on combining the two DSUs, including the proposed organizational structure, the combined VR goals and related policy changes. Presently VR is delivered through a Division for Blind Services and Division for Rehabilitation Services with distinct program and policy differences. The schedule, time and locations of the public meetings are listed below.
Monday, January 9 – Austin, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Texas Workforce Commission
101 E. 15th Street, 244
Austin, TX 78701
Thursday, January 12 – Harlingen, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Texas State Technical College Cultural Arts Center
1825 North Loop 499
Harlingen, TX 78550
Friday, January 13 – Houston, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
United Way Houston Community Resource Center
50 Waugh Drive
Houston, TX 77007
Thursday, January 19 – Lubbock, 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Workforce Solutions South Plains Workforce Development Board
1301 Broadway, Basement Level Conference Room
Lubbock, TX 79401
Friday, January 20 – Dallas, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Dallas County El Centro College – Bill J. Priest Campus, Room 1530
1402 N. Corinth St.
Dallas, TX 75215
TWC will have Communication Access Real-time Captioning (CART) services and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at each meeting. People who have additional communication or other accommodation needs who are planning to attend the public meetings should contact TWC Conference Planning at 512-463-6389 or by email at [email protected]. Requests for accommodations should be made five business days prior to the public meeting date.
The Commission will accept written comments until January 27, 2017.
Please send your comments by Friday, January 27, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. CST to TWC Policy Comments:
Email to [email protected]
Mail to TWC Policy Comments, Workforce Policy and Service Delivery, attn.: Workforce Editing, 101 East 15th St., Rm. 440T, Austin, Texas 78778
Fax to 512-475-3577
