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June 8, 2018

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter.

This week was a busy week for my staff and me. On Tuesday, the Commission on Public School Finance met to discuss the various constraints and unfunded mandates that are put on Superintendents and school districts. On Wednesday, the Expenditures Workgroup of the commission met. In this meeting we discussed various weights of the school finance system. In the coming weeks, we will be finalizing our recommendations to the full commission to update the mechanics of the complicated school finance system. If you would like to include your input, you can email all of the commission members at schoolfinancecommission@tea.texas.gov with any questions, concerns, or feedback.

I want to make you aware that the San Jacinto Watershed Community Meeting scheduled for June 14th has been postponed. My office has yet to receive information regarding the details of the new meeting, but I will let you know as soon as I can. In the meantime, please continue to monitor the Harris County Flood Control District's website. It will contain the most up-to-date information about the upcoming meetings.

The General Land Office has also launched a new survey to understand the housing needs of those areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. A link to the survey and more information can be found below.

Please note that as of this week my Legislative Director, Molly Spratt, is the only full-time staff member in the Capitol office. If you call the Capitol office and require assistance, please be sure to leave a message if you do not get a hold of her. She is likely on the other line or in a meeting. She will respond to you as soon as possible. Remember that you can also reach me and my staff via email. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.

I hope that you and your family enjoy your weekend.


Sincerely, 
Upcoming Events
June 2018 Calendar - now updated


Download my June 2018 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could fun or useful to you and your family! This new format allows you to save the document for printing or sending to your family members.
Hurricane Harvey Updates
San Jacinto River Watershed Community Meeting
Kingwood Meeting POSTPONED
POSTPONED (Kingwood) San Jacinto River Watershed: The meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, June 14, at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood, Texas, 77345, will be rescheduled. Once a new date is available, we will relay that information to the community.

Please continue to check HCFCD's website for updates on scheduled meetings within your watershed. If you are unsure which watershed you reside in, please visit the interactive map. The meetings will conclude August 1, allowing time for county officials to finalize the bond package for voters. 

Harris County Commissioners Court is expected to vote on June 12 to place a $2.5 billion flood bond issue on the August 25 ballot. If approved, issuance of bonds would be spread over 15 years, and the expected Flood Control tax increase for most homeowners would be limited to 1.4 percent or less. 
 
For more information, please contact Harris County Flood Control District Bond Program Hotline at 713-684-4107. 
GLO: Housing Needs Survey
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced this week that the General Land Office (GLO) is partnering with researchers at the University of Texas at Austin's (UT) Bureau of Business Research, part of the IC2 Institute, to conduct a survey seeking feedback from homeowners and renters to assess the status of the remaining needs resulting from Hurricane Harvey. The results of the survey will help the GLO identify the most appropriate type of housing assistance for those in the 49 impacted Texas counties that will be receiving Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  
 
Researchers at UT helped design the survey and, after responses are collected, will analyze the results and make recommendations to the GLO about how housing needs vary among the 49 counties affected by Hurricane Harvey. For example, some areas may have greater need for affordable rentals, while other areas may have a greater need for homeowner reimbursement for reconstruction and repairs. This analysis will help inform the needs assessments associated with many of the recovery programs the GLO plans to administer.
 
The GLO is responsible for coordinating with federal agencies and community officials to support Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts, including the short-term housing assistance programs in coordination with FEMA and the administration of CDBG-DR funds allocated by HUD. 
 
The survey will be open for two weeks starting June 4. The results will be analyzed and submitted to the GLO in late June. Individuals whose housing was affected by Hurricane Harvey may participate in the short survey by visiting www.harveysurvey.com

Texas Task Force 1
Texas Task Force 1 just completed an aerial search-and-rescue exercise, which we believe was the largest in the country, including the Texas Military Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and about 20 other state and federal agencies.

It is that kind of preparation that allowed the Task Force to receive the highest score ever - 99 out of 100 - for its performance during Hurricane Harvey. Aggies should be proud that our own Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service trains, equips and funds Texas Task Force 1.

See a video of daytime and nighttime helicopter exercises below.
Face-to-Face Claims Help at Houston Flood Insurance Week
Hurricane season arrived last week, even as thousands of Texans continue to rebuild and recover from last year’s devastating Hurricane Harvey. This season’s weather is dangerous and unpredictable, but there are steps you can take to keep your family safe in case of a hurricane and ease your transition to recovery:  

  • Prepare an emergency kit: Include water, food and medications for at least three days as well as some cash, a first aid kit, a flashlight, batteries and any important documents you can’t lose or will need if you evacuate. Consider purchasing a portable generator and external batteries or portable chargers for your cell phone. Don’t forget about your pets’ needs. 
  • Know where to go: Do you know your local hurricane evacuation route? After you evacuate, do you have a planned destination? If you don’t have time to evacuate, do you know where to find a safe room or storm shelter?
  • Get insured: Flood insurance, wind insurance and homeowners insurance cover different things. Make sure you understand your policies, or you could end up with a huge bill. Learn more at https://go.usa.gov/xQ7px.   
  • Download the FEMA app: It provides alerts from the National Weather Service, safety reminders, tips to survive natural disasters, an emergency checklist and up-to-date information about shelters and where to speak with FEMA in person or on the phone. Get the app at www.fema.gov/mobile-app.
  • Sign up/watch for alerts: Many communities have text or email emergency-notification systems, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s Weather Radio (www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr) and www.hurricanes.gov provide updates. You also can pick up an emergency radio, which receives alerts and can be charged by solar power or hand crank.
  • Practice: The best way to make sure your family knows what to do when disaster strikes is to practice responding to an emergency.
  • Prepare yourself financially: Check out FEMA’s new Emergency Financial First Aid Kit at https://go.usa.gov/xQ7pC to see how you can strengthen your financial preparedness for disasters and emergencies.
  • Visit www.ready.gov to learn more about improving your family’s disaster preparedness.

Planning and preparation are crucial to keeping your family safe, mitigating damage and quickly recovering once a storm passes. Don’t sit back and wait for a natural disaster to impact your life. Get yourself, your home and your family ready today.

For more information on Hurricane Harvey and Texas recovery, visit the Hurricane Harvey disaster web page at www.fema.gov/disaster/4332, Facebook at www.facebook.com/FEMAharvey, the FEMA Region 6 Twitter account at www.twitter.com/FEMARegion6 or the Texas Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.dps.texas.gov/dem/.
Austin Updates
Texas Education Agency
Hurricane Harvey Waiver Criteria for State Accountability

Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced today that campuses, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools directly affected by Hurricane Harvey will be eligible for special evaluation in this year’s state accountability ...

Read more
tea.texas.gov
Texas Comptroller
TX Sales Tax Revenue Totaled $2.76B in May

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2018 (AUSTIN) - Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $2.76 billion in May, 10.2 percent more than in May 2017. "Strong growth in sales tax...

Read more
comptroller.texas.gov
Texas Bullion Depository Now Operational

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced the official opening of the Texas Bullion Depository, the first state-administered precious metals depository in the country. "We're proud that the nation's first state-administered bullion depository...

Read more
comptroller.texas.gov
Constituent Resources
Need Assistance?
Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order: 

Live Updates
All of the relevant information our office has gathered during the week will be posted to our Facebook page. By "liking" us, you will stay up-to-date about important matters across the state that affect you and your family. Click below to find our page.
Contact Information
State Representative
Dan Huberty

Casey Christman
Chief of Staff

Molly Spratt
Legislative Director

Abby Caldwell
District Intern

Capitol Physical Address:
1100 Congress Avenue E2.408 Austin, TX 78701

Capitol Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2910 
Austin, TX 78768 

Capitol Phone:
(512) 463-0520

Capitol Fax:
(512) 463-1606
District Address: 
4501 Magnolia Cove
 Suite 201
Kingwood, TX 77345

District Phone:
(281) 360-9410
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