August 23, 2019

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. Below you will find updates from federal, state and local agencies. Should you have any questions about the information below, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact details listed at the end of this newsletter.

Governor Abbott hosted the first meeting of the Texas Safety Commission, aimed at combating extremism and hate in Texas. He formed this commission in teh wake of shooting in El Paso. Members include: Governor Abbott; Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick; Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen; Senator Jose Rodriguez; Representative Mary Gonzales; Representative Cesar Blanco; Representative Joe Moody; Representative Art Fierro; Senator Joan Huffman - Chairwoman of the Senate State Affairs Committee; Representative Phil King - former police officer and member of the Texas State Guard; Colonel Steven McCraw - Department of Public Safety (DPS); Major David Cabrera - DPS Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division, Texas Fusion Centers; Major Manuel Espinosa, DPS Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Anti-Gang Centers; Matthew DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge, Dallas Federal Bureau of Investigation; Dr. Courtney Phillips, Executive Director, Texas Health and Human Services Commission; Ed Scruggs, Texas Gun Sense; Dr. Juan Martinez, Superintendent, Clint Independent School District; Jeff Murray, Protective Security Advisor, United States Department of Homeland Security; Dr. Lina Alathari, Chief, United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center; Dr. Susan Fletcher, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; Robert Chesney, Director and James Baker Chair, University of Texas at Austin; Neil Potts, Content Policy Team, Facebook; Tory Mayo, Lead Pastor, The Well Austin; A Representative From Google; Tom Tarantino, Head of US State Public Policy, Twitter; Lonzo Anderson, Assistant Chief, Dallas Police Department; and Karie Gibson, Supervisory Special Agent, Behavioral Analysis Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Should you have questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us directly using the information provided at the bottom of this email.

Sincerely,

Download my August 2019 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could be 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.

 

Keep watch for these updated calendars at the beginning of each month. Important local and legislative dates and events will be posted here.

GLO: HUD Issues Rules for Mitigation Funds

REVIEW THE RULES HERE:

https://files.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/FR-6109-N-02-CDBG-Mitigation-Notice.pdf  

Texas Land Commissioner George P. announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released mandatory rules for the use of more than $4.3 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for mitigation projects. These funds were appropriated by Congress on February 9, 2018, for mitigation projects in the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey as well as 2015 and 2016 Floods. Publication of rules in the Federal Register will now enable the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to move forward in drafting and getting approval for a state action plan, a process expected to take approximately nine months or more to complete.

 

"Hurricane Harvey was a storm of historic proportions with more than $100 billion in property damage and immeasurable disruption to the lives of Texans," Commissioner Bush said. "Many communities in Texas have faced repeated flooding including the 2015 and 2016 floods. While the GLO continues to rebuild homes and affordable rental properties lost to these disasters, our communities are no more protected today than when the storm made landfall two years ago. Now we must develop a state action plan in accordance with HUD's requirements set forth in 126 pages of rules to get projects moving that will fortify Texas homes, businesses and infrastructure."

Since the funding was appropriated by Congress more than a year and a half ago, the GLO has been diligently working with local and federal partners to define the type of mitigation projects would best serve those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Now begins the long process of turning these rules into a federally mandated state action plan. This process includes drafting the action plan, translating it in to multiple languages as required, before posting it for "no less than 45 calendar days to solicit public comment" as well as convening "the required amount of public hearings on the proposed plan." After all these steps, the state action plan is then sent to HUD for approval. This process is expected to take at least nine months given the number of rules required in HUD's Federal Register notice.

 

Timeline of $5.676 billion CDBG-DR allocation

The second most destructive hurricane in American history, Hurricane Harvey impacted nearly 30 percent of Texans. Here is a brief timeline of $5.676 billion in previously appropriated CDBG-DR funds for unmet recovery needs:

 

 

Governor Abbott Holds First Texas Safety Commission Meeting on Combating Hate and Extremism in Texas

On Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott hosted the first meeting of the Texas Safety Commission in Austin. The Governor met with lawmakers, educators, advocates, community leaders, and experts to generate strategies to provide community healing, combat the rise of extremist groups and hateful ideologies, keep guns out of the hands of deranged individuals, and combat domestic terrorism in Texas. The ideas discussed in the commission meetings will aid in the development of an immediate action plan for the State of Texas. 

 

"It is imperative that Texas develop solutions that not only make our state a better place, but most importantly a safer place," said Governor Abbott. "Our starting point began today, with the process of exploring all avenues and reviewing all facts to determine how we can prevent another tragedy like the shooting in El Paso from occurring again. I am grateful for the insight and expertise of those who participated in the Texas Safety Commission meeting today, and I look forward to our continued work as we pursue ideas that will keep Texas safe." 

 

The second Texas Safety Commission meeting will be held in El Paso on August 29th. Portions of these commission meetings will be open to the press and additional logistical details will be forthcoming.

DPS: Drivers Urged to be Extra Cautious,

Alert as New School Year Begins

As we begin a new school year, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reminding all Texans to slow down in school zones, be careful around school buses, follow all traffic laws, and stay alert around schools and the surrounding areas where children may be walking and playing. The start of the school year also generates an increase in overall traffic in many areas, and drivers are urged to take extra precautions.

“Going back to school brings new opportunities for students, and it also requires additional awareness and caution by drivers to ensure the safety of our students,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “Drivers are urged to be particularly alert around schools and in school zones, and to follow all traffic laws to help protect our kids. DPS won’t tolerate reckless driving that puts children in harm’s way.”

The moments when students are entering or exiting a school bus can be one of the most dangerous times during a child’s trip to and from school. Accordingly, DPS reminds drivers to reduce speed and be aware that children may unexpectedly step into a roadway without checking for oncoming traffic.

According to state law, if a school bus has alternating flashing red signals visible from the front or rear, drivers must stop before reaching the bus. Drivers can only proceed if the flashing lights are no longer activated; the driver signals you to proceed; or the bus has resumed driving. Approaching drivers do not have to stop for a school bus that is operating a visual signal if the roadway is separated by a physical barrier or an intervening space. (If a highway is divided only by a left-turning lane, the roadways are not considered separated, and drivers must stop for school buses.)

As a reminder, school buses are legally required to stop at all railroad crossings.

Drivers who illegally pass school buses face fines up to $1,250 for the first offense. For individuals convicted of this offense more than once, the law allows the individual’s driver license to be suspended for up to six months. (A ticket for illegally passing a school bus cannot be dismissed through defensive driving.) Additionally, this offense could potentially include criminal charges if they cause serious bodily injury to another.

TEA: "HB 3 in 30" Video Series

CCMR Part 2: CTE, Innovative High School Models and Subsidy for High School Equivalency

TEA: "HB 3 in 30" Video Series

Small/Mid-Sized District Allotment

Ben's Branch Channel Conveyance Restoration Project in Kingwood

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: 

http://www.lrl.texas.gov/genInfo/stateAgencies.cfm

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