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Friday, February 21, 1997

Capitol Briefs

AUSTIN (AP) - Consumer and environmental advocates are asking state lawmakers to make it easier for Texans to participate in public hearings that could affect health, safety and property value issues.

Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office and numerous health, environmental and taxpayer groups on Thursday unveiled a series of proposed bills that would:

- Make more information submitted to state agencies on various environmental and health issues public.

- Force state agencies to more clearly notify Texans when issues regarding environmental permitting were being discussed.

- Require state agencies to allow more Texans to testify on various issues.

The bills come in response to recent action at the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Environmental and consumer advocates say the agency has kept the public from testifying on pollution issues.

Officials from the TNRCC say they have followed the law regarding public notice of meetings and allowing public testimony at such hearings.

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AUSTIN (AP) - There's nothing illegal about requiring Texans to submit to fingerprinting when applying for driver's licenses, according to Attorney General Dan Morales' office.

Rep. Mark Stiles, D-Beaumont, raised the question about fingerprinting requirements at the Department of Public Safety after a man in his district refused to be fingerprinted and did not get a license.

Under state law, applicants for new, duplicate or renewal licenses must submit to fingerprinting.

"There is no constitutional impediment to the requirement," Morales office said in an opinion released Thursday.

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AUSTIN (AP) - A state lawmaker wants to make clear that a Texas law against child pornography covers electronic transmissions via the Internet.

Sen. J.E. "Buster" Brown, R-Lake Jackson, on Thursday filed a bill to update the state's child pornography law. The bill would make clear that it is illegal to distribute or possess child pornography via the Internet, a global connection of computers.

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The anti-child pornography bill is SB674. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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