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Wednesday, May 28, 1997

Dead bills at glance

AUSTIN (AP) - Here's a look at some of the dozens of bills killed by Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth, R-Burleson, who was angered by the apparent death of a parental notification abortion bill.

Bills on Tuesday's calendar were still alive, but were subject to a point of order that would wipe them out:

- SB1485: Would have financially rewarded college students who earn undergraduate degrees without taking extra courses, while penalizing those who keep taking classes without graduating.

- SB519: To allow as many as 100 independent charter schools to be approved annually in Texas. Current law allows 20 open-enrollment charter schools, which operate independent of school districts, may be run by private entities and don't have to follow numerous state requirements.

- SB729: Meant to limit university students to six state-funded remedial courses and community college students to nine. The bill was intended to force colleges and universities to create better remedial programs.

- SB501: To allow Texas Comptroller John Sharp to help local governments seeking federal funds. The measure could mean an extra $7 million a year for Texas' 20 largest counties, backers said.

- SB536: To make public details of settlements granted by state agencies and universities to their top administrators.

- SB1105: To grant immunity from liability to volunteer health care providers who perform free services on behalf of a charitable organization.

- SB1055: To put Texas' councils of government under stronger state oversight. The bill came after reports last year of the regional councils spending money on such items as trips to distant conferences for commission members and their spouses.

- SB585: To conform Texas law with new federal requirements regarding health care for adopted children and to make mental health benefits more equal to health and surgical insurance benefits. Without the bill, federal law approved last year will rule in Texas, according to backers.

Bills on Tuesday's calendar subject to a point of order:

- SB241: To require contractors to set up trust funds to hold money for residential projects worth in excess of $5,000. The bill was prompted by people who have had problems with unscrupulous home builders, including some who have lost their life savings.

- SB548: To make it a felony to put a handgun in the possession of someone younger than 18.

- SB1253: To prohibit domestic violence victims from being charged required fees for protective orders.

- SB542: To prosecute for sexual assault physicians, chiropractors or nurses who exploit patients' emotional dependence to get them to participate in sexual acts.

- SB308: To force governmental bodies of four or more members to give notice of and open public meetings where a quorum is present and where information is received and questions asked of staff. Discussions of litigation, personnel, property acquisition, security devices and gifts and donations still could occur in private.

- SB1114: To require the Texas Workforce Commission to establish a "Wheels for Work" pilot program to make donated cars available at low cost to welfare recipients whose main barrier to working is transportation.

- SB1774: To allow pharmacies to dispense prescription drugs to nursing home residents and to keep a supply of drugs at the long-term care facilities.

- SB121: To allow defendants charged with crimes punishable by imprisonment to enter pleas by closed circuit television. The bill was meant to save counties some transportation costs.

- SB893: To allow smaller cities to construct hotels near their convention centers. Only Houston can currently use hotel tax revenues for bonds for developing a new hotel project within 1,000 feet of its convention center or historic hotels within one mile of the facility.

- SB1781: Allowing late fees on retail credit card accounts to double from $10 to $20.

- SB257: To recognize naturopathic medicine, defined as using natural remedies to stimulate self-healing, as a medical profession. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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