We are aware of the current state of everyone’s news feeds, but please resist the urge to stare directly into tomorrow’s eclipsed sun just so you can’t read anything else that will further lower your already low opinion of human nature right now. (This public service announcement is brought to you by The Human Fund.)
CPA proposes rules for Senate Bill 22 grants
The Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) has officially issued its proposed rules for administering SB 22 grants in 2024. The link to that section of the Texas Register can be found HERE (html version) or HERE (PDF version, starting on p. 84). They are identical to the version we shared in our special session preview.
For those wishing to submit comments about the proposed rules, please note that the comment period we were told of earlier was incorrect. The period to register comments is 30 days, not 60, which means these rules can be permanently adopted as soon as November 12, 2023. With that in mind, submitting any input sooner rather than later may be a wise course of action. Those comments can be submitted to Russell Gallahan, Manager, Local Government & Transparency, at [email protected]. (And if you do submit suggested changes, please consider cc’ing Shannon so we can keep track of everyone’s input at TDCAA World Headquarters.)
Fall Regionals
If you want to chat with your fellow elected prosecutors about the ins and outs of SB 22 (or other local issues), consider registering for one of our four Fall Regional Courses in Amarillo, Midland, Laredo, and Tyler that start next week. Registration is FREE for elected prosecutors and their first assistants who are TDCAA members, and attendees will receive 3.0 hours of CLE, including 1.0 hour of ethics credit.
More information about these regionals and how to register for them is available on our Training webpage. We hope to see many of you there!
Special session action
The State Senate made progress this week on the governor’s priority legislation for this month’s special session, including:
- Increasing penalties and imposing mandatory minimum sentences for human smuggling and operation of a stash house (SB 4 by Flores); and
- Creating a state crime for illegal entry from a foreign nation (SB 11 by Birdwell).
These bills largely track measures that advanced through the Senate during the regular session but failed to cross the finish line in the House. Now all eyes shift to that chamber next week to see whether these bills have better luck in this special session.
Note also that Governor Abbott announced yesterday that once his preferred school choice bill (SB 1 by Creighton) is passed and sent to him for his approval, he will add teacher pay raises to the call of this special session.
JCMH Summit
The 6th Annual Judicial Summit on Mental Health will be held October 18–20, 2023, at the Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. This is a hybrid event with the option to attend in-person or virtually. Registration is free, but in-person attendees are responsible for their own travel expenses. Those who cannot attend in person can register for the livestream option to view the Summit online. For more information, click HERE.
Memorial for Judge Womack
The Court of Criminal Appeals will host a memorial service honoring former CCA Judge Paul Womack, who passed away in 2022. Judge Womack was elected to the Court in 1997 and served until 2014. The service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in the Court of Criminal Appeals Courtroom.
Scattershooting
Here are some recent stories you might’ve missed:
- “She’s a dedicated Harris County prosecutor. An ‘unsustainable’ caseload tests her limits.” (Houston Landing [free link])
- “Special session agenda inflames intraparty GOP voucher conflict while tapping into broad Republican consensus on border, immigration, COVID, and vaccines” (Texas Politics Project [free])
- “SCOTUS Is Deciding Whether to Hear a Challenge to Dallas County’s Bail System” (D Magazine [free])
- “Rep. Andrew Murr took on Ken Paxton and lost. He has no regrets.” (Texas Tribune [free])
Quotes of the Week
“What really pissed me off was that they stole my sushi. It looked like great sushi.”
—U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo), after being carjacked outside his D.C. residence last week.
“Growing up on a ranch, I was taught to keep the manure on the outside of my boots. Mr. Paxton’s baseless threats about filing criminal complaints are horse manure, and they are filling his boots full.”
—State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction), in a written response to news that Attorney General Ken Paxton intends to file criminal doxing complaints against Murr and other House Impeachment Managers after a post-verdict release of evidence by the House included documents containing the (already public) address of Paxton’s Austin residence.
[NOTE: Future Friday updates may be thrown off schedule due to the regional courses we are hosting over the next two weeks;
we apologize in advance for any delivery irregularities.]
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