Representative Roberto R. Alonzo
Tues Nov. 3rd Constitutional Amendments;3rd in a Series - Amendments 7 8 & 9 Examined Here in More Detail
Once again State Rep. Alonzo encourages all voters to go to the polls on November 3 2009 to vote on the 11 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. As we indicated in last weeks Capitol Report during the next few weeks we will be providing you with a more in depth overview of each them individually.
In this weeks report we highlight Amendments 7 8 & 9 below. Last week examined Amendments 4-6; Next weeks Report will highlight
Amendments 10 & 11 - the last 2 of the eleven.
Amendment 7: The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.
Summary: The proposed amendment would amend Section 40(a) Article XVI Texas Constitution to exempt officers and enlisted members of the Texas State Guard and any other active militia or military force organized under Texas law from the prohibition against holding or exercising more than one civil office of emolument at the same time. The amendment would provide that nothing in the Texas Constitution is to be construed to prohibit an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard and any other active militia or military force organized under Texas law in addition to certain other officers or enlisted members from holding at the same time any other office or position of honor trust or profit under Texas or the United States or from voting at any election in Texas when otherwise qualified.
Amendment 8: The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money property and other resources for the establishment maintenance and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.
Summary: The proposed amendment would add Section 73 Article XVI Texas Constitution to authorize the state to contribute money property and other resources to establish maintain and operate veterans hospitals.
Amendment 9: The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public individually and collectively to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.
Summary: The proposed amendment would add Section 33 Article I Texas Constitution to establish that the public has an unrestricted right to access and use a public beach. Public beach would mean a state-owned beach bordering on the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico extending from mean low tide to the landward boundary of state-owned submerged land and any larger area extending from the line of mean low tide to the line of vegetation bordering on the Gulf of Mexico to which the public has acquired a right of use or easement by prescription or dedication or has established and retained a right by virtue of continuous right in the public under Texas common law. The proposed amendment also would establish that the right to unrestricted access and use is dedicated as a permanent easement in favor of the public and would authorize the legislature to enact laws to protect that right and to protect the public beacheasement from interference and encroachments. In addition the proposedamendment would establish that its provisions do not create a private right ofenforcement.
In the meantime if anyone would like to review all the amendmentsonline they can go directly to a website by the Texas LegislativeCouncil (TLC) by visiting
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us Additionally ifyou would like a Spanish version of the amendments you can visitthe Secretary of States Office website athttp://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/2009novballotexp -sp.shtml
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Seton Family of Hospitals UT System Approve Affiliation Agreement to Expand Medical Education Research & Increase Healthcare Access in Central Texas
On Monday Oct. 12 the University of Texas System Board of Regents and the Board of Trustees of the Seton Family of Hospitals announced the creation of a new partnership with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas one of the nations premier medical schools. The new partnership will significantly increase the number of residents (doctors in training) who will practice at Seton facilities. In addition the agreement will bolster current medical research projects being conducted by the Seton Family of Hospitals and allows for the expansion of collaborative research efforts with UT Southwestern and The University of Texas at Austin.
This new partnership is a wonderful development for the people of Central Texas and the University of Texas System" UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa M.D. said. For UT Southwestern it offers an ideal way to expand its graduate medical education and clinical research programs. For the UT institutions particularly The University of Texas at Austin it provides new opportunities for translational research and collaborations throughout Texas that will allow discoveries to transition more quickly from the laboratory bench to the patient bedside" continued Dr. Cigarroa.
A key element of the affiliation agreement is the development of the Seton Family of Hospitals/UT Southwestern Clinical Research Institute. UT Southwestern is one of the largest medical schools in the nation and has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top ten medical schools for research among public universities. It is home to four Nobel Laureates three of whom remain active members of the faculty. The Seton Family of Hospitals is already conducting innovative research programs in neuroscience pediatrics and trauma.
I applaud the UT System in making this historic move. I feel it will enhance the medical education needs in central Texas but most importantly it will increase healthcare access and research statewide as well stated Rep. Alonzo.
All academic clinical research and administrative activities included in the partnership will be funded by Seton. Faculty involved in the current residency programs will continue their work and additional faculty and other employees involved in the educational and research programs to be developed with Seton will be recruited to Austin specifically to support the graduate medical education programs.
