Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas On February 4th Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments. Rep. Tony Dale was appointed to the
House Energy Resources Committee that oversees the oil and gas industry in the State of Texas. He was also reappointed as a member of the
Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee that oversees the Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers border security crime labs and many 2nd Amendment issues. As a new committee assignment he was also appointed to the
Local and Consent Calendar Committee that determines the priority for setting bills to be heard on the house floor that are local in nature or will be uncontested.
Rep. Dale Addresses Billing Problems with TxTAG.
On February 2nd Rep. Dale wrote a
letter to Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Joe Weber expressing grave concerns related to billing problems with the TxTAG system and the customer service failures of the contractor Xerox. After Representative Dale shed light on the issue and following a February 11th Senate Transportation Committee hearing TXDOT agreed give toll road customers refunds or credit for over $600000 in violations and fees that were improperly billed.
To learn more about this story watch this KXAN story:
TXDOT To Issue Refunds to Some TxTAG Customers
Going after online predators.
State Representative Dale filed House Bill 861 to protect children from online predators. The legislation puts teeth back into a 2005 law that was struck down as unconstitutional by a Texas court. Representative Dale said The use of the Internet by sexual predators is a serious issue. This bill will fill gaps in the law that currently allows predators to groom minors for illicit purposes. Although part of the law was struck down the Court of Criminal Appeals agrees with me that there is a compelling need to prosecute predators who attempt to solicit minors for unlawful activity even when the individual does not show up for the meeting. My bill puts the law back on the side of the victims and law enforcement."
More of the story here:
Dale files bill to protect children from online predators
Convention of the States - HJR 77 calls for an Article V convention
Many people are rightly concerned about what is seen as an out of control federal government with ever expanding power and less responsiveness to the people and the states. Representative Dale coauthored HJR77 that calls on the Congress of the United States to organize a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution for the limited purpose of proposing one or more amendments to the constitution. The purpose of the convention is to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and to limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress.
To read the resolution click here:
Article V convention HJR 77
Select bills filed by Rep. Dale:
Secure The Texas Border
HB183 Requires E-Verify for hiring at all state agencies and public higher education institutions
HB889 Requires E-verify for hiring state contractors and subcontractors
Protect Children and Victims of Sexual Assault
HB861 Protecting minors from online predators
HB1446 Ensuring rape victims do not receive surprise medical expenses
HB1447 Helping rape victims get protective orders
HB1123 Increasing the penalty for child pornography
Honor Our Veterans
HB115 Award the Texas Purple Heart Medal to Fort Hood Terror Attack Victims
HB1187 Names part of HWY 287 the Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield Highway
Expanding Liberty
HB336 Allows alcoholic beverages to be carried anywhere inside the Cedar Park Center
HB939 Allows HOA members to install emergency backup generators on their homes
HJR77 Calls for an Article V convention of the states to address federal governance
Nurture Job Creators
HB934 Protect employers against unfair unemployment claims
