The next class will be a 1 day school on Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 10 am till 4 pm . The class will be downtown in the basement of City Hall, 1500 Marilla. Get those applications and waivers of liability downloaded from the www.dallaspolice.net web site. I need them by close of business on the Wednesday before the class. BE SAFE//Ron/
Ron Carpenter #3311
Northeast Division
Patrol Bureau
www.northeastcrimewatch.org <http://www.northeastcrimewatch.org/>
May 26, 2009
Calloway's Timely Tips for June Gardeners
Timely Tip from Calloway’s Nursery
for June Gardeners:
Enjoy Summer Color
Spring flowers become but a memory as summer heats up!
However, our desire for a colorful landscape can still be
achieved. From annuals to perennials to shrubs to trees,
color is found in blooms, foliage and even in the plumes of
ornamental grasses.
The distinct patterns of Caladium leaves or textured foliage
of Coleus adds interest to shady gardens. The dazzling
Daylily or drought-tolerant Lantana provides splashes of
blooms for full sun. Crape Myrtles are sending forth sprays
of blossoms and the Esperanza displays clusters of bellshaped
flowers. Color abounds even in the heat of
summer!
Remember to use Calloway’s premium soils and mixes at
the time of planting and water well with a Root Stimulator
mixture. Also, add two to three inches of mulch to
conserve moisture, help keep the soil cooler and prevent
weeds from growing.
Attend our Free Saturday clinics, especially June 6th which
features the summer blooming Crape Myrtle. For a
complete listing of clinics, visit www.mytexasgarden.com.
for June Gardeners:
Enjoy Summer Color
Spring flowers become but a memory as summer heats up!
However, our desire for a colorful landscape can still be
achieved. From annuals to perennials to shrubs to trees,
color is found in blooms, foliage and even in the plumes of
ornamental grasses.
The distinct patterns of Caladium leaves or textured foliage
of Coleus adds interest to shady gardens. The dazzling
Daylily or drought-tolerant Lantana provides splashes of
blooms for full sun. Crape Myrtles are sending forth sprays
of blossoms and the Esperanza displays clusters of bellshaped
flowers. Color abounds even in the heat of
summer!
Remember to use Calloway’s premium soils and mixes at
the time of planting and water well with a Root Stimulator
mixture. Also, add two to three inches of mulch to
conserve moisture, help keep the soil cooler and prevent
weeds from growing.
Attend our Free Saturday clinics, especially June 6th which
features the summer blooming Crape Myrtle. For a
complete listing of clinics, visit www.mytexasgarden.com.
From the desk of Rep. Allen Vaught
Legislation Passed in the 81st Legislative Session
As we draw closer to the end of the 81st legislative session, I want to discuss some of the issues and topics that have passed the House and Senate. This will be a series of articles about legislation, with this first article looking at a few of the bills that have been signed by the Governor to date.
Domestic Violence
We hope to provide some assistance to victims of domestic violence with the passage of Senate Bill 83. Before, a victim wanting to leave an abusive relationship would risk facing fines and charges as well as harm to the their credit and rental history for breaking a residential lease if the abuser was not on the lease with the victim. This bill authorizes a victim or a parent or guardian of a victim of a sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, or continuous sexual abuse of a child to terminate a lease early and releases the victim from liability if the assault took place at the leased property. The legislation helps to remove a victim from their living situation without the fear of some negative repercussion to their credit or rental history.
Child Safety
A recalled children's product can unknowingly end up in your child’s child care facility. If a United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recall alert does not reach you or your childcare facility, you risk an unintended injury to your child. Senate Bill 95 stipulates that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services must include a link on its website to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In addition, a child care facility must certify in writing that a review of the bulletins and notices regarding recalled children's products has occurred. With over 4,000 product recalls total, this legislation creates another avenue to inform caregivers and protect children.
Children with Disabilities
Healthcare costs are forcing many middle income families with disabled children into difficult circumstances. A family with an income level too high to qualify for Medicaid benefits but low enough that adequate health care is difficult to afford for their disabled children, may find some relief with changes made through Senate Bill 187. In September of this year, the Health and Human Services Commission will implement a Medicaid buy-in program for families with children of certain disabilities. Participants will pay a monthly premium on a sliding scale based on family income.
Emergency Preparedness
Recent natural disasters and the H1N1 flu scare emphasize the need for regional and national coordination among public health officials. The relocation of Texas residents out of Texas requires a seamless exchange of immunization records to help protect everyone's public health. Senate Bill 347 allows the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to share immunization records of Texas resident evacuees with other states and local health departments. Currently, an exchange of records is permitted under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) guidelines. Now, Texas can participate in the process of exchanging information with other states in the interest of public health.
Pipeline Safety
The Railroad Commission is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing oil and natural gas pipeline safety. The pipeline safety program is funded through a user inspection fee and federal matching funds that are distributed based on staffing levels of the safety program. Understaffing of the pipeline safety program reduces federal dollars received by the commission. Senate Bill 1658 makes it possible to add additional personnel to maintain the current programs and receive federal matching funds by slightly increasing the pipeline user inspection fee.
The next several articles will continue to highlight the major legislation which has passed during the 2009 legislative session.
As always, please feel free to contact my district office at (214) 370-8305 or my capitol office at (512) 463-0244 if you have any questions regarding state matters. I look forward to hearing from you.
As we draw closer to the end of the 81st legislative session, I want to discuss some of the issues and topics that have passed the House and Senate. This will be a series of articles about legislation, with this first article looking at a few of the bills that have been signed by the Governor to date.
Domestic Violence
We hope to provide some assistance to victims of domestic violence with the passage of Senate Bill 83. Before, a victim wanting to leave an abusive relationship would risk facing fines and charges as well as harm to the their credit and rental history for breaking a residential lease if the abuser was not on the lease with the victim. This bill authorizes a victim or a parent or guardian of a victim of a sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, or continuous sexual abuse of a child to terminate a lease early and releases the victim from liability if the assault took place at the leased property. The legislation helps to remove a victim from their living situation without the fear of some negative repercussion to their credit or rental history.
Child Safety
A recalled children's product can unknowingly end up in your child’s child care facility. If a United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recall alert does not reach you or your childcare facility, you risk an unintended injury to your child. Senate Bill 95 stipulates that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services must include a link on its website to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In addition, a child care facility must certify in writing that a review of the bulletins and notices regarding recalled children's products has occurred. With over 4,000 product recalls total, this legislation creates another avenue to inform caregivers and protect children.
Children with Disabilities
Healthcare costs are forcing many middle income families with disabled children into difficult circumstances. A family with an income level too high to qualify for Medicaid benefits but low enough that adequate health care is difficult to afford for their disabled children, may find some relief with changes made through Senate Bill 187. In September of this year, the Health and Human Services Commission will implement a Medicaid buy-in program for families with children of certain disabilities. Participants will pay a monthly premium on a sliding scale based on family income.
Emergency Preparedness
Recent natural disasters and the H1N1 flu scare emphasize the need for regional and national coordination among public health officials. The relocation of Texas residents out of Texas requires a seamless exchange of immunization records to help protect everyone's public health. Senate Bill 347 allows the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to share immunization records of Texas resident evacuees with other states and local health departments. Currently, an exchange of records is permitted under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) guidelines. Now, Texas can participate in the process of exchanging information with other states in the interest of public health.
Pipeline Safety
The Railroad Commission is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing oil and natural gas pipeline safety. The pipeline safety program is funded through a user inspection fee and federal matching funds that are distributed based on staffing levels of the safety program. Understaffing of the pipeline safety program reduces federal dollars received by the commission. Senate Bill 1658 makes it possible to add additional personnel to maintain the current programs and receive federal matching funds by slightly increasing the pipeline user inspection fee.
The next several articles will continue to highlight the major legislation which has passed during the 2009 legislative session.
As always, please feel free to contact my district office at (214) 370-8305 or my capitol office at (512) 463-0244 if you have any questions regarding state matters. I look forward to hearing from you.
Audelia Road Library
May 19, 2009
To: LH Area HOAs
From: John Gould
Re: Audelia Library May Update #2
Family Literacy Program Successful Event
Mayor’s Summer Reading Program
City Budget Proposed Cuts
Please Form One Line Here
City Budget Preparation
May Book Sale
Parking was a real problem at the library last Sunday afternoon because over 1,275 parents and children participated in the Family Literacy Program. Besides hearing stories, children were taken on an African Safari Hunt through the library, had photos taken with Clifford the Big Red Dog and Lion David Axtell and went home with books. It was a great event for everyone involved and helps to serve as a kick-off to the Mayor’s Summer Reading Program.
Carol Dengle, the children’s librarian, will be visiting all of the schools in the area to promote the Summer Reading Program. Funds from Friends have been used for printing over 1000 registration applications that the children can use to enroll and keep track of the number of books they read. Incentive prizes are given to the children as they read different numbers of books. Friends have also made green pencils available for each one to use that gives our Friends new website address so they can check the website calendar for events throughout the year.
$1000 of Friends funds has made it possible for staff to purchase additional copies of books that students need for required summer reading.
At a suggestion from one of our Friends members, we have bought a standing floor sign for the Circulation Desk, “Please Form One Line Here”. This is to help clarify the checkout flow for patrons. If anyone has other suggestion for enhancing library service, please let me know so we can discuss it with staff.
City Budget Proposals are underway with the Council. Reductions across all departments are under discussion and according to the news media the library system may be impacted as well. With the downturn in the economy and job losses, libraries provide essential services to people of all ages and stages. Cutbacks are being considered in the number of days open, the hours open, and staff available. With the increase demand for library services, please contact our Councilmember Jerry Allen and other city officials and request that they carefully consider the budget impact. To give you some idea of the number of people using the Audelia branch, here are the figures for the last six days: 732,719, 575, 829, 602, and 1275 people.
Next Sunday we will have our monthly Book Sale , 2:00-4:00. Many people have donated books and we hope you will spread the word to those interested in browsing and getting some unbelievable buys.
To: LH Area HOAs
From: John Gould
Re: Audelia Library May Update #2
Family Literacy Program Successful Event
Mayor’s Summer Reading Program
City Budget Proposed Cuts
Please Form One Line Here
City Budget Preparation
May Book Sale
Parking was a real problem at the library last Sunday afternoon because over 1,275 parents and children participated in the Family Literacy Program. Besides hearing stories, children were taken on an African Safari Hunt through the library, had photos taken with Clifford the Big Red Dog and Lion David Axtell and went home with books. It was a great event for everyone involved and helps to serve as a kick-off to the Mayor’s Summer Reading Program.
Carol Dengle, the children’s librarian, will be visiting all of the schools in the area to promote the Summer Reading Program. Funds from Friends have been used for printing over 1000 registration applications that the children can use to enroll and keep track of the number of books they read. Incentive prizes are given to the children as they read different numbers of books. Friends have also made green pencils available for each one to use that gives our Friends new website address so they can check the website calendar for events throughout the year.
$1000 of Friends funds has made it possible for staff to purchase additional copies of books that students need for required summer reading.
At a suggestion from one of our Friends members, we have bought a standing floor sign for the Circulation Desk, “Please Form One Line Here”. This is to help clarify the checkout flow for patrons. If anyone has other suggestion for enhancing library service, please let me know so we can discuss it with staff.
City Budget Proposals are underway with the Council. Reductions across all departments are under discussion and according to the news media the library system may be impacted as well. With the downturn in the economy and job losses, libraries provide essential services to people of all ages and stages. Cutbacks are being considered in the number of days open, the hours open, and staff available. With the increase demand for library services, please contact our Councilmember Jerry Allen and other city officials and request that they carefully consider the budget impact. To give you some idea of the number of people using the Audelia branch, here are the figures for the last six days: 732,719, 575, 829, 602, and 1275 people.
Next Sunday we will have our monthly Book Sale , 2:00-4:00. Many people have donated books and we hope you will spread the word to those interested in browsing and getting some unbelievable buys.
March 31, 2009
From the Desk of Rep. Allen Vaught
Part Two: Bills Filed for the 81st Legislative Session
This article is the second part of a three part series detailing the bills I filed for the 81st legislative session. In this article I will discuss some of the public safety and criminal justice bills filed in response to local constituents and at the request of the Dallas District Attorney’s office and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.
The Booster Seat Bill
In the Fall of 2007, I did an externship at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas to view their emergency and trauma centers. It was then I learned of a dangerous flaw in current state law concerning the use child safety seats, often referred to as booster seats. Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death to children. In car crashes, children ages 4 to 8 restrained by an adult seat belt are likely to suffer severe head, spinal cord and internal organ injuries. Booster seats reduce the risk of these injuries by 59%. Texas has one of the weakest laws in the country and most children outgrow the current requirement of 36” before their 4th birthday. However, the national standard and what most experts recommend is that children be restrained until they are 4’9” or until their 8th birthday. Texas is one of only six states which does not have this requirement in law.
I filed House Bill (HB) 528 to correct this flaw. There is an educational phase-in period and violations will not be handed out until September 2010. Violations come with a $25 fine that then goes back into a child safety seat program focused on education and providing seats to low income families. This bill was voted out of the Criminal Jurisprudence committee and will hopefully soon make it to the House floor for a vote.
“Eric’s Law”
I am sure many of you heard about an accident at White Rock Lake last year where an uninsured driver with a suspended driver’s license hit three runners after a local marathon. While all three pedestrians spent time in the hospital with serious injuries and are still recovering, the driver was only given two citations and to this day has not paid her fines. It is hard to believe that someone could do that much physical and emotional damage and not pay a cent.
Shortly thereafter I visited with my neighbor who was a victim of the accident. I did some research in the Penal Code, found the misdemeanors to be inadequate, and decided to file a bill that would try and bring some justice to future victims of similar crimes. HB 2012 would make it a third degree felony if a person drove without a valid license, without valid insurance, and caused or was at fault in an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury or death. If this bill passes, it will be known as “Eric’s Law,” in honor of my neighbor and the two other victims who are still struggling everyday. The proposed legislation is currently in the Transportation Committee waiting to be scheduled for a public hearing.
DNA Legislation
Several months ago, I met with the Dallas District Attorney’s office to discuss possible legislation for the 81st session. In 1996, with the certainty brought about by DNA testing, the legislature removed the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases in which a suspect’s DNA was found. However, many who were victimized before 1996 never saw justice or got closure because the statute of limitations had expired on their rape cases. With the advancements in DNA, it is now possible for police to link certain cold cases from prior to 1996 to DNA already on file. The Dallas Police Department has already been using advanced science and DNA to solve these crimes; however, the DA’s office requested legislation that would note that link in a person’s criminal history.
I filed HB 2932 that will require a new type of notation in pre-existing criminal histories for clear connections between DNA evidence from older, unsolved sexual assaults and current samples on file with the Department of Public Safety. My hope is that this legislation gives both closure and justice to those rape victims whose cold cases can no longer be prosecuted.
I welcome your thoughts and ideas regarding the bills I have filed for the 81st legislative session. Keep in mind that these are the bills as introduced and that details are subject to change as part of the legislative process. Please email my office at District107.Vaught@house.state.tx.us with the subject line 81st Legislative Session Bills.
As always, please feel free to contact my office at (214) 370-8305 with any questions regarding these or other state issues. I look forward to hearing from you.
This article is the second part of a three part series detailing the bills I filed for the 81st legislative session. In this article I will discuss some of the public safety and criminal justice bills filed in response to local constituents and at the request of the Dallas District Attorney’s office and Children’s Medical Center in Dallas.
The Booster Seat Bill
In the Fall of 2007, I did an externship at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas to view their emergency and trauma centers. It was then I learned of a dangerous flaw in current state law concerning the use child safety seats, often referred to as booster seats. Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death to children. In car crashes, children ages 4 to 8 restrained by an adult seat belt are likely to suffer severe head, spinal cord and internal organ injuries. Booster seats reduce the risk of these injuries by 59%. Texas has one of the weakest laws in the country and most children outgrow the current requirement of 36” before their 4th birthday. However, the national standard and what most experts recommend is that children be restrained until they are 4’9” or until their 8th birthday. Texas is one of only six states which does not have this requirement in law.
I filed House Bill (HB) 528 to correct this flaw. There is an educational phase-in period and violations will not be handed out until September 2010. Violations come with a $25 fine that then goes back into a child safety seat program focused on education and providing seats to low income families. This bill was voted out of the Criminal Jurisprudence committee and will hopefully soon make it to the House floor for a vote.
“Eric’s Law”
I am sure many of you heard about an accident at White Rock Lake last year where an uninsured driver with a suspended driver’s license hit three runners after a local marathon. While all three pedestrians spent time in the hospital with serious injuries and are still recovering, the driver was only given two citations and to this day has not paid her fines. It is hard to believe that someone could do that much physical and emotional damage and not pay a cent.
Shortly thereafter I visited with my neighbor who was a victim of the accident. I did some research in the Penal Code, found the misdemeanors to be inadequate, and decided to file a bill that would try and bring some justice to future victims of similar crimes. HB 2012 would make it a third degree felony if a person drove without a valid license, without valid insurance, and caused or was at fault in an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury or death. If this bill passes, it will be known as “Eric’s Law,” in honor of my neighbor and the two other victims who are still struggling everyday. The proposed legislation is currently in the Transportation Committee waiting to be scheduled for a public hearing.
DNA Legislation
Several months ago, I met with the Dallas District Attorney’s office to discuss possible legislation for the 81st session. In 1996, with the certainty brought about by DNA testing, the legislature removed the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases in which a suspect’s DNA was found. However, many who were victimized before 1996 never saw justice or got closure because the statute of limitations had expired on their rape cases. With the advancements in DNA, it is now possible for police to link certain cold cases from prior to 1996 to DNA already on file. The Dallas Police Department has already been using advanced science and DNA to solve these crimes; however, the DA’s office requested legislation that would note that link in a person’s criminal history.
I filed HB 2932 that will require a new type of notation in pre-existing criminal histories for clear connections between DNA evidence from older, unsolved sexual assaults and current samples on file with the Department of Public Safety. My hope is that this legislation gives both closure and justice to those rape victims whose cold cases can no longer be prosecuted.
I welcome your thoughts and ideas regarding the bills I have filed for the 81st legislative session. Keep in mind that these are the bills as introduced and that details are subject to change as part of the legislative process. Please email my office at District107.Vaught@house.state.tx.us with the subject line 81st Legislative Session Bills.
As always, please feel free to contact my office at (214) 370-8305 with any questions regarding these or other state issues. I look forward to hearing from you.
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