Legislative Report
Marilyn Davis, VP Legislation

GOP PLAN WOULD PUT TEXAS FIRST IN PRESIDENTIAL SWEEPSTAKES - EVERY 16 YEARS

Reacting to many states voting earlier than ever on presidential candidates, Republican National Committeeman from Texas Bill Crocker wants groups of states to take turns starting each quadrennial round beginning in 2012. Under the Texas plan, states would be divided into four groups, with each leading off the presidential nominating every four years.  Texas and 10 other states would get their first turn in 2020 and every 16 years after that. Crocker takes issue with plans in nearly 40 states and territories to hold next year's primaries or caucuses before the March 4 Texas primaries. He said that would perversely result in most states being in play at the same time and none attracting the attention they desire.

STATE TO TEST PROGRAM TO STOP UNINSURED DRIVERS

Uninsured motorists will soon have a good reason to look over their shoulders when driving on Texas roads. Beginning next month, the state will launch a program to nab the estimated one in five Texas motorists who are violating the law by driving without insurance. The insurance verification program will begin in Austin for two months and, if successful, will be expanded to Dallas and the rest of the state.

FIRST TEXAN CHARGED UNDER JESSICA'S LAW

A Central Texas grand jury has indicted a man on a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child, making him the first person in Texas charged under a new state law known as Jessica’s Law. The new law carries harsher penalties for sex offenders. If convicted, Alfredo Soto Enriquez, 35, would face a minimum punishment of 25 years in prison. Under old laws, Mr. Enriquez could have been eligible for parole after serving part of his sentence. Under Jessica's Law, parole is not an option. Repeat offenders could get the death penalty.