[00:00:01]
THE CAN BOARD MEETING FOR JUNE 11TH TO ORDER AT 1:03 PM.I AM YOUR CAN BOARD CHAIR FOR 2021 JOINED TODAY ALSO BY IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR, JIMMY PLAN AGAIN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF US WHO FINISHED SEMESTERS AND THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HAPPY LITTLE BREAK IN THERE, I GUESS MAYBE GET A COUPLE HOURS OFF BEFORE FOR THE NEXT.
UM, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME THIS SUMMER AS WELL.
UH, I WANTED TO ASK IF ANYBODY IS HERE FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, CARLOS, NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION TODAY.
[Consider Approval of Minutes for April 9, 2021 CAN Board meeting. (Action Item)]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ASK MEMBERS TO REVIEW THE MINUTES AND APPROVE THE MINUTES.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
YOU SECOND THAT THANK YOU, SHERRY.
UM, WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON IT AND I, YEAH, I AM ALSO NOT AS, AS DETAIL ORIENTED AS NORA.
SO DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING? OKAY.
UM, SO WE WILL VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
UM, I THINK RAISE YOUR HAND PLEASE, OR YOUR ZOOM HAND AND ALL THOSE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS AND I'M HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
[Community Council Update]
LIKE TO RECOGNIZE NANCY GILLIAM FOR THE CANNED COMMUNITY COUNCIL UPDATE.I'VE DECIDED BECAUSE I TOOK MY FIRST TRAVEL TRIP THIS WEEK.
SO IT WAS LIKE, IT WAS WONDERFUL.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE HAPPY TO GO BACK OUT ON THE ROAD FOR WORK, BUT I WAS, UM, WE ON THE 17TH OF MAY, THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL MOVED FROM HOUSING INSECURITY TO FOOD INSECURITY AND WE HAD TWO WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS, ONE BY KATIE NAI FROM THE TEXAS HUNGER INSTITUTE.
AND THE OTHER SPEAKER WAS EDWIN MARTY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOOD.
HE'S THEIR FOOD POLICY MANAGER.
AND IT TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND, UM, SOME OPPORTUNITIES LIKE CONVENING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REALLY HAVE A REGIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THE FOOD INSECURITY IS BEING ADDRESSED.
ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT, UM, THE BLUEPRINT TO END HUNGER THAT'S THE TEXAS HUNGER INSTITUTE IS WORKING ON AND THERE WAS SOME INCREDIBLE INFORMATION AND IT WAS DEFINITELY A, A GOOD WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION OF FOOD INSECURITY.
AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT FOR THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS.
AND THEN WE FINISHED UP OUR YEAR WITH A SERIES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
YOU SHOULD GET YOUR REPORTS SOON ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE HOUSING GROUP.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY COUNCILS UP TO, BUT IT'S BEEN A GREAT WAY OF REALLY LOOKING AT SOME ACTIONABLE ITEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN COME ON THESE THREE VERY IMPORTANT AREAS.
UM, WHAT, WHAT COULD YOU, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, TWO THINGS, I KNOW THAT I WILL, AND I ARE GOING TO BE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO CONNECT NOW THAT THE SCHOOL YEAR IS DONE WITH, UM, MANY OF OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENTS.
SO THAT, THAT IS A GREAT, UM, ALIGNMENT.
SECOND, IS THERE, WHAT DOES, CAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEED FROM THE BOARD AT THIS TIME? IF ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, AS YOU'RE TALKING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAYBE PERHAPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES IT'S DONE, BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD A HUGE ROLE OF HELPING ADDRESS THE FOOD INSECURITY DURING COVID AND IT'S, HOW CAN SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE AS WE BEGIN TO EAT BACK INTO THE LACK OF A BETTER TERM REAL WORLD, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS REALLY WERE FRONT AND CENTER THOUGH, HOW WE CAN MODEL THOSE BEST PRACTICES AND SPREAD THAT TO CONTINUE TO
[00:05:01]
HELP LOOKING AT FOOD INSECURITY.AND AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT, UM, CANON THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL DON'T DO IT, BUT IF WE CAN PUT OUT THERE THE BEST PRACTICES AND HELP START SOME CONVERSATIONS.
UM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR NANCY OR THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL, BUT I'LL NOTE IS, UM, SORT OF THE HOUSING REPORT WASN'T QUITE READY, BUT, UM, WE'LL KIND OF FORWARD THAT ALONG.
UM, I THINK WE MIGHT SEND THE PIECE THAT IS READY RIGHT.
SINCE RIGHT NOW IS WHEN DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ABOUT FUNDING, YOU KNOW, FROM THE RISK PLAN.
SO WE MIGHT SEND A WHATEVER IS READY, RIGHT.
AND, UM, UNTIL WE KIND OF GET THE FULL REPORT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE SOME DATA INTO IT, SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DONE.
SO IT'S LIKE, WELL, DO WE, YOU KNOW, WHAT COME, YOU KNOW, WHAT COMES FIRST OR WHAT'S MOST USEFUL WHEN RIGHT.
IT'S UM, AND THEN THE OTHER WORK GROUP AFTER FOOD SECURITY IS MENTAL HEALTH.
SO AS FROM THIS IS THE WORK GROUP OF OUR COMMUNITY COUNCILS.
SO AS THEY IDENTIFY, UH, THE FOCUS AREA UNDER MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT, THAT THEY WISH TO FOCUS ON, THEN WE'LL COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE BOARD SO THAT, UM, WHOEVER'S INTERESTED IN THAT SORT OF ASPECT OF MENTAL WELLBEING AND OUR COMMUNITY CAN PLUG INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IF WE'RE ORGANIZING MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS AROUND THESE, UM, OBVIOUSLY THE MORE INTERESTED FOLKS WE HAVE WHO WERE INVOLVED THE BETTER AND, UM, SO STAY TUNED.
AND I SAY THAT ONLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A JULY MEETING.
SO, SO THERE'LL BE A BIT, A MORE IMPORTANT REASON FOR US TO KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED RIGHT.
DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, YOU KNOW, TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THESE TOPICS.
SO, SO YOU'LL GET MORE UPDATES FROM ME MORE FROM A POLICY OR PROGRAMMATIC STANDPOINT THAN USUAL, JUST, UM, SINCE WE WON'T HAVE ANOTHER SORT OF FORMAL BOARD MEETING UNTIL AUGUST.
SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE A FEW THINGS ABOUT JUST KIND OF HOW THE PROCESS IS GOING TO WORK GOING FORWARD.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO NANCY'S EXCELLENT REPORT THAT THIS GENTLEMAN FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHOSE NAME, I DON'T REMEMBER SPOKE NONSTOP FOR US.
IT SEEMED LIKE, AND HE JUST SPOKE.
IT WAS, HE DIDN'T HAVE NOTES, BUT HE GAVE US JUST EXACTLY THE INFORMATION WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND MORE, AND HE WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
AND I, I WAS JUST STUNNED BY THE AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION THAT GENTLEMAN HAD.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, HE DID AN AMAZING JOB THAT WAS EDWIN MARTY.
WELL, THANKS FOR SHARING THAT TO NORA.
I THINK THAT WE, UM, WE, WE HAVE SUCH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE IN THIS GROUP THAT SOMETIMES WE, WE FORGET WHAT A GREAT BOON IT IS AS ORGANIZATION TO HAVE SORT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND BREATHE THIS STUFF.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP AND THANK YOU TO THE CANNED COMMUNITY COUNCIL FOR, FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING IS SORT OF MAP OUT THESE REALLY MAJOR ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITIES RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE, THE FULL REPORT AND ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
[CAN Member Presentation Re: 2021 State Legislative Session (Part 1 of 2)]
I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE ON.I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR FEATURED PRESENTATIONS TODAY, UM, REGARDING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THAT WAS VERY AND VERY EXCITING AND A LOT OF THINGS CAME OUT OF, AND I'M EXCITED TO GET THE FULL RUNDOWN.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF CONTENT AND IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL INFORMATION THAT WE NEED.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FOUR PARTIES WHO ARE GOING TO SHARE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, AUSTIN ISD, AND CENTRAL HEALTH.
AND I WANTED TO JUST GIVE PRIORITY TO ANYBODY WHO NEEDED TO, TO LEAVE THIS MEETING EARLY OR HAD ANY OTHER, UM, CONFLICTS TODAY.
AND IF NOT, WE'LL JUST GO IN ORDER.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'LL START WITH, UM, CITY OF BOSTON.
I'M THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S INNER GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER.
YOU HEAR LIKE IN THE BACK, I BELIEVE I HAVE 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL TRY TO GO THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY THEN.
[00:10:05]
ACTUALLY LET ME GET IT IN THE RIGHT, UH, VIEW FIRST.I'M NOT AS PREPARED AS I COULD BE FOR THIS.
AND BRIE'S PRESENTATIONS IS ALREADY IN THE SHARED FOLDER, I GUESS JALINA, IF YOU CAN PUT THAT IN THE CHAT AND THEN IF THERE'S LIKE A PRESENTERS, WANT TO EMAIL ME THOSE, WE CAN SHARE THEM WITH THE BOARD AS WELL.
UM, AND THIS CAN HAPPEN AFTERWARDS AS A LIMIT.
THIS JUST SAYS SPECIFIC SECTIONS.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU GUYS CAN SEE MY POWERPOINT GET THUMBS UP.
I'LL GO THROUGH THIS REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I CAN'T START WITHOUT THINKING OUR, OUR DELEGATION, THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY DELEGATION, WHO WAS PHENOMENAL IN HELPING TO SLOW DOWN OR PARTICULARLY BAD LEGISLATION, WHICH ACTUALLY CAME FROM EVEN SOME MEMBERS IN OUR SENATE DELEGATION.
AND I'LL GET TO THAT IN A BIT, BUT THEY WERE JUST PHENOMENAL AND WORKING VERY HARD ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS INTERESTS ON SOME OF THE BILLS YOU'RE GOING TO SEE BEFORE US.
SO I JUST WANT TO START THERE AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK AND KNOW THAT THEIR WORK DOESN'T COME WITHOUT SOME CONSEQUENCES.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND TOO.
UM, SO WE ACTUALLY DID, BEFORE I GET INTO ALL THE BAD, UM, WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.
THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, ONE FOR THE CITY, ONE REMARKABLE, UM, SUCCESS WAS GETTING A PENSION BILL TO REFORM OUR AUSTIN POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
WE GOT SOME, UM, OTHER BILLS PASSED THAT THE CITY EITHER CARED ABOUT.
AND ALSO JUST TO HELP WITH SLIGHT ASSISTS.
YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY.
IF YOU NOTICE THAT SNAP CERTIFICATION BILL AS B 2 24 IS GOING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO WHO ARE OVER 60 AND WHO HAVE ABOUT A THREE-YEAR DISABILITY, UM, TO ENROLL ON SNAP.
AND IT ALSO WE'LL DO A DATA MATCHING WITH THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN WIC TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALSO RECEIVING SNAP AS WELL.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE EXPANDED USE OF SNAP THROUGH THIS FILL PASSING.
UM, MOVING ON REAL QUICKLY THOUGH, THERE WERE, OF COURSE THE MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WE DEAL WITH AS NEGATIVE LEGISLATION.
UM, AND THESE ARE THE BILLS THAT PASSED THAT WERE LEGIT, UH, NEGATIVE.
THE TWO THAT TAKE THE MOST, UM, ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA ARE THE WHAT'S CALLED THE CITY POLICE DEFUNDING BILL.
SO THIS ONE APPLIES TO MUNICIPALITIES OF 250,000 AND MORE AND SAYS THAT YOU CAN'T FUND YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ANY LESS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE IS WHAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS.
UM, AND SO CREATES A FLOOR OR RATHER, I SHOULD SAY A CEILING ON HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD BE FUNDING YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
IT WAS DEFINITELY TARGETED AT SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT AUSTIN UNDERSTOOD IN REFORMING AND RE-IMAGINING HIS POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO WAS, UM, THE HB 1925 RELATED TO A STATEWIDE BAN ON CAMPING FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
UM, SO THAT BILL ALSO WAS IN RESPONSE TO SOME EFFORTS HERE IN AUSTIN RELATED TO ALLOWING THE HOMELESS TO CAMP IN PUBLIC SPACES.
THAT BILL WILL TAKE EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL NO LONGER ALLOW THAT AND REQUIRE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT, UM, AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE CAMPING IN PUBLIC SPACES.
UM, AND THEN SOME OTHER BILLS THAT YOU ALL MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, OF COURSE, PERMANENT WAS CARRIED TO HAD A LOT OF ATTENTION.
SO NOW YOU DON'T NEED A PERMIT TO HAVE A GUN IN TEXAS.
IT, A LOT OF GUN LEGISLATION PASSED, UH, THAT CONTRACT PROHIBITION, FIREARM BOYCOTT IS DIRECTED AT, UM, ENTITIES THAT'S, UH, CITY STATE GOVERNMENT'S CONTRACT WITH THAT HAVE A BOYCOTT ON FIREARM REGULATORS.
SO FOR INSTANCE, BANK OF AMERICA DOES NOT DO BUSINESS WITH, UM, THOSE THAT PRODUCED, UH, HIGH CAPACITY MACHINE GUNS.
AND NOW, AND WE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO DO BUSINESS WITH BANK OF AMERICA.
THE STATE PASSED A LAW SAYING THAT WE CAN'T DO BUSINESS ANYMORE WITH THOSE THAT HAVE A FIREARM BOYCOTT.
SO THE CITY WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO DO BUSINESS WITH BANK OF AMERICA.
AND LAST BANK OF AMERICA DECIDES TO TAKE THAT ISSUE UP IN THE COURTS, BUT THAT'S HOW FAR THEY'RE GOING AND FAR REACHING.
THEY'RE GOING INTO THE GUN SPACE AND FINDING EVEN FURTHER WAYS TO, UM, RESTRICT PEOPLE'S AND COMPANIES CHOICES AND TO WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO UNRESTRICT COME HAVE COMPLETE UNFEATHERED, UH, GUN ACCESS AND CONTROL, UM, AS FOR BILLS THAT FAILED TO PASS.
UM, AND THIS, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO OUR, UH, OUR COUNTY DELEGATION ON ADDRESSING THESE BILLS THAT WHOLE TOP ROW, WHERE A SERIES OF BILLS, UH, COMMUNITIES THAT WANTED TO DNX FROM THE CITY, UM, LAKE GAUSTON.
SOME OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH AS THE ISSUE OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING THEIR CITY TAXES FOR OVER 30 YEARS
[00:15:01]
NOW AND WANTED TO CONTINUE TO NOT HAVE TO PAY TAXES FOR SERVICES THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING FOR ALL THOSE 30 YEARS AND NOT PAYING ON.AND THEN THESE OTHER COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT THEY COULD TAKE A RIDE ON THAT DNX FOREVER.
THESE BILLS ARE SERIOUS, I WILL SAY BECAUSE THEY LET THE RESIDENT DETERMINE WHETHER THEY'RE RECEIVING ADEQUATE SERVICES.
ALL THEY HAVE TO SAY IS WE DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, FOR LOST CREEK, THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE INADEQUATE SERVICES BEFORE THEY WERE ANNEX.
THEY GOT RECYCLING EVERY WEEK AND NOW IT'S ONLY BIWEEKLY.
SO THEREFORE THEY SHOULD GET TO DO THE SANDBOX FROM THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH YOUR RECYCLING HAS PAID OUT IS A FEE-BASED SERVICE, AND IT'S NOT PAYING OUT OF YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
UM, BUT THOSE BILLS WERE KILLED DUE TO POINTS OF ORDERS CALLED BY OUR HOUSE MEMBERS, SPECIFICALLY A REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD AND REPRESENTATIVE VICKY GOODWIN.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE ACTIONS, UH, REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD, WHEN SHE KILLED THE LAKE AUSTIN BILL AS PRATIK THEN WENT AND KILLED A LOT OF HER BILLS THAT WERE ON A LOCAL CALENDAR, INCLUDING A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED, UH, NEW MOTHERS RECEIVE IN-HOME VISITS FROM NURSES.
AND HE KILLED THAT BILL FOR DEFENDING HER OWN DISTRICT.
SO THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO THESE ACTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SAW IT RECEIVED SOME MEDIA ATTENTION ON A NOISE ORDINANCE.
UM, AND WHAT, UH, BROUGHT BY SOME BAR OWNERS WHO WANTED TO PREEMPT THE CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE AND HAVE THE MOST UNRESTRICTED NOISE ORDINANCE IN THE STATE.
IT WOULD HAVE RAISED THE DECIBEL LEVELS TO THAT.
UH, THE SIXTH STREET COMMUNITY DOWNTOWN.
IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO HAVE THIS LEVEL FROM 10:00 AM TO 2:00 AM EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND SO THAT THING THANKFULLY WAS KILLED BY A POINT OF ORDER BY REPRESENTATIVE GINA, YOU KNOW, HOSA, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO HER FOR THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT SHOWS THAT WE DO HAVE SOME TIMES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE THAT SEEK EASY ACCESS TO LOBBYISTS WHO ARE WILLING TO TAKE UP THEIR CAUSE AND TRY TO SEEK TO PREEMPT THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
UM, AND SOME OF THESE OTHER BILLS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, UM, WE AGAIN SAW A SOLID EFFORT TO TRY TO HAVE THE PUC REGULATE AUSTIN ENERGY, INSTEAD OF LETTING THAT BE REGULATED BY THE STAKEHOLDERS IN AUSTIN, WHICH ARE OUR RATE PAYERS WHO MADE THE INVESTMENT IN AUSTIN ENERGY.
AND THEN THERE WAS A COMMUNITY ADVOCACY BILL.
UM, AND THAT IS A BILL THAT SAYS THAT WE INCLUDING ALL GOVERNMENTAL, NC.
SO ALL OF THE GROUPS YOU HAVE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY COULD NOT HIRE LOBBYISTS OR EVEN HAVE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS STAFF LIKE MYSELF ADVOCATE AT THE CAPITOL, THERE IS AN EFFORT TO CUT OUT, UM, THAT REPRESENTATION AT THE CAPITOL AND NOT ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
UM, SO I CAN MOVE ALONG REAL QUICKLY.
SO MY FRIENDS CAN GO PRETTY SOON AFTER ME.
WE DID ALSO, THERE WERE SOME BILLS WE HAD HOPED WOULD HAVE PASSED FOR THE CITY THAT DIDN'T PASS.
UM, AND THERE WERE BILLS THAT WE ALWAYS WORK TO MAKE BETTER.
UH, THERE WAS THE, IF YOU SEE THAT PIPELINE PREEMPTION BILL, THAT BILL GOT SOME ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA, IT WAS TO LIMIT THE CITY'S PARTICIPATIONS AND WHEN THESE PIPELINES ARE PUT DOWN.
SO FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS THE EFFORT OF THE ONE JUST SOUTH OF AUSTIN AND THE CITY DID, UM, INTERVENE IN THE LAWSUIT ON THAT.
AND SO THERE WAS A BILL PASSING.
WE CAN NO LONGER DO THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE BILL ACTUALLY WAS SO BROAD, IT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE BARTON SPRINGS.
UM, AND LUCKILY THE BILL AUTHOR DID LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THAT AND WORK WITH US TO MAKE THAT FEEL BETTER.
UM, AND THEN AS WERE OTHER BILLS THAT RECEIVED A LOT OF ATTENTION, THEY ACTUALLY ENDED UP BEING FAIRLY NEUTRAL FOR THE CITY, THE STORM RESPONSE, WHICH IS KNOWN AS SB TWO AND SB THREE, UM, HAVE VERY LITTLE CONSEQUENCE RIGHT NOW TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN ENERGY.
UM, AND THEN THE STATEWIDE BROADBAND BILL DOES NOT INCLUDE CITIES LIKE AUSTIN.
SO WE WILL NOT SEE ANY ATTEMPT BY THE STATE TO HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE AUSTIN.
IT ALLOWED A REPRESENTATIVE FOR CITIES OF A MILLION AND MORE, BUT THAT GAP OF, UH, ANY CITY UNDER A MILLION.
AND THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF SUBURBAN AREAS.
THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING A LACK OF ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO NOT HAVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE.
UM, WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP AND SO WE GET A, A BRIEF, UH, REPRISE AND WE WILL BE BACK AT IT LIKELY IN THE FALL.
UM, WE'VE BEEN HEARING SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE YET ONLY THE GOVERNOR KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN HE'LL CALL IT.
HE MAY CALL ANOTHER SESSION BEFORE THAT THEY WILL TAKE UP REDISTRICTING.
THEY WILL TAKE UP ALSO THE DISBURSEMENT OF FEDERAL COVID FUNDS, WHICH I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THE HOUSE REALLY MADE AN EFFORT TO SAY THEY WANTED TO HAVE INPUT AND OVERSIGHT ON THAT AND NOT JUST LET THE GOVERNOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE LBB DETERMINED THAT.
SO THEY WILL TAKE THAT UP AS WELL.
[00:20:01]
OF THE ELECTION, WHAT THEY CALL AN ELECTION INTEGRITY BILL THAT DID NOT PASS SB SEVEN, THAT WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN UP.AND THERE WAS ALSO THE BAIL REFORM BILL BEHIND IT, WHICH DID NOT PASS.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR WAIT UNTIL WE'RE ALL DONE, BUT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS REALLY COMPREHENSIVE AND, UH, JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONTENT IN THERE AND IT'S ALL ON OUR SHARED DRIVE AS WELL.
UM, I THINK EARL LET'S, LET'S KEEP OUR, OUR SPEAKERS GOING AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A GOOD PERIOD OF TIME AFTER EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN TO SORT OF DIG INTO A LOT OF THIS AND FOR, FOR ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
[Presentation by Travis County Delegation Re: 2021 State Legislative Session]
TRAVIS COUNTY IS REPORTING NEXT.I'M THE COUNTY INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER.
I DID NOT PREPARE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL, BUT THANKFULLY, BECAUSE OF THE OVERLAP OF THE CITY AND COUNTY, BRIE'S COVERED A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT OUR SHARED, UM, COMMON INTERESTS WERE IN OUR CONCERNS DURING THE LEGISLATURE.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIT SOME HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE COUNTY.
UM, SOME, AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE, UM, BRIE MENTIONED THAT WE DO HAVE OVERLAP, BUT THE COUNTY DID NOT ESCAPE ITS OWN DEFUND, THE POLICE BILL.
SO WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE UNDER SENATE BILL 23, WHICH IS COUNTY SPECIFIC, UM, AND WILL HAVE AN IMPACT FOR HOW WE HANDLE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPENDITURES, WHERE THAT HAS A GREATER IMPACT IN THE COUNTY IS THAT UNLIKE THE CITY WHO HAS SORT OF A CONCENTRATED LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT THROUGH APD, IT'S DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WE HAVE THE SHERIFFS, WE ALSO HAVE THE CONSTABLES.
AND SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONSIDERATION FOR US, HOW WE MANAGE THOSE BUDGETS GOING FORWARD AND WHAT FUTURE GROWTH IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
UM, BRI ALSO MENTIONED HOUSE BILL 1869, WHICH IS THE CEO BILL THAT WILL HAVE IMPACT TO ALL OF THE ENTITIES THAT DO, UM, UTILIZE COS FOR ANY SORT OF DEBT OBLIGATIONS WHILE THAT BILL DID GET BETTER, THERE STILL WILL BE AN IMPACT TO US.
UM, WE KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO UNLESS THEY FALL WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES THAT THEY HAVE CARVED OUT.
THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO YOUR TAX RATE CALCULATION.
SO THEY'RE A USEFUL TOOL FOR US.
WE DEFINITELY THINK THE IMPACT OF THAT BILL WAS LESSENED AS IT MOVED THROUGH THE PROCESS EARLY ON, THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN EXCLUSION FOR TRAVIS COUNTY AND ALL OF ITS TAXING ENTITIES CONTAINED PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY WITHIN.
WE WERE VERY SAD TO SEE THAT THAT DID NOT STAY IN THE FINAL VERSION, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE PLEASED THAT AT LEAST WITH THE, THE FINAL VERSION, UH, IS LESS PAINFUL, LET'S SAY THAN WHAT WOULD BE ORIGINAL VERSION LOOK LIKE.
UM, MOVING ON FOR TRAVIS COUNTY, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WENT INTO THE SESSION WITH SORT OF LOW EXPECTATIONS.
IT TURNED OUT WE HAD A REAL SESSION AFTER ALL FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.
UM, AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO END JUST YET.
WE WILL HAVE THE SPECIAL SESSION.
I WOULD SAY THAT FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, UM, WHAT MAYBE HAS HAD A BIGGER IMPACT FOR US ALMOST AS WHAT DIDN'T PASS.
AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WATCHING FOR, ESPECIALLY IN THIS SPECIAL SESSION.
AND THEN AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT SESSION.
SO FOR, FOR US, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS EARLY ON, WE WERE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PREEMPTION THERE WAS GOING TO BE AROUND DISASTER DECLARATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, TRAVIS COUNTY, CITY OF AUSTIN FREQUENTLY HAD CLASHES WITH THE GOVERNOR OVER WHAT SORT OF AUTHORITY WE HAD IN PLACE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
UH, CAN WE DO MASKS FANS? CAN WE REQUEST THAT BUSINESSES, DO THAT HOUSE BILL THREE EARLY ON WAS FILED THAT MUCH MORE AUTHORITY TO THE GOVERNOR THAN HE CURRENTLY ALREADY HAD INDEFINITELY WEAKENED WHAT AUTHORITY WE TENUOUSLY ALREADY DO HAVE WITH THIS CURRENT, UH, ADMINISTRATION THAT DID NOT PASS, WE EXPECTED THAT SOMETHING WOULD, UM, BUT IN THE END OF THE DAY, THE HOUSE NEVER APPOINTED CONFEREES FOR THAT BILL AND NOTHING REALLY CHANGED.
SO WE STILL KIND OF STAY IN THE SAME SITUATION OF WE'LL TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW.
THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN THAT THAT WILL THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE WILL AGREE WITH US ON THAT.
SO RATHER THAN GETTING, AT LEAST WE DIDN'T GET IT, OUR HAND SLAPPED AND WE DIDN'T LOSE AUTHORITY, BUT WE STILL EXIST IN THIS TENUOUS RELATIONSHIP.
I WOULD SAY WITH THE GOVERNOR, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO MAYBE FUTURE PANDEMICS OR THE ONGOING PANDEMIC FOR THE COUNTY.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE WERE WATCHING WAS THE ELECTION BILL.
THERE WAS THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT TO THE COUNTY.
NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF HOW WE ACTUALLY RUN UP OUR ELECTIONS, BUT HOW MUCH VOTER PARTICIPATION THERE CAN BE, BUT ALSO THERE'S GOING TO BE A HUGE FINANCIAL COST TO THE COUNTY.
FOR SOME OF THESE CHANGES, ONE OF THE, UM, INITIATIVES THAT THEY HAD BEHIND THIS WAS A SORT OF BIFURCATED ELECTION PROCESS.
SO A DIFFERENT ELECTION ESSENTIALLY FOR NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND THEN STATE AND LOCAL
[00:25:01]
FOR NO REAL, REAL GOOD REASON THAT WE COULD FIND FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, BUT WOULD HAVE ESSENTIALLY REQUIRED THE COUNTY RUN TO DUAL ELECTIONS, DO A HUGE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS.UM, AND NOT SOMETHING THAT NECESSARILY REALLY HELPED ENFRANCHISE VOTERS EITHER.
WE KNOW THAT THAT IS COMING BACK, UM, AND WE WILL BE WATCHING IT CLOSELY.
I, I WISH I COULD HAVE A SUNNIER OUTLOOK AND SAY WE WERE REALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES, BUT I DO EXPECT THAT SOMETHING WILL PASS IN THIS SPECIAL.
AND I EXPECT THAT RIGHT OUT, RIGHT AFTER THAT PASSES, THERE WILL BE LAWSUITS REGARDING THAT BILL, BUT THE COUNTY FOR THE COUNTY THAT IS ONE OF OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITIES IS TRYING TO MAINTAIN AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE ALL LUCKY THAT OUR ELECTIONS DIDN'T TURN INTO SUPER SPREADER EVENT.
AND THAT REALLY IS THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROCESSES.
WE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO RUN THESE ELECTIONS.
WE KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE, WE STAY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW, BUT ALLOW US TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND SENATE BILL SEVEN REALLY DOES, DOES GUT THAT EFFORT.
UM, BAIL REFORM IS THE OTHER LARGE, LARGE ISSUE THAT WE WERE HOPEFUL WE WOULD ESCAPE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE.
WE AT LEAST HAVE A TEMPORARY REPRIEVE FROM THAT FOR THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE MADE, UH, AN ONGOING CONCERTED EFFORT TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL AS QUICKLY AND AS SAFELY TO THE COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE.
WE STAND BY LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS, DO NOT NEED TO BE INCARCERATED.
LET'S TRY TO HELP PEOPLE GET P UH, PR BONDS.
LET'S, LET'S TRY TO MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE BAIL REFORM REALLY UPENDS.
WHAT I WOULD SAY HAS BEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY IN TEXAS FOR ABOUT THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THE GOAL OF THAT REALLY IS NOT TO TRY TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT TO HELP MOVE THEM OUT ANY MORE QUICKLY.
UM, BUT IT WILL HAVE A MASSIVE IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH IN KEEPING PEOPLE IN JAIL LONGER, UM, KEEPING PEOPLE, PUTTING PEOPLE IN JAIL WHO REALLY DON'T NEED TO BE THERE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY SORT OF YOUR PAST HISTORY, UM, IN TERMS OF, YES, MAYBE, MAYBE YOU HAD A PREVIOUS CHARGE, BUT IS THAT 20 YEARS AGO OR WAS THAT TWO DAYS AGO? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SORT OF DISTINCTION BETWEEN THAT.
AGAIN, WE EXPECT SOMETHING TO BE COMING THROUGH ON THAT.
THE HOUSE VERSION OF THAT BILL WAS WHILE NOT OPTIMAL WAS A MUCH BETTER SOLUTION.
AT LEAST FROM THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE, IT STILL GAVE SOME SORT OF CREDENCE TO NOD TO THE FACT THAT SCREENING TOOLS ARE USEFUL, A USEFUL THING TO HAVE IN PLACE FOR ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY REALLY IS A RISK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SENATE, THE SENATE BILL REALLY THREW THAT OUT AND JUST HAS A KNEE-JERK REACTION OF YOU'VE BEEN ARRESTED ONCE YOU'RE A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK AS I THINK WE'RE ALL PROBABLY OF, LIKE-MIND WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN HAVE A SMARTER, A SMARTER LOOK AT CRIME.
AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, THE BAIL REFORM BILLS ARE NOT THE WAY TO GO.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, SAME THING WITH SENATE BILL 14, BREE TOUCHED ON THAT REALLY BRIEFLY, BUT THAT IS A PREEMPTION BILL THAT RIGHT NOW WOULD ONLY IMPACT COUNTIES AND CITIES.
UM, THE GENESIS OF THAT REALLY CAME OUT OF, UH, FREEING PAID SICK LEAVE, BUT THE BILL HAS BEEN MASSIVELY EXPANDED THAT REALLY TOUCHES INTO THREATENING OUR GENERAL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.
WHAT KIND OF LEAVE CAN WE OFFER TO OUR OWN EMPLOYEES? UM, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY WE DON'T REALLY NEED THE STATE TELLING US HOW WE SHOULD BE MANAGING OUR OWN WORKFORCES.
AND I THINK THAT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT AS WE START LOOKING AT OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT LEVEL OF KIND OF AUTONOMY WE HAVE FROM THE STATE FROM COUNTY TRAVIS COUNTY SPECIFIC BILLS.
WE HAD A MODEST AGENDA THIS TIME GOING FORWARD, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THREE THINGS OF NOTE PASSED.
THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE IS SENATE BILL SEVEN 90, WHICH WAS CARRIED BY SENATOR
THAT BILL HAS STATEWIDE APPLICATION, BUT IS, IS TRAVIS COUNTY SPECIFIC, ALTHOUGH IT DID GET AMENDED AND HAS A LITTLE BIT BROADER APPLICATION, BUT WHAT THAT BILL DOES WITH OUR STAR FLIGHT SERVICES CURRENTLY, IF YOU ARE AN INSURED PATIENT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MEDICAL TRANSPORTER OR RIDE ON ONE OF OUR HELICOPTERS, FOR WHATEVER REASON WE HAVE TO BALANCE, WE, WE BILL YOUR INSURANCE.
IF WE RECEIVE A PAYMENT FROM THAT, WE STILL HAVE TO GO AFTER YOU FOR WHATEVER AN UNPAID AMOUNT THERE IS.
SO THE BALANCE OF THAT BILL SENATE BILL SEVEN 90 IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO ACCEPT WHATEVER WE RECEIVE FROM INSURANCE AS PAID IN FULL.
SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO AFTER YOU, AFTER THE WORST DAY POTENTIALLY OF YOUR LIFE FOR REMAINING PAYMENT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU'RE GOOD.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL NEVER HAVE TO HEAR FROM US AGAIN.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE EXCITED TO GET THAT PASSED.
I THINK IT WAS, WE'RE LOOKING AT SORT OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE POSITION OF BEING DEBT COLLECTORS.
AND SENATE BILL SEVEN 90 WILL REALLY ALLOW US TO STAND BY THAT MISSION.
ANOTHER BILL IS HOUSE BILL 360 2, WHICH IS COUNTY SPECIFIC WILL ALLOW US TO DO ELECTRONIC BIDS FOR ANY OF OUR BID PROCESSES.
[00:30:01]
IT'S OUR ATTEMPT TO TRY TO MODERNIZE AND MOVE FORWARD.WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE PAPER APPLICATIONS ANYMORE FOR LARGE SCALE BID PROCESSES.
THE OTHER ONE THAT I THINK WE'LL HAVE SORT OF THE MOST BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY IS HOUSE BILL 2 95, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO, UM, CARVE OUT PUBLIC DEFENDER EXPENSES FROM OUR NO NEW REVENUE RATES.
SO FROM OUR TAX RATE, LAST SESSION, WHEN THE REVENUE CAP SCHOOL PASSED, IT DID MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR THE WHEEL SYSTEM.
I THINK YOU MIGHT ALL BE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
SO IF, IF YOU NEED, UM, A PUBLIC DEFENDER, WE COULD PAY FOR ATTORNEYS, BUT ONLY IF THEY WERE SORT OF PRIVATE ATTORNEYS WE CONTRACTED WITH SINCE LAST SESSION, TRAVIS COUNTY HAS BROUGHT ON A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
AND SO WE'LL NOW BE ABLE TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE COSTS FROM OUR TAX CALCULATION.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THAT WILL HELP HOPEFULLY EXPAND THOSE SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT THE END TOO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, SORRY, DOOM AND GLOOM SPECIAL SESSION.
I WILL SAY THAT THIS WAS AN EXHAUSTING SLOG OF A SESSION.
UM, BUT I'M FEELING WEIRDLY OPTIMISTIC THAT AT LEAST ON THE FIRST PART OF IT, WE DID NOT GET HARMED NEARLY AS MUCH AS I EXPECTED, BUT I SUPPOSE THAT'S WHAT THE SPECIAL SESSION WAS FOR.
SO WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, AND MAYBE IT WILL NOT BE AS PAINFUL AS I AM IMAGINING THAT IT WILL BE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT REALLY CLEAR DELINEATION OF THOSE PRIORITIES AND, UM, AND YOUR CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND,
[CAN Member Presentation Re: 2021 State Legislative Session (Part 2 of 2)]
BUT WE'LL MOVE TO AUSTIN ISD AND EDNA.UM, I DON'T HAVE A POWERPOINT EITHER AND I GUESS I WANT TO JULIE'S CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM, YOU KNOW, FOR, UM, FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LAST SESSION WAS A REALLY GOOD SESSION AND, UM, THEY PASSED HOUSE BILL THREE, AND I THINK THAT IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS THAT WERE SO CLOSE THAT I FEEL THAT THE, UH, MODERATE REPUBLICANS FELT COMFORTABLE BEING MODERATE.
UM, THIS SESSION AFTER THE 2020 ELECTIONS, UH, WHICH WE'RE NOT CLOSE, WE'RE NOT SO CLOSE.
UM, I THINK THAT, UM, THE, UH, SORT OF RIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE FAR RIGHT CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT WAS VERY, VERY, UH, IN CHARGE THIS SESSION.
SO, UH, WITH THAT BACKDROP AND WITH THE BACKDROP OF COVID WITH THE BACKDROP OF, UM, THE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT THE, THE COMP TROLLER PREDICTED IN, UH, JUNE OF LAST YEAR, WE HAD VERY LOW EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT WE COULD GET THE SESSION.
SO ALMOST EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, THEIR MAIN PRIORITY WAS, WAS FULLY FUN.
UM, THE LEGISLATURE HAD MADE A BIG INVESTMENT IN, UH, IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, $6 BILLION, MORE FROM THE STATE, UH, INVESTED AND 5 BILLION IN, UM, SUPPOSEDLY PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
SO THAT'S WHY WE WENT INTO THIS AND, AND I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE VERY MANY OTHER ISSUES, UH, THAT WOULD GET THROUGH BESIDES THE BUDGET.
AND AT THAT POINT WE THOUGHT REDISTRICTING, UM, BUT TURNED OUT THE, UH, THE CENSUS NUMBERS ARE, ARE NOT YET IN AND DEALING WITH ERCOT.
SO WE WENT IN WITH LOW EXPECTATIONS, UM, BUT THERE WERE JUST BILLS COMING FROM EVERY, EVERY SIDE TRYING TO, TRYING TO DO BAD THINGS.
UM, I WILL, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT SENATE BILL ONE, THE BUDGET BILL DID FULLY FUND HOUSE BILL THREE.
AND, UH, BUT I, I WANT TO KIND OF POINT OUT A, SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO, AND THAT IS HOW THE STATE IS FUNDING EDUCATION.
AND I'M GOING TO HOLD THIS UP.
THIS IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE GROWTH IN RECAPTURE.
AND, UM, BASICALLY YOU CAN JUST SEE THE BAR KEEPS GOING UP.
AND, UM, IN FISCAL YEAR 18, THE STAKE, UH, THE STATE COLLECTED ABOUT 2 BILLION IN RECAPTURE IN 19, THEY COLLECTED A LITTLE OVER 2.5 BILLION.
AND IN FISCAL YEAR 21, THEY'RE PREDICTED TO BE CLOSE TO 3 BILLION.
AUSTIN ISD RECAPTURE PAYMENT CONTINUES TO GO UP A HOUSE, BILL THREE SORT
[00:35:01]
OF, UH, LESSENED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY.UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE PREDICTING $709,000 THAT WE'LL HAVE TO PAY AND RECAPTURE, WHICH IS A LITTLE OVER 45% OF OUR BUDGET.
SO JUST, AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT, UM, THE, THE, UH, LEGISLATURE SUPPLANTS, WHAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
SO THOSE ARE JUST THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU HEAR, UM, SOME LEGISLATORS SAY, OH, WE FULLY FUND EDUCATION.
WELL, WHAT DID THEY FUND IT WITH? SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THAT PER STUDENT SPENDING TEXAS IS IN THE BOTTOM 10 STATES IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY FOR PER STUDENT SPENDING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
WE ARE, WE ARE DOING BETTER, THEY ARE FUNDING MORE, BUT THEY'RE NOT FUNDING ENOUGH.
UM, SO THE OTHER PRIORITY WE HAD WAS BROADBAND AND, UM, BREE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS.
WE, WE TRACKED ALMOST 800 BILLS, UM, AND THERE ARE ABOUT 90 BILLS THAT PASSED THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT EITHER EDUCATION OR OPEN GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS, UH, SECURITY, CYBERSECURITY, ET CETERA.
SO IT'S NOT JUST EDUCATION BILLS, BUT IT'S THOSE OTHER BILLS THAT BREE BREE TOUCHED ON.
UM, BUT SO THERE WERE SEVERAL BILLS THAT DID ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFECT OF COVID ON STUDENT LEARNING AND MENTAL HEALTH.
ONE WAS HOUSE BILL 9 99 BY DIEGO BERNAL FROM SAN ANTONIO.
AND, UM, THERE IS A, UH, IN 2015, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL THAT ESTABLISHED WHAT IS CALLED INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION COMMITTEES OR IGC FOR STUDENTS WHO DID NOT PASS TWO OR FEWER END OF COURSE, EXAMS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION.
SO IT ALLOWS, OR IT REQUIRES AN INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION COMMITTEE TO CONVENE AND LOOK AT THE STUDENT'S TOTAL PORTFOLIO.
AND THERE'S A LIST OF THINGS IN THAT STATUTE THAT THE IGC IS TO LOOK AT, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE STUDENT CAN BE CAN GRADUATE.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT FOR KIDS WHO DO NOT DO WELL ON THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE TIME A YEAR TEST, AND THEY'RE NOT VERY GOOD TEST TAKERS, ET CETERA.
SO THAT HAS ALLOWED SEVERAL STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE WELL.
SO WHAT HOUSE BILL 9 99 DID, WAS IT ALLOWED ANY STUDENT IN THE 12TH GRADE DURING THE 20 20, 21 SCHOOL YEAR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INDIVIDUAL GRADUATION COMMITTEE PROCESS, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY, UH, AND OF COURSE, EXAMS THEY DID NOT PASS.
UM, AND I TRIED TO GET THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT I LIKE THE DAY AFTER THE SESSION ENDED.
IT ENDED ON A MONDAY ON TUESDAY MORNING.
I WAS ALREADY GETTING TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS FROM, FROM OUR STAFF ASKING, IS THIS AN EFFECT NOW BECAUSE GRADUATIONS WERE OCCURRING LATER THAT, THAT WEEK.
AND I DO BELIEVE WITH IT, THEY DID CONVENE THE IGCC AND SEVERAL KIDS, KIDS WERE ABLE TO GRADUATE, UM, HOUSE BILL 45, 45 BY HAROLD DUTTON REMOVES GRADE PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS TIED TO GRADES FIVE, EIGHT, UM, STAR EXAMS. AND IT WOULD ESTABLISH, UH, ACCELERATED LEARNING COMMITTEES AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PERFORM SATISFACTORILY IN THREE, FIVE AND EIGHTH GRADE, READING, MATH, UH, READING AND MATH, AND OF COURSE EXAMS. UM, THEN, UH, THE OTHER KIND OF, UH, W WE'RE GOING TO SEE KIND OF FALL OUT.
THIS HAS, BUT CURRENTLY IF A PARENT WANTS TO RETAIN A STUDENT IN, UH, IN SAY KINDERGARTEN, UM, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DO THIS FOR ATHLETIC REASONS.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW A PARENT IS NOT CANNOT DETERMINE THE, CAN NOT MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.
WELL, A BILL THAT WAS THE PAST, UH, PAST THE SESSION BY SENATOR PAXTON PERMITS A PARENT OR A GUARDIAN TO ELECT FOR A STUDENT TO REPEAT A GRADE, OR A COURSE, A COURSE IS A, THEY CAN'T REPEAT HIGH SCHOOL GRADES, BUT THEY CAN REPEAT HIGH SCHOOL COURSES.
UM, AND THAT IS FOR THE 20 21 22 SCHOOL YEAR.
ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS THAT PASSED, UM, RELATES TO SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
UM, AND I WANT TO ALSO REITERATE WHAT BRI SAID ABOUT OUR TRAVIS COUNTY DELEGATION,
[00:40:01]
UH, IN THE HOUSE WAS FANTASTIC.UM, JAMES RICO TOOK ON THIS BILL AND, UM, UM, DID JUST A FANTASTIC JOB ON THE HOUSE SIDE, WHICH IS WHERE THE BILL ORIGINATED.
THEY AMENDED THE BILL TO ADD OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE IN THE CURRICULUM LIKE SLAVERY, LIKE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, UM, LIKE MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES.
AND THEY, THEY TRIED TO MAKE IT AS DIVERSE AS POSSIBLE.
UH, SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER THIS BILL TO BE SORT OF THE WHITEWASH BILL, BUT THE HOUSE MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO, TO AMEND IT, TO MAKE IT NOT AS BAD.
UM, SO WENT OVER TO THE SENATE AND THE SENATE STRIPPED ALL OF THE HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND WENT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL BILL.
IT CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND, AND, UM, IN ORDER TO CONCUR WITH THE SENATE CHANGES AND TALARICO KILLED IT ON A POINT OF ORDER, WELL, THEN THE SENATE, UH, TOOK AN UNUSUAL ACTION OF JUST PASSING THE HOUSE BILL AS IT CAME OVER TO THE SENATE.
SO IT, IT PASSED WITH ALL OF THE HOUSE AMENDMENTS ON IT.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DECIPHER WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO UNDER THIS BILL.
UM, WE THINK THAT SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TEACH AS THEY CURRENTLY TEACH IN AUSTIN ISD.
ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T MANDATE THAT THEY TEACH A CERTAIN CURRENT EVENTS.
WE MAKE MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO THEM, UM, ON CURRENT EVENTS.
SO IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, THE JANUARY, UH, INSURRECTION OF THE, AT THE U S CAPITAL.
IT COULD BE THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER.
IT COULD BE THE GEORGE FLOYD, UH, TRIAL, UM, AND WE SUPPLY TEACHERS WITH INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY USE, UM, THAT IS RELIABLE INFORMATION IF THEIR CLASS WANTS TO DISCUSS IT.
SO WE, UNDER THE, UNDER THE BILL, WE CANNOT MANDATE THAT A TEACHER TEACH THESE THINGS.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE BILL PROHIBITS THE AWARDING OF A GRADE OR CREDIT FOR A STUDENT PARTICIPATING IN, UH, LOBBYING OR ADVOCACY.
UM, AND, AND THIS IS, UH, TROUBLING BECAUSE WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND, UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED AND JUST NOT AWARD A CREDIT FOR IT.
UM, BUT SO IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT A STUDENT FROM PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC ACTIVITIES.
IT JUST CANNOT BE MADE A PART OF A CLASS, UH, FOR CREDIT.
SO, AS I SAID, WE'RE STILL, WE'RE STILL DECIPHER DECIPHERED THAT PARTICULAR, THAT PARTICULAR BILL, AS WE ARE DECIPHERING OTHER BILLS, UH, WHAT DIDN'T PASS.
UM, WE REALLY WANTED A LOT OF EDUCATORS WANTED THE, UH, VIRTUAL LEARNING BILL HOUSE, BILL 1468, AND THAT DIED IN THE AFTERMATH OF IT WAS ON THE CALENDAR AFTER THE DEMOCRATS WALKED OUT THE LAST NIGHT, UH, THE LAST NIGHT OF THE SESSION.
UM, WELL, THE, THE NEXT TO THE LAST NIGHT OF THE SESSION, UM, AND IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED, UM, FULL DAY FUNDING FOR, FOR STUDENTS WHO CONTINUE TO WANT TO, UH, TO LEARN VIRTUALLY.
UM, WE'RE HOPING THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL INCLUDE IT IN ANY SPECIAL SESSION THAT, THAT HE CALLS, UH, BAD, BAD THINGS THAT DIDN'T PASS.
SO THAT'S GOOD THAT THEY DIDN'T PASS OUR VOUCHERS, UH, TRANSGENDER, WELL THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT, UH, TARGETED TRANSGENDER STUDENTS.
AND AGAIN, MY, I HAVE TO CALL OUT, UH, JAMES TAYLOR RICO ON, ON, ON THIS ISSUE, HE'S ON THE, HE SERVES ON THE PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE AND HE WAS JUST DOGGED IN HIS, UM, QUESTIONING OF, OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE, UM, SUPPORTING, UM, THE TRANSGENDER LEGISLATION.
UM, THE OTHER THING WAS, UM, THERE WAS A BILL THAT DIDN'T GET OUT OF COMMITTEE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE, UH, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVERSE ACTION AGAINST SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT MAINTAIN A CERTAIN FUND BALANCE AMOUNT.
UM, DAN PUBERTY ON THE HOUSE SIDE IS THAT'S KIND OF HIS MAIN ISSUE, BUT HE DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
AND THEN AS BRIE MENTIONED, UH, AND I THINK JULIE ALSO THE ANTI LOBBYING BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
UM, WE OPPOSED, SO THAT'S, UM, THOSE ARE JUST SORT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OR LOWLIGHTS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE MEASURE SUCCESS BY WHAT GOT KILLED, BUT THAT'S JUST THE REALITY, UNFORTUNATELY.
[00:45:01]
YOU KNOW, GRATEFUL TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE KEEPING SECRETARY ON ALL OF THESE, ON ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE PASSED AS WELL.SO, AND I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD AS A PARENT TO, TO HOW A LOT OF THIS STUFF GETS DECIPHERED.
UM, WE'LL PASS IT TO CENTRAL HEALTH.
AND FOR THAT, I THINK THAT'S, YOU'RE ON HI, EVERYONE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU ON THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
UM, SO I THINK THAT THERE WAS LOTS OF OVERLAP WITH THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
UM, WE WERE MONITORING, UM, MANY OF THE SAME BILLS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY, THE COUNTY AISD, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MONITORING IN TERMS OF EFFECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR ABILITY TO, UM, HIRE LEGISLATIVE CONSULT TENDS TO ADVOCATE FOR US AT THE CAPITOL AND, YOU KNOW, GIVE US ACCESS WHERE WE DON'T TYPICALLY HAVE ACCESS, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
UM, AND, UM, SO FORTUNATELY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, I THINK A WATER VERY WATERED DOWN VERSION OF THAT ENDED UP PASSING.
UM, YOU KNOW, UM, I THINK THE BIG THING WE WERE WATCHING FOR THIS SESSION AND WE WERE VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT WAS SOME FORM OF MEDICAID EXPANSION OR COVERAGE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF BUZZ ABOUT THAT, UM, GOING INTO THE SESSION, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAD A NEW SPEAKER, UM, INITIALLY IT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HOPEFUL, UM, HE HAD APPOINTED SOME, UH, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS TO CHAIR CERTAIN COMMITTEES.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, IT STARTED OFF AS A HOPEFUL SESSION.
AND, UM, I, I, I THINK WE'RE ALL DISAPPOINTED THAT IN THE END THERE WASN'T REALLY, IT JUST THAT ANY TALK ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION, JUST FIZZLED.
UM, AND, UM, BUT DESPITE THAT, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF, UM, BILLS THAT GOT THROUGH THAT DO EXPAND COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN POPULATIONS.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO, UM, BILLS WERE, UM, HOUSE BILL TWO 90 BY PHILLIP CORTEZ WAS AMENDED TO HB 26 58.
UM, AND THAT BILL, YOU KNOW, THE, THE GOAL OF THAT IS TO KEEP CHILDREN ENROLLED IN MEDICAID BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF MID-YEAR INCOME CHECKS.
I THINK THE WAY IT WORKS RIGHT NOW IS YES, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN HAVE A FULL YEAR ELIGIBILITY, BUT THEY START DOING MONTHLY INCOME CHECKS AT SIX MONTHS.
UM, AND THEY ONLY GIVE PARENTS, YOU KNOW, 10 DAYS, UH, TO SUBMIT THOSE ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTS.
AND SO WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS JUST, IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER FOR, UM, FOR PARENTS AND FOR, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES THEM MORE TIME AT UP TO 30 DAYS TO SUBMIT THAT PAPERWORK.
AND IT ALSO LIMITS THE ELIGIBILITY CHECKS TO JUST ONE MID-YEAR CHECK.
SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THIS'LL KEEP MORE, UM, MORE CHILDREN COVERED.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND POSTPARTUM CARE FOR WOMEN.
UM, BASICALLY IT DOES EXTEND MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR ELIGIBLE MOTHERS FROM 60 DAYS TO SIX MONTHS.
AND THIS IS A GREAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT THING, AND I KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, DIFFERENT SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A DECADE, AT LEAST MAYBE LONGER.
AND SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THIS, UH, FINALLY PASS IT, YOU KNOW, THE BILL BY TONY ROSE HOUSE BILL 1 33, I THINK SHE WAS TRYING TO GET 12 MONTHS OF COVERAGE, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY LANDED ON SIX MONTHS, WHICH IS GREAT.
I THINK, UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO TRACK, YOU KNOW, POSTPARTUM CARE DEPRESSION, A LOT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, HEALTH ISSUES DON'T NECESSARILY MANIFEST IN THE FIRST 60 DAYS.
UM, AND SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STEP, AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THESE BILLS WERE LEGISLATION THAT SPEAKER, UH, FELON, FELON, UM, SUPPORTED.
HE ACTUALLY PUT OUT HIS OWN, YOU KNOW, SPEAKERS, HEALTHY FAMILY, UM, AGENDA IN APRIL, I THINK THAT WAS IN APRIL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THOSE BILLS AND DID END UP PASSING ONE WAS INCREASING ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH AND TELEMEDICINE, WHICH WAS ANOTHER BILL
[00:50:01]
THAT WE WERE MONITORING CLOSELY.UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT DOES EXPAND, UM, ACCESS TO CARE THROUGH TELEMEDICINE AND, UM, MAJOR PIECE OF LEGISLATION LAST, UH, PASSED LAST SESSION, THANKFULLY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BECAUSE WE REALLY CAME TO RELY ON TELEMEDICINE, UH, DURING COVID AND IT ALLOWED OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS LIKE COMMUNITY CARE, UM, TO GET FUNDED AT, YOU KNOW, THE MA YOU KNOW, INCREASED MEDICAID RATE.
UM, AND SO ANYWAYS, THAT THIS BILL HOUSE BILL FOUR RE REALLY JUST EXPANDED THAT IT ALLOWS, UM, PROVIDERS TO GET PAID, YOU KNOW, FOR AUDIO CALLS, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
NOT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO VIDEO.
UM, ANOTHER LEGISLATION THAT WE WERE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE WERE MONITORING THAT WAS ON THE SPEAKER'S AGENDA.
AND, UM, RAY ALREADY MENTIONED THIS, BUT HB FIVE WAS THE, YOU KNOW, ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR BRUNT BROADBAND INTERNET EXPANSION.
AND, AND SO I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW, RURAL COMMUNITIES, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD.
I, IT IS ONLY, I THINK IT'S LIKE A CON YOU KNOW, TO ESTABLISH AS A COMMISSION TO CREATE A PLAN.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT IT'LL DO SOMETHING IN THE IMMEDIATE, BUT AT LEAST IT'S, IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THERE IS, UM, A BROADBAND DIVIDE AND IT'S WORK TO, YOU KNOW, WORKING TO IMPROVE THAT.
UM, WHAT ELSE DO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT? UM, ONE ISSUE THAT WE WERE AT CENTRAL HEALTH, WE WERE WORKING ON DURING SESSION, UM, AND EVEN BEFORE SESSION IS YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UM, THE ISSUE WILL HOPEFULLY PER, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MEDICAID EXPANSION.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE 11, 15 WAIVER AND, UH, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAD EXTENDED, UM, A WAIVER WITH TEXAS FOR 10 YEARS.
UM, AND THIS HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE, UH, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS INAUGURATED.
AND SO WHAT WE, UM, DISCOVERED WAS THAT CENTRAL HEALTH TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, THIS HOSPITAL DISTRICT WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OF THE PROGRAMS PROPOSED.
AND WE HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THE 11, 15 WAIVER SINCE 2011.
SO THIS WAS A BIG, UM, A BIG BLOW TO US.
UM, IT WOULD MEAN A LOSS OF $15 MILLION ANNUALLY TO OUR LOW INCOME AND UNINSURED POPULATION.
AND SO WE WERE, UM, TRYING TO, UH, WORK SOMETHING OUT WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES STAFF AND, UM, MET EARLY ON WITH THEM.
AND DIDN'T REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THOSE PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS.
UM, WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD AND, UM, AND, UM, I BELIEVE, UM, I SEE PETER THERE AND, UH, ONE OF, UM, SENATOR ECKHART STAFF, SARAH LOVES ALICE CLAYTON WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THOSE COMMUNICATIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, AFTER COMMUNICATING WITH HOWARD, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO TRY AND AMEND A BUDGET WRITER.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DRAFTED SOMETHING UP AND BASICALLY THE WRITER WOULD HAVE DIRECTED AT HHSC TO WORK WITH CENTRAL HEALTH, TO INCLUDE THEM TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTION TO, UM, INCLUDE US IN THE WAIVER EXTENSION.
AND THEN AS YOU KNOW, THEN THE WAIVER WAS RESCINDED AND NOW HHSC IS HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, BY THE WAY, THERE'S A HEARING NEXT WEEK, UM, JUNE 15 OF WHICH OUR CEO MIGHT BE ONE, UM, WE'LL BE PROVIDING TESTIMONY, UM, REGARDING OUR CONCERNS ON THE WAIVER.
BASICALLY WHAT HHS C UM, DID IS JUST TAKE THE WAIVER EXTENSION THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND PUT THAT UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR US.
UM, WE'RE HOPEFUL THOUGH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE TALKS WITH, UM, HHSC, UM, TO TRY TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, THANKS TO REPRESENTATIVE POWER AND, UM, SENATOR ECKHART'S OFFICE.
AND SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO SOMEWHERE BECAUSE OUR, OUR RIDER DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
IT WAS STRIPPED OUT OF, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WAS, UH, PUT IN ARTICLE 11 AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS STRIPPED OUT AND CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, BUT STILL, I THINK IT GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE AGENCY AND, UM, OUR DELEGATION.
[00:55:01]
TRYING TO WORK SOMETHING OUT.SO I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.
UM, AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS THERE, DO I THINK BY JUNE 28, LET ME KNOW, AND WE CAN SEND YOU WHAT WE'RE SUBMITTING.
UM, SO THAT TOOK UP, I THINK, A LOT OF, OF OUR TIME.
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE OTHER ISSUE, I THINK BRIE AND, UM, AND, UH, JULIE MENTIONED IT THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AN ELECTION TO ISSUE A DEBT FOR GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO ISSUE DEBT.
UM, IT DID, UM, GET TO A PLACE WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S GREATER GREAT OR BETTER, BUT I KNOW, YOU KNOW, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE MORE COMFORTABLE AND, YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY FOR US, UM, HOSPITAL DISTRICTS WERE EXEMPTED FROM THAT.
UM, BUT NOT ALL HOSPITAL DISTRICTS.
AND WE DID HAVE TO, UM, UH, DUSTIN BURROWS WANTED TO EXEMPT HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, BUT IN THE END, I THINK HE, UM, HE AGREED TO ALLOW HOSPITAL DISTRICTS, UH, THAT INCLUDE A TEACHING HOSPITAL TO BE EXEMPT.
UM, SO WE ARE EXEMPT FROM THAT AND THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE WE ARE BUILDING THREE CLINICS IN, UM, YOU KNOW, EAST AUSTIN, AND WE'RE ALSO DOING A HEADQUARTER CONSOLIDATION AND CLINIC EXPANSION.
UM, SO WE WILL BE ISSUING DEBT HERE SOON, HOPEFULLY.
AND IN THAT, IN THE NEXT POTENTIALLY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS WELL.
AND DO YOU KNOW, TRAVIS COUNTY, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING FROM A REAL ESTATE PERSPECTIVE.
AND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW THAT BUYERS ARE GONNA, YOU KNOW, WAIT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO HAVE AN ELECTION.
UM, SO THOSE WERE THE MAIN ISSUES WE WERE TRACKING.
THERE'S SOME OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, BUT I'M GOING TO STOP THERE.
UH, I THINK, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS JULIA BRI, YOU TALKED ABOUT COVID RELATED LEGISLATION AND I DO DID WANT TO SAY THAT, UM, I'LL JUST ADD A COUPLE OF BILLS HERE, UM, IN TERMS OF IMPROVING PANDEMIC RESPONSE, UM, SENATE BILL 4 37 BY, UM, SAYS THAT BLANCO DOES REQUIRE TDM TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT RESERVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, THE COMMITTEE CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CREATION OF A STATE CONTROLLED PPE RESERVE UNDER TDM.
SO I THINK THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE AS Y'ALL KNOW, WE WERE IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN THERE WAS NO PPE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A STATE, WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A, A STAKE, UH, UH, STATES STOCK OF SUPPLIES.
AND THEN, UM, THERE WAS SENATE BILL 9 68, UM, WHICH RELATED TO THE GOVERNMENT PANDEMIC RESPONSE, WHICH PASSED.
AND IT, I MEAN, IT HAS SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD, UM, PROVISIONS IN THERE, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW TO SEE, BUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND, YOU KNOW, IT PROHIBITS COVID 19 VACCINE PASSPORTS AND BUSINESSES FROM REQUIRING CUSTOMER PROOF OF VACCINE TO DO BUSINESS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT DOES ESTABLISH A DISEASE PREVENTION INFORMATION SYSTEM TO ENSURE CITIZENS HAVE INFORMATION ON VACCINE ACCESS.
UM, IT ENSURES GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES DO NOT LIMIT CONSTRUCTION RELATED ACTIVITY DURING A DISASTER.
SO I THINK THIS IS ONE WE HAVE TO DIG INTO TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT IS.
UM, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM OUR PARTNERS RIGHT NOW, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, TO THINK OUR GUESTS TODAY, UM, NOT ONLY FOR WATCHING ALL OF THIS, UM, EVEN THOSE OF US WHO WATCH SOME OF THESE, UM, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THINK THAT WE'RE WATCHING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ARE NOT CAPTURING ALL OF THE INS AND OUTS.
AND SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS.
THIS HAS AN IMPACT ON ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, TOO.
UM, AND WE WANT TO JUST THANK YOU FOR IN THE WAKE OF A VERY STRESSFUL TIME, TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN THESE BILLS AND GIVE US THE HEADS UP ON WHAT WE SHOULD BE KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR.
[Small Group Breakout Conversations Re: 2021 State Legislative Session]
BUT WITH THAT, I WANT TO SORT OF OPEN IT UP TO THE ENTIRE BOARD TO, TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS JUST ON, ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD.WE WILL GET A MOMENT, UM, BOARD MEMBERS TO, TO SHARE OTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
SO I'M REALLY FOCUSING ON, UM, WHAT
[01:00:01]
WAS PRESENTED WOULD BE GREAT.I REALLY APPRECIATED THESE PRESENTATIONS IN, UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING US THROUGH THIS, UH, PERLA.
I JUST WANTED TO PICK UP IF I COULD A SUBSET OF YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE 1115 WAIVER.
REMEMBER THIS IS A $3 BILLION A YEAR, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, 10 YEAR, UH, DISRUPT, UM, IMPACT ACROSS THE STATE FOR ACCESS AND INNOVATION.
AND, UH, WE'VE REACHED THE 11TH YEAR, LAST YEAR OF THIS WAIVER.
AND, UM, UH, I KNOW IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REALLY CRITICAL FUNDING, THERE IS A SUBSET OF WHAT, UM, PERLA MENTIONED, WHICH IS AN UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL THAT INCLUDES $500 MILLION A YEAR THAT LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND, UH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES, UH, THAT WAS APPROVED TO BE ABLE TO BILL OUT OF, AND THEN JUST EXACTLY AS SHE CLARIFIED, UH, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WITH THE HOPE OF MEDICAID EXPANSION, UH, RESCINDED THAT APPROVAL.
AND ALSO JUST LIKE SHE MENTIONED, UM, THERE ARE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, THREE OF THEM ACROSS THE STATE TO BUILD A CASE IN THE INTENT FOR THE STATE TO RESUBMIT, UM, THE, THE, UH, 20 TO $25 MILLION A YEAR THAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR.
AND, UM, UH, UM, AN INTEGRAL CARE IS A SIGNIFICANT, UM, UH, IMPACT IN HEALTH CARE.
BUT YESTERDAY THE COUNCIL OF URBAN COUNTIES, UH, TOOK THIS ISSUE UP AND THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE AGREED TO WRITE LETTERS AND TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, UH, SHERRY FLEMING I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, UH, WERE ENGAGED IN THAT CONVERSATION YESTERDAY.
SO ALL I DID WAS WANT TO UNDERSCORE A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF MEDICAID AND ONE WE'RE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO, WITH THE HOPE THAT, UH, IN SEPTEMBER, UM, THE TEXAS PROPOSAL BE REINSTATED, UH, TO ALLOW FOR SIGNIFICANT CONTINUED ACCESS AND HEALTH CARE FOR TREATMENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, UM, IF YOU, HAVEN'T ALREADY HEARD THERE'S FEDERAL, UM, LEGISLATION OUT THERE, UM, I THINK CONGRESSMAN DOGGETT WILL BE FILING A BILL SOON AND, UM, CALLED THE COVER NOW AT, TO PROVIDE, UH, A LOCAL OPTION, UM, TO ALLOW, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH CMS, UM, TO EXPAND MEDICAID COVERAGE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.
AND SO WE'RE MONITORING THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A EITHER, OR I THINK IT'S BOTH, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING CONTINUING TO SUPPORT COVERAGE EXPANSION, AND ALSO CONTINUING TO, UM, SUPPORT AND WORK ON, YOU KNOW, 11, 15 WAIVER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? GOOD QUESTION.
BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE I SAW, I SAW JAMIE STANDUPS.
I DON'T GET THE PLEASURE OF SITTING THROUGH THE LONGER VERSION OF THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, SO I HAVE A FEW, A FEW DETAIL QUESTIONS.
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH, UM, THAT I KNOW YOU HAVE TO COVER THE, IT, SOME, A COUPLE OF THINGS STUCK OUT TO ME IN THE POLICE FUNDING BILL AND THE CAMPING BAN BILL, THAT IT SEEMS THAT THE LEGISLATURE WROTE THE RULE, BUT THEN D THEN ASSIGNED THE ANALYSIS OF COMPLIANCE TO A GOVERNOR CONTROLLED ENTITY.
SO, SO IT JUST, IT FEELS LIKE THE LEGISLATURE KNOWS THAT THEY'RE TOO STUPID TO WRITE IT RIGHT.
AND THEY'RE JUST GONNA LET THE GOVERNOR MAKE THEIR, MAKE ITS OWN POLITICAL DECISIONS LATER.
AND SO FOR EVERYBODY HERE THAT KNOWS IS ON THE DEFUNDING WOOD WOOD JIMMY'S POINT OUT IS THAT THE GOVERNOR FOR THE CITY OF BILL, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE GETS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CITIES ARE DEFUNDED OR NOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IT'S THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVISION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS A STAFFER THAT IS SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DECIDE WHETHER THE CITY'S MEET THE APPROPRIATE, UM, CONFINES OF THE LEGISLATION NOW FOR THE COUNTIES
[01:05:01]
I, AND JULIE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I WOULD ACTUALLY GOES TO THE CONTROLLER TO DETERMINE SO NOT ALL.SO I'M GONNA, I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT THAT THEY ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS FOR TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
UM, AND SO IT REALLY, I THINK THE BOARD OF THE LEGISLATURE, IT WAS OF A, WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE DETERMINATIONS BECAUSE WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THE BILL, THE BILL HAD A LOT OF OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO, WELL, YOU CAN'T CUT OVER TIME AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY OFFICERS PER CITIZEN AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL THESE THINGS.
AND THEN A BUNCH OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES CAME FORWARD AND THEY'RE LIKE, UH, YEAH, US TOO.
LIKE, WE WOULD BE CONSIDERED DEFUNDING TOO.
IT'S NOT JUST AUSTIN THAT DOES THIS, OR DID THIS.
AND SO THEY TOOK ALL OF THAT OUT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IN THE END, THIS REALLY WAS THE GOVERNOR SPILL AND SO MUCH SO THAT IN THIS, WHEN IT WENT BACK TO THE SENATE, YOU KNOW, AMENDMENTS HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
SO IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY, THIS WAS, AS WE KNOW, A BIG PART OF THE CAMPAIGN IN THE, IN THE 2021 ELECTIONS FROM STARTED FROM TRUMP ON DOWN.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF THIS HAD MORE TO DO WITH THE POLITICAL RHETORIC OF WHAT DEFUNDING MEANS OR DOESN'T MEAN BECAUSE THEY REALLY WOULDN'T GIVE MANY EXAMPLES AND, AND NOT AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT ACTUALLY IT MEANS TO, UM, FUND A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WILL ALSO ADD SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, COUNCIL IS THAT, UM, THEY DIDN'T PASS THEIR OWN BILL FOR THEIR SENSE OF BILL FOR THE TEXAS, UM, CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION FOR THEIR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT'S T COLE IS A ACRONYM FOR IT, AND THEY DID NOT PASS THE BILL THAT DETERMINES THOSE STANDARDS AND THOSE STANDARDS, THERE WERE ARTICLES THAT SAID THAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE SO LOW THAT TO GET A CERTIFICATION, TO BE A BARBER REQUIRES MORE STANDARDS THAN THOSE SET BY THE STATE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WELL, I MEAN, HYPOCRISY HAS A LONG LEGISLATIVE TRADITION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS LEST WE EVER THINK THAT TRUE TRADITIONS WON'T BE HELD.
UM, SO, SO DOES THAT, SO IS, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THIS OVERSIGHT ARM, IS IT GOING TO PUT OUT RULES OR IS IT REALLY GOING TO BE LIKE IN BUDGET TIME, THE POLICE CHIEF, JUST GOING TO CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SAY, HEY, SHUT MY COUNCIL DOWN.
I MEAN, WHO'S REALLY IN CHARGE HERE.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK BOTH THINGS CAN HAPPEN, RIGHT.
THAT WHEN HE DOES HAVE TO PUT OUT RULES, UM, YOU KNOW, ABBOTT IS, IS A SMART MAN AND HE WILL BE VERY SMART AND JUDICIOUS IN HOW HE FRAMES THOSE RULES.
UM, IT'LL BE INTERESTING THAT IF THERE'LL BE, I THINK HE NEEDS TO HAVE A COMMENT PERIOD ON THE RULES.
I'M SURE I KNOW HOW THAT WILL GO.
AND, UM, AND THEN YES, I DO THINK IT COMES DOWN TO, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE POLICE CHIEF, JIMMY, I THINK IT'S THE UNIONS THAT CALL AND SAY WHETHER THEY'RE ON BOARD OR NOT.
AND AS WE KNOW, OUR UNION WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT THIS LEGISLATION, ALONG WITH THE CLU STATEWIDE UNION CLEAT.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT SESSION, CONTRARY TO WHAT THEY THINK IS THEY ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THEY START OUT SAYING, OH, IT'S GOING TO ONLY APPLY TO CITIES 250,000 AND ABOVE IS ALL THE UNIONS AND THE CITIES DOWN BELOW, OR TO BE LIKE, WELL, US TOO.
WHY DON'T, WHY DOES THAT UNION GET THAT? AND WE DON'T.
AND IT'S HARD NOT TO TAKE THAT AS A PUNISHMENT.
SO FOR THE COUNTY'S BILL, IT APPLIES ONLY TO COUNTIES A MILLION ENOUGH.
SO THAT'S, UH, TRAVIS DALLAS FORT OUR TYRANNY HARRISON BEAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, OUT OF 254 COUNTIES, YOU FEEL LIKE ONLY FIVE OF THEM REALLY NEED TO HAVE THIS SORT OF LIMITATION IN PLACE.
IT'S, IT'S A HARD ARGUMENT FOR THEM TO MAKE.
AND THE DEMOCRATS TO THEIR CREDIT PUSHED THAT ARGUMENT.
IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE AT WHEN YOU HAVE A POLITICAL GOAL AND NOT REALLY A POLICY GOAL BEHIND IT.
UM, WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT'S A LITTLE TROUBLING ABOUT THE COUNTY BILL AND BRIG HOLIDAYS.
WE'RE NOT REMEMBERING THE NUANCES OF THE CITY BILL, BUT WE'RE REQUIRED TO HOLD AN ELECTION.
IF WE WANT TO MAKE THESE REDUCTIONS, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS IN PLACE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO AUTOMATICALLY MAKE THESE CUTS, BUT THE ELECTION DATE ISN'T TIED TO A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE.
SO IT, IT HAS TO BE DONE WITHIN 30 DAYS, MEANING THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD POTENTIALLY ADOPT THIS.
I THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY SHIFT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT, WHEN WE WOULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE CUT SO WE COULD ADD IT TO AN ELECTION DATE, BUT IT IS OTHERWISE AN ADDITIONAL UNNECESSARY EXPENSE FOR THESE, UH, CITY OF BILL DOES NOT HAVE AN ELECTION OPTION OF VOTERS, ONLY VOTERS AND COUNTIES GET TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO CALL WHAT THEIR COUNTY DID AS DEFUNDING CITY STUDENTS.
SO IT'S, IT'S A VERY CONFUSING BILL.
[01:10:01]
IT ALSO HAS FOR US A PANDEMIC EXCEPTION.SO AS YOU GUYS MAY REMEMBER THE GOVERNOR, UM, PUT SOME REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE THAT KEPT US FROM LETTING SOME PEOPLE OUT OF OUR JAILS.
IN ADDITION, THE STATE STOPPED TRANSFERRING ITS OWN PRISONERS OUT OF OUR JAIL.
SO WE WERE HOLDING STATE POPULATION FOR QUITE SOME TIME DURING THE PANDEMIC, ELEVATING OUR OWN EXPENSES.
SO THIS BILL WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO, TO BACK THAT OUT IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO STRANGE LEGISLATION, AGAIN, KIND OF PUNITIVE, ALSO CONFUSING BECAUSE IT TREATS COUNTIES AND CITIES VASTLY DIFFERENT IN THE MECHANICS OF THE BILL, UM, RECOGNIZES SOME EXCEPTIONS FOR ONE AND NOT THE OTHER PUT SOME REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE FOR THE OTHER.
AND YES, THERE, THEY WERE MESSY LEGISLATION AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY PASSED, BUT I'M NOT PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY.
CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S THROUGHOUT THE STATE CONSTITUTION FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
BUT, AND I THINK THE DIFFERENCE WHERE THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS ARE ELECTED AND THE CITY'S PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERS ARE APPOINTED IS JUSTIFICATION ENOUGH TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF RULES.
BUT WE SEE THE CONSTABLES, FOR EXAMPLE, SEVERAL IN TRAVIS COUNTY DO VERY INTERESTING SOCIAL SERVICE STUFF.
IT, I MEAN, THE QUESTION IS, IS IT, IS IT, IS IT SO OPEN-ENDED AND THIS PROCESS BREED THAT YOU MENTIONED WHERE THE GOVERNOR HAS TO PUT OUT RULES, THERE'S A COMMENT PERIOD.
IS IT SO OPEN-ENDED THAT IF, IF A CONSTABLE DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF HIRING TWO MORE CONSTABLES, THEY WANTED TO OPEN A, UH, SHELTER AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVED THEM THE WHOLE NINE THAT THE UNION COULD THEN COME IN AND SAY, NO, NO, NO, WE'D RATHER HAVE TWO CONSTABLES GOVERNOR GO SHUT HIM DOWN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THOSE PROVISIONS ANYMORE OF THAT.
YOU HAD THAT LIMITED WHAT YOU COULD CUT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING ON THERE.
COULD THE GOVERNOR'S RULES BE THAT SPECIFIC? I DON'T THINK THE LEGISLATION GIVES HIM THAT.
I DON'T THINK THEY'LL LET THE LEGISLATION SAYS IT'S A, A DOLLAR TO DOLLAR COMPARISON.
SO FOR HIM TO COME IN WITH THAT, I THINK WOULD GO BEYOND THAT.
BUT I DO THINK YOU RAISE A VALID POINT, JIMMY, THAT WE NEED TO BE START BEING READY FOR THAT.
SO I DO THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT LIKE, IS THERE GONNA BE ANY LEGISLATURE, UH, LAWSUITS RELATED TO THIS LEGISLATION? AND I DON'T THINK IT WILL ON THE LEGISLATION ON SPACE, BUT IN HOW IT'S APPLIED, IF IT'S USED TO ACHIEVE A POLITICAL GOAL, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE, ESPECIALLY SINCE, YOU KNOW, IF HE'S GOING TO SAY ONE CITY CAN'T HAVE THEIR FORENSIC FUND AT, WITH THEIR FORENSIC LAB OR, OR NOT FUND THEIR FORENSIC LAB OR MAKE CHOICES AT OTHER CITIES, DO WHY WOULD IT BE DEFUNDING FOR ONE CITY VERSUS ANOTHER? SO YOUR POINT, IF HE'S GOING TO GET INTO THOSE SPECIFICS OF HOW TO FUND, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, I'D SAY REALLY RELEVANT TO THE MEMBERS OF CAN.
WELL, I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AS A DISINCENTIVE FOR SOME OF THOSE INNOVATIVE APPROACHES, BECAUSE FOR THE COUNTY SIDE, IT'S, IT'S THE OVERALL BUDGET ITSELF.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE AS THE LEVEL OF INNOVATION WE WOULD NORMALLY LIKE TO SEE, UM, UNLESS THERE'S A WAY TO LOOK AT IT FOR REALLOCATION, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE EFFECT OF, OF KIND OF MAINTAINING WHAT WE HAVE FOR A WHILE, UNTIL WE GET A HANDLE ON, ON WHAT IMPACT THIS LEGISLATION IS GOING TO HAVE.
WELL, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE INTRICACIES OF THE COUNTY BUDGET NEARLY AS MUCH, OBVIOUSLY AS I CAN TO THE CITY, BUT JUST FROM THE CITY BUDGET SIDE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT INCREASES FASTER THAN THE TAX CAPS AT THE CITY SIDE, IT WAS FIVE TO 6% ANNUALLY JUST BECAUSE OF PAY RAISES AND PENSIONS AND THE WHOLE NINE.
SO JUST KEEPING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FLAT, ACTUALLY SHORT SHRINKS YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER TIME.
SO THE QUESTION FOR, FOR, FOR THAT, I POSE TO THE KEY MEMBERS JUST TO START BRAINSTORMING AT A HIGH LEVEL WITH BOARD MEMBERS IS WHAT, WHAT DOES SOCIAL SERVICE PARTNERSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT LOOK LIKE WHEN WE'RE BOTH TRYING TO HELP OUR GOVERNMENT FUNDING PARTNERS SOLVE THEIR CHALLENGING SITUATION WHILE WE ALSO OFTEN SERVE POPULATIONS THAT DON'T TRUST BADGES, AND HOW DO YOU BLEND THE ABILITY TO TAP INTO SERVICES FROM ONE PART OF A CITY BUDGET THAT CAN NEVER SHRINK TO HELP ACHIEVE SOME OF OUR SHARED COMMUNITY GOALS? WE HAVE SOME REALLY FUN BRAINSTORMING TO BE DONE OVER THE X NUMBER OF MONTHS AS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RULES ARE AND WHAT THE COURTS ARE GOING TO SAY IN THOSE THINGS AND STUFF.
UM, AND THEN SIMILAR TO THAT, AND THEN I'LL RELINQUISH THE MICROPHONE FOR A MOMENT.
UM, THE CAMPING BAN BILL AND YOUR DESCRIPTION.
IT SAYS THAT THE STATE HAS TO APPROVE A CAMPSITE.
WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE DON'T KNOW YET.
AND WE BROUGHT THAT UP, THAT THERE IS NO DESIGNATION, EVEN AGAIN, TO LIKE AN AGENCY TO DO THIS.
UH, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO DO IT.
UM, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL BE DONE OR APPROVED.
[01:15:01]
THEY'LL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PROCESS FOR THAT.UM, DID THEY, CAUSE, SO, YOU KNOW, IS, IS IF ALAN GRAHAM DECIDED TO TAKE A CORNER OF HIS PROJECT AND ALLOW CAMPING BECAUSE THAT'S PRIVATE DOESN'T APPLY.
DOES IT BECOME A DESIGNATED CAMPSITE IF APD STARTS TELLING PEOPLE TO GO THERE? IS THAT THE TRIGGER AS A DESIGNATED OR IS IT JUST ABOUT THE CITY OWNING IT? IT'S THE CITY.
SO THERE'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY CAM PARTNERS.
IF YOU WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT OWNS THE CAMPSITE, SOUNDS LIKE YOU IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE US.
AND IT'S THE, CITY'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, NO MATTER WHERE YOU POINT YOUR FINGER ON THE MAP, THERE'S ENOUGH POLITICS AROUND IT TO BLOW THE WHOLE IDEA UP.
BUT IT MAY BE AN INTERESTING COMPONENT TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU, THAT THE PARTNERS ARE DOING.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OTHER SMALL INCIDENTS.
YOU'VE, I'LL GIVE OTHER FOLKS A CHANCE.
NO, THANK YOU FOR, AND THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD CALL TO US IN A, IN A SECOND, WE'RE GOING TO START THIS PROCESS AND I CAN SEE AS WE HEADED SPECIAL SESSION TWO, THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE TOP OF MIND FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
UM, BUT SO I'LL COME BACK TO YOU, JIMMY AND SECOND, UM, OTHER FOLKS, UM, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR CONNECTIONS, I GUESS I WILL SAY ACTUALLY, UH, JIMMY, MY, UH, ALISON ROSS WITH MY STAFF IS ON HERE FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE AND SHE CORRECTED ME THAT IT WILL BE TDH GA THAT WILL CONNECT, THAT WILL DESIGNATE THE CAMPSITES.
SO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, BUT WE STILL DON'T KNOW THE LINE THAT DETERMINES IF A CAMPSITE IS PRIVATE OR PUBLIC.
NO, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT, I THINK THIS IS ABOUT LOCAL ENTITIES.
SO IF, IF IT'S A PRIVATE NONPROFIT, THEY'RE FINE, BUT WHAT IF THE CITY HELPS PAY FOR IT? BUT THE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT OWNS IT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE FINE UNTIL WE SEE RULES SAYING, YEAH, YEAH, THIS IS KIND OF MY, YEAH, THAT WAS LIKE, AND THIS IS KIND OF AT A HIGH LEVEL, I'LL SAY TO YOUR POINT THAT ON THAT SAME SLIDE, THERE'S TWO OTHER BILLS, THE, UM, THE PURCHASE AND CONVERSION OF PROPERTY.
SO IN THAT SQUARE, WE'RE LOOKING AT SLIDE 16 OF MY PRESENTATION AND, AND THOSE BILLS WERE ABOUT THE CITY, UH, TRYING TO PURCHASE PROPERTY IN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY PORTION OF THE CITY LIMITS.
AND THAT BILL WAS SAID THAT IF WE DID THAT, WE HAD TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY TO APPROVE ANY KIND OF A PROPERTY THAT WAS GOING TO USE FOR THE HOMELESS, WHICH ESSENTIALLY AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS ACTUALLY ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE DO ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT ANY POINT.
WE ALL AND CAN SERVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
SO IT, UM, AND THEN IT WAS GOING TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE, UH, PRIVATE ENTITIES TO YOUR VERY POINT OF, WELL, THEN THE CITY WILL JUST GIVE MONEY TO AN ENTITY TO DO IT, AND THAT'S HOW THEY'LL GET AROUND IT.
SO THAT WAS GOING TO INCLUDE THAT.
AND THAT BROUGHT OUT ALL, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING ALAN GRAHAM AND OTHERS WHO SAID, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, HOLD UP HERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO NOW PUT A SQUASH ON ALL OF THIS.
AND UM, SO UNFORTUNATELY THAT BILL DIDN'T GET OUT OF THAT, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, THAT WAS THE ONE HOUSE COMMITTEE THAT HAD MORE DEMOCRATS THAN REPUBLICANS ON IT FOR THAT REASON ALONE, I WOULD SAY.
UM, BUT THEY THEY'RE GOING INTO IT.
I MEAN, I CALLED IT THE, THAT BILL, THE HOUSE, THE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING FOR THE HOUSE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS SOMEONE HAD AN EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, WE COULD HOUSE THEM.
BUT IF THEY WERE HAD AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE OR WERE AT THAT POINT, THEY WERE TRYING TO HOUSE THEM.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, TO BE AS INVOLVED AS WE ARE.
MY ANSWER TO YOU IS MORE OF A CLARIFICATION IS BECAUSE I HEARD SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS TALK ABOUT BROADBAND ACCESS.
AND I KNOW, I THINK THROUGH AMERICAN RESCUE ACT FUNDS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE SOME MONEY FOR EXPANDING ACCESS, BUT I WASN'T QUITE CLEAR WHAT THE BROADBAND BILLS WERE DOING.
I KNOW THAT WE WERE SOMEHOW SPARED BY THE BILLS, BUT, UM, DOES THAT MEAN WE DIDN'T GET THE BENEFIT OR WE DIDN'T GET THE NEGATIVES REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH IT? SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS TOO COMPLEX OF AN ISSUE, I'LL ASK EDNA AND BEDROCK TO CONFIRM FOR ME, BUT I DON'T THINK WE GET ANY BENEFIT.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO, IF WE GET A BENEFIT YET OR NOT, IT ROLL, IT SETS UP THIS OFFICE WITHIN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS
[01:20:01]
GOING TO BE THAT THEY, THEY DO A MAP STATEWIDE OF, UM, OF ACCESS.AND I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL SHOW, YOU KNOW, IN COMMUNITIES LIKE AUSTIN, WHERE WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABLE VERSUS LIKE IN SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUT PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO CONNECT.
I'M HOPING THAT THAT WILL SH THAT THAT MAP WILL SHOW, UM, ALL OF THAT.
NOT JUST WHERE THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WHERE THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THE CONNECTIONS DON'T EXIST, UM, BECAUSE THE FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD AFFORDED.
SO I, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS HERE, IT MAY HAVE BEEN BREE SAID, WE DON'T SEE IF THERE ARE ANY BENEFITS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THEM RIGHT AWAY, BECAUSE THIS IS, I THINK WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT DIDN'T HAVE A BROADBAND BROADBAND OFFICE.
SO AT LEAST IT ESTABLISHES A BROADBAND OFFICE AND IT'S GOT SOME MARCHING ORDERS AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM THERE, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY BENEFIT FROM IT RIGHT AWAY.
I ALSO THINK IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHEREAS THE MAP IS GOING TO TELL THE STORY THAT WE ALL ACTUALLY ALREADY KNOW, UM, THAT UNLESS THEY PUT SOME SORT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEHIND IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'LL MATTER I GUESS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
UM, AND THAT IT USED TO BE CITIES HA UM, DO DETERMINE, DO WORK WITH THE PROVIDERS ON ALLOWING THE PROVIDERS TO GO INTO THE CITY RIGHT AWAY.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR ROADS, CITY ON ROADS AND SIDEWALKS AND ALL THAT AREA THAT THEY GET TO USE TO SET UP BROADBAND, IT USED TO BE THAT CITIES COULD REQUIRE AS PART OF THESE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS, THAT THESE FOR WRITERS SERVING THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE PROVIDERS ARE ONLY GOING TO SERVE WHERE THERE'S A PROFIT AND WE ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO DO THAT BY STATE LAW.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS CONTINUOUSLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, CITED WITH THE TELECOM INDUSTRY IN LOOSENING UP THEIR, THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO AS LONG AS THAT'S THE MODUS OPERANDI FOR THE TOTAL COMP INDUSTRY, I JUST DON'T KNOW WE'LL HAVE A MAP.
CAN I JUMP IN REAL QUICKLY, EVERYBODY? MY NAME IS PETER EINHORN.
I WORKED FOR SENATOR ECKHART AND I DON'T ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS THAT I THINK THAT THE LEGISLATION CREATED IN, I THINK IN THE END, THE FINAL BILL ACTUALLY PUT THE BROADBAND COMMITTEE BOARD, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT AT UT SYSTEM.
AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OR THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
AND THEY ENDED UP PUTTING INTO THE UT SYSTEM.
AND ACTUALLY IN ORDER TO PULL DOWN FEDERAL FUNDING, NOT MAYBE NOT THE RECOVERY FUNDING, BUT, UH, THE TRADITIONAL E RATE AND OTHER DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FUNDS, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A, HAVE A BOARD LIKE THIS SET UP.
SO IT'S GOING TO ENABLE US TO PULL DOWN THE FUNDING.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RURAL BROADBAND.
AND BY THE END OF THE SESSION, I THINK BILL THAT FINALLY PASSED, RECOGNIZED WHAT A LOT OF FOLKS WERE SAYING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THAT FAR OUT OF THE URBAN CORE TO RUN INTO A DIGITAL DIVIDE, RIGHT? SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE DIGITAL DIVIDE INSIDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN INSIDE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN TEXAS.
AND SO I THINK BY THE END OF THE SESSION, WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT RURAL BROADBAND.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT DIGITAL DIVIDE AND BROADBAND ACCESS ISSUES OF THE PANDEMIC MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE HAVING TO SCHOOL FROM HOME AND AISD DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB OF GETTING DEVICES OUT TO PEOPLE VERY, VERY QUICKLY, BUT THEN THEY HAD DEVICES WITH NO WAY TO ACCESS.
AND SO THERE WAS A WHOLE WORK AROUND WITH SCHOOL BUSES BEING PARKED IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND, YOU KNOW, LITTLE MI-FI HOTSPOTS.
AND SO IT WAS REALLY A RECOGNITION THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE TELEPHONE AND ELECTRICITY OF THE LAST CENTURY WAS, WAS A BASIC NECESSITY OF LIFE HIGH-SPEED ACCESS AND BROADBAND INTERNET IS NECESSITY.
SO, AND TO BREE'S POINT ABOUT, UM, RIGHT AWAY, RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS, AND IT WILL 5 0 7 BY CINDER NICHOLS PASS, WHICH ALSO ALLOWS, UM, BROADBAND BROADBAND EXPANSION INTO THE RIGHT OF WAY OF STATE HIGHWAYS, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE, UM, UH, HOPEFULLY A POSITIVE IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I, JIMMY, WE'LL GO BACK TO YOU NOW, BEFORE WE OPEN BACK UP TO ALL OF OUR CANNED PARTNERS TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING THEY'VE HEARD TODAY, BUT ALSO ANY LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT HAVE COME UP IN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAYBE WE MAY HAVE TOUCHED ON MAY HAVE NOT TOUCHED ON.
I JUST TOOK TWO LAST LITTLE QUICK ONES.
BRING IF I MISSED IT WHEN YOU DESCRIBED IT, WHAT WAS THE DISASTER ROLLBACK BILL? WHAT DID THAT DO? THAT BILL WAS FINE.
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OUT ABOUT, UM, THERE WERE COMMUNITIES, VERY SMALL CITIES.I CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR NAMES THAT, THAT USE THE PANDEMIC AS THEIR REASONING FOR THE DISASTER.
UM, UNDER THE EXCEPTION OF THE ROLLBACK RATE, WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO GO UP TO EIGHT FOR A DISASTER DECLARATION, AND THEY USE THE DISASTER DECLARATIONS FOR THE PANDEMIC TO ALLOW THEM GLUTEN TO GO UP TO EIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHAT PROMPTED THIS LEGISLATION THAT WAS FILED BY SENATOR BETANCOURT AND REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN BURROWS WHO LED THE REVENUE CAP LEGISLATION THE SESSION BEFORE, AND THEN AT THE VERY LAST, UM, DAYS OF SESSION.
AND THEY ADDED AN AMENDMENT TO SAY, OH, AND BY THE WAY, YOU JUST CAN'T USE ANY DEBT IF YOU USE ANY.
SO WHEN THEY, THE LEGISLATION SAID, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR A PANDEMIC.
WE NEVER MEANT FOR IT TO BE USED FOR A PANDEMIC.
WE ONLY MET FOR IT TO BE USED FOR HURRICANES IS WHAT THEY SAID, THE NEWSPAPER, WHICH EVERYBODY SAID, WELL, THERE'S MORE NATURAL DISASTERS IN TEXAS AND JUST HURRICANES, BUT, OKAY.
SO THEN THEY REALIZED THAT WE GET TO SESSION AND THEN THEY COME IN AND SAID, AND, AND KEEP IN MIND, THE WINTER STORM HAD JUST HAPPENED ACROSS ALL OF TEXAS.
SO THEN THEY SAID, OOPS, WE CAN'T LET EVERYBODY USE THAT, BUT WE CAN.
SO WHAT THEY DID INSTEAD WAS THEY SAID, YOU CAN GO UP TO EIGHT, BUT IF YOU GO UP TO EIGHT, YOU HAVE TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT PART DEDUCTED FROM YOUR TAX RATE.
SO BASICALLY IT REALLY JUST LIMITS YOUR USE TO ONE TIME USES.
SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN GET IT, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY AT THAT TAX RATE FOR YOUR NEXT YEAR.
I CAN GET A LITTLE INTO EBONY ALANA, WHO'S OUR CFO.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY THAT JIMMY KNOWS WHAT I MEAN BY THAT AND DISCLOSE I'M GETTING, YOU KNOW, NO MORE THAN LESS THAN I SHOULD.
SO THEY PASSED THAT BILL TO THE LAST SESSION WITH THIS DISASTER EXEMPTION.
AND THEN IN THE NEXT SESSION, THEY'RE LIKE, OH, BUT WE DIDN'T MEAN THESE DISASTERS, RIGHT? I MEAN, NOPE.
AND NOW THEY'VE GOT IT ENTIRELY ACTUALLY.
SO WHEN, YOU KNOW, A COMMUNITY DOES HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DISASTER THAT TAKES YEARS TO COME BACK FROM, IT WILL BE PROBLEMATIC.
WELL, AND I THINK I SAW A STORY THAT SHOWED THE WINTER STORM HAD A BIGGER ECONOMIC, NEGATIVE IMPACT THAN HARVEY.
SO, SO, AND OF COURSE THE PANDEMIC IS GOING TO JUST CHANGE THE CHART IN EVERY COMMUNITY.
SO THE TWO LARGEST DISASTERS IN HISTORY DON'T COUNT AS DISASTERS FOR THIS LEGISLATION.
MY, MY LAST RANT, UM, THIS FIREARM BOYCOTT BILL, I WAS TALKING WITH SOME FOLKS ABOUT ITS IMPACT ON THE INTEREST RATES WILL GET FROM MUNICIPAL BONDS BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE FINANCIAL MARKETS.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT IMPACT THE COST OF CAPITAL? UM, NO AGAIN, I, WELL, I THINK YOU SUMMARIZED IT AS WELL AS I COULD SAY, JIMMY.
I MEAN, IT WILL IMPACT OUR ABILITY.
THERE IS A CONCERN BY MONEY BY MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, AND I'M SURE BY ALL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES OF HOW THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, AFFECTS YOUR ABILITY TO GET THE BEST RATE FOR THE TAXPAYER ON BONDS, ON, ON EVERYTHING, ON THE CONTRACTS FOR THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE US.
IF YOU'RE TAKING OUT A MAJOR MARKET PLAYER LIKE BANK OF AMERICA, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE, CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO THE FULL LIST IS.
I JUST KNOW THEY WERE THE ONES THAT FOR US, WE WERE CONCERNED WITH DALLAS USES BANK OF AMERICA TOO.
UM, SO I THINK IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT LEGISLATION IF IT GOES TO THE COURTS.
UM, THERE WAS AN INTERESTING DEBATE BETWEEN GIOVANNI CAPRI LEONI, THE BILL AUTHOR, AND, UM, REPRESENTATIVE AND SHIA, COZ CUPRIC LEONI, LEONIAN SAID AT ONE POINT THE CORPORATIONS DON'T HAVE RIGHTS.
AND I LITERALLY ALMOST FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR LUCKILY.
AND SHE HAD GOT UP THERE AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I JUST REMEMBER THIS CASE.
I DISAGREE WITH CALLED CITIZENS UNITED.
AND YOU KNOW, SAID THAT THEY DO THE MALWARE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SPECTRUM.
I JUST FEEL SOMETIMES AT THOSE MOMENTS, LIKE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ANYMORE.
SO, UM, YEAH, WE'LL WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.
BUT I USE IT, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT FOR THE REGULAR AUSTINITE MIGHT SEEM MINIMAL.
IT DEFINITELY FINANCIAL, BUT I WANT TO JUST DETAIL, THERE WERE OTHER BILLS, LIKE THERE WAS A BILL ABOUT, NOW YOU CAN TAKE YOUR GUN INTO HOTELS.
YOU USED TO HAVE TO LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR.
AND NOW THE HOTEL OWNERS CAN'T REQUIRE THAT AND THEY HAVE TO LET YOU TAKE THEM INTO THE HOTEL, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THE VEGAS SHOOTING.
UM, AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE FINDING EVERY PLACE THEY CAN TO MAKE TEXAS WHAT THEY ARE CALLING A SANCTUARY STATE FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
THAT IS WHAT THEY THEY'RE CALLING IT.
AND EVERY PLACE THEY CAN, THEY'RE LOOKING TO MAKE IT EASIER TO PURCHASE GUNS AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO HAVE A GUN CULTURE, BE THE THING THAT DETERMINES THEIR LIFE.
REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THE PHRASE SANCTUARY STATE FOR GUNS.
THAT'S WHAT ABBOTT SAID IN HIS
[01:30:01]
STATE OF THE STATE OF TRUTH.SO THEY LITERALLY GO BACK TO THE THINGS THEY DON'T LIKE THE DEMOCRATS DO AND TAKE THE LANGUAGE AND MAKE IT JUST LIKE CLEAN AIR ACT.
BILL, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER THE GEORGE W. BUSH CLEAN AIR ACT BILL, AND JUST DO THAT, JUST USE THE SAME LANGUAGE, BUT MAKE IT EVIL.
CHRISTINE ABOUT IT TOO, IS THAT I WANT TO SAY IT WAS TWO SESSIONS AGO.
THIS BILL DIDN'T EVEN GET REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE AND HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT IT'S LIKE REAL QUICK.
JIMMY, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, YOUR FACE.
DOES ALL THE WORK OF EXPRESSING WHAT WE'RE ALL CURRENTLY.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO OPEN THIS UP TO NOW TO EARL, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU OPEN THIS UP TO KEN PARTNERS AND TALK ABOUT, UM, ANYTHING THAT RESONATED WITH YOU, ANY CONNECTIONS TO ANY OF THE BILLS, UH, PRESENTED TODAY OR OTHER LEGISLATION THAT IS RELEVANT TO YOUR ORGANIZATIONS.
I ALSO WANT US TO, UM, I ALSO WANT US TO, UH, UH, MEET JIMMY'S CHALLENGE AND THINK FOR A BIT ABOUT HOW CAN ORGANIZATIONS CAN PARTNER AROUND, UM, IMPLEMENTING OR ENACTING OR RESPONDING TO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT IT'S BASICALLY AN OPEN COUNT CONVERSATION TO GET, TO GET SOME VOICES, UM, TALKING ABOUT OUR, OUR, OUR UTILITY IN THIS MOMENT.
UM, AND OH, IS KENNY STILL HERE? DID HE TAKE OFF? OH, NO.
WELL, I'LL CAPTURE WHAT KENNY WANTED TO SAY IN OUR NOTES.
I'LL JUST ADD, ADD TO MY COMMENTS EARLIER BRIEFLY, DESPITE ALL THE GLOOM AND DOOM, I DO FEEL LIKE THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE NONPROFIT ENTITIES TO REALLY STEP OUR GAME UP AND, AND, AND RETHINK OUR ROLE IN RELATION TO OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THE LEGISLATION IS MAKING IT HARDER AND HARDER AND HARDER FOR GOVERNMENT PROPER TO DO THIS WORK.
WHAT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US TO START THINKING BIGGER EVEN THAN WE THINK NOW ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO HELP OUR, OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS AS THE KIND OF CRITICAL FUNDING TO DELIVER SERVICES IN A WAY THAT WORKS AROUND THESE INCREASING RESTRICTIONS, BECAUSE IF THE GOVERNMENT STARTS, THE STATE STARTS TO COME AFTER THE NGOS THAT AS, AS BREE DESCRIBED WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT TRIGGERS THIS WHOLE OTHER UNIVERSE OF LOBBYING AND OPPOSITION AND CHALLENGE.
SO, SO I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO COME AWAY FROM GLOOM AND DOOM, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET, GOT TO PUT OUR CREATIVE HATS ON.
I WILL SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF DAVID, UH, EVANS, DAVE EVANS IS STILL ON THE LINE, BUT WE USUALLY, UM, LOOK TO INTEGRAL CARE FOR DIRECTION ON LEGISLATION RELATED TO MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY COVER THAT MUCH, UM, AS PART OF MY, UM, SPIEL, BUT DAVE, I DON'T, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT, UM, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LEGISLATURE WITH REGARD TO MENTAL HEALTH NUMBER OF THE AREAS THAT YOU HAVE COVERED WITH, UH, BROAD BAND, UH, TELE-HEALTH, UH, IMPACT OUR ABILITY, ABILITY TO, UH, DELIVER, UM, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL HEALTH CARE.
UM, THE LEGISLATURE DID PASS THE SECOND PHASE OR THE SECOND HALF OF THE AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL, UM, CONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT WAS $120 MILLION CAPITAL OF CONSTRUCTION BILL.
AND, UM, THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, SOME OF THE GRANTS THAT ARE BEING PASSED THROUGH WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS AND THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN TO START NEW PROGRAMS, BUT TO BUILD SOME ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WITHIN THE COUNTY.
UM, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVE OR THINGS THAT WOULD SET US BACKWARDS.
I DID SPEAK EARLIER TO, UM, TAGGING ON YOUR 11, 15 WAIVER, UH, PRESENTATION.
UM, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, FROM MY END.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF NOTES FROM THE STATE BUDGET, BUT I, I DON'T, IT'S HARD FOR, I DON'T HAVE CONTEXT ABOUT HOW MEANINGFUL, UM, THIS WAS, BUT I, I HAVE, UM, 8.4 BILLION IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING, WHICH INCLUDES ADDITIONAL 30 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH.
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UM, SO THE, UH, THE LEGISLATURE, BOTH THE CENTRAL HEALTH AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE STATE GENERAL FUND FUNDS, THE ABILITY TO PURCHASE PRIVATE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS.THERE'S BEEN SUCH A LIMITED ABILITY TO HAVE ADMISSIONS AND BEDS AT THE AUSTIN STATE HOSPITAL, UH, FROM FIVE PRIVATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTY, UM, INTEGRAL CARE CURRENTLY PURCHASES CARE.
AND SO THAT $30 MILLION EXPANSION WILL GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, CAPACITY FOR ACUTE CARE.
I DON'T NECESSARILY, WELL NOW I DO WANT TO PUT MY HIGHER ED COLLEAGUES ON THE SPOT A LITTLE BIT.
SO, UM, CHRIS AND LIZ HAS ANYTHING COME OUT IN YOUR SHOP.
I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN OUR MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE RUNDOWN JUST RECENTLY.
UM, WHAT UT SKIN'S SORT OF WATCHING THE SESSION, BUT I INVITE YOU BOTH TO SHARE, UM, ALONG THE HIGHER ED SECTOR, THIS IS CHRIS.
I CAN START OFF, UM, JUST BASICALLY FIVE, FIVE THINGS THAT WERE KIND OF PRETTY IMPORTANT TO US, UH, OVERALL THE, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUDGET, UM, DIDN'T QUITE GET WHERE WE WANTED IT TO BE.
WE WERE ABOUT 21 MILLION SHORT, UH, STATEWIDE OF OUR ASK.
UH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE THOUGHT GOING IN BEFORE COVID, THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE HIGHER EDUCATION SESSION.
UH, BUT, UM, ULTIMATELY, UH, THAT DID NOT COME TO PASS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
UM, WE DID GET THE TEXAS RE-SKILLING AND UP-SKILLING THROUGH EDUCATION INITIATIVE, AUTHORIZING BILL PASSED.
THAT'S A QUICK BURN WORKFORCE, UH, TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE DISPLACED BY THE PANDEMIC.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE HAD, UH, GONE IN ASKING $50 MILLION IN THE BUDGET AND, UH, NOT A CENT WAS PASSED FOR IT.
SO WE ARE, UM, HOPEFUL THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOME FEDERAL FUNDS, UM, FROM THE GOVERNOR VIA COVID RELIEF TO HELP FUND THE TRUE INITIATIVE.
UM, WE, UH, TWO GOOD THINGS THAT PASSED ONE FOR US FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, UH, WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER UP TO FIVE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN, UM, UH, APPLIED WORKFORCE FIELDS.
THESE ARE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES THAT DO NOT CONFLICT WITH OUR FOUR-YEAR PARTNERS.
UH, AND SO CURRENTLY ACC OFFERS TWO WE'RE ABOUT TO OFFER THREE.
AND SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO OFFER TWO MORE, UH, IN APPLIED FIELDS.
UM, FINALLY, UH, SENATOR ZAFA RANEY PASSED, UH, SENATE BILL 9 8, 9, WHICH ALLOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO GET SUCCESS POINT FUNDING FOR CERTAIN WORKFORCE CREDENTIAL COMPLETIONS.
UM, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY POSITIVE, UH, PIECE.
UH, THE ONLY OTHER BIG, LARGE MOVING PIECE WAS THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A COMMUNITY COLLEGE FINANCE COMMISSION TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND STUDY HOW COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE FINANCED AND SEE IF THERE ARE PERHAPS BETTER WAYS TO DO IT.
UM, SO THAT ACTUALLY, UH, IS A BILL THAT TAX SUPPORTED, BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO SIDES TO HOW THAT COMMISSION COULD COME OUT, AS WE ALL KNOW WHEN THESE COMMISSIONS GET FORMED, UH, IT COULD SOMETIMES GO EITHER WAY ANYWAY.
SO THAT'S GENERALLY MY THANKS SO MUCH, CHRIS, THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN OUR ONGOING CONVERSATION ABOUT WORKFORCE AS WE HEAD INTO THIS REGIONAL SUMMIT AS WELL.
LIZ, WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE ON THE, THE ST ED SIDE? THE BIGGEST PIECE FOR US IS, UM, AS A PRIVATE INSTITUTION IN TEXAS, IS THAT TUITION EQUALIZATION GRANT THAT'S TEG, AND THAT'S EVERY, EVERY BIENNIUM.
AND I THINK AS EVERYONE ENTERED, WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT BEN'S AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE LEVELS OF FUNDING.
THERE WAS THAT 5% CUT AND BEFORE WE WENT INTO SESSION AND IT WAS RESTORED TO SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY CAUSE THAT THAT TRANSLATE TO, TO OUR STUDENTS AND BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE IN PARTICULAR, LOW INCOME STUDENTS AND HAVING THOSE STATE FUNDS AT, AT PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND IN TEXAS.
SO, AND THAT WAS OUR BIG PIECE.
UM, ANY OF OUR OTHER CAMP PARTNERS, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, ON THE UT SIDE, OBVIOUSLY LOOKING FOR MORE FUNDING FOR RESEARCH, UM, WHICH, UH, DIDN'T COME THROUGH AT THE LEVELS THAT WE HOPED OR EXPECTED.
UM, BUT, UH, WE DID, UH, HAVE INCREASES IN, IN STUDENT FINANCIAL AID AS WELL AS GRADUATE GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION, WHICH,
[01:40:01]
UM, SEEMS IN LINE WITH EVERYTHING WE EXPECTED, ANY OTHER LEGISLATIVE UPDATES OR, YOU KNOW, ALSO HOW DOES AS JIMMY POSITIVE, LIKE HOW DOES CAN SUPPORT, UM, THE WORK AS WE HEAD INTO THE SPECIAL SESSION AS WELL? I WOULD ADD, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I KNOW THAT THE LGBT CHAMBER DOES IS THAT THEY WORK WITH OTHER LGBT CHAMBERS IN THE STATE, DALLAS AND HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO, UH, AND HAVE KIND OF A SOMEWHAT SEMIFORMAL STATEWIDE NETWORK THAT IS PRIMARILY TO TALK TO LEGISLATORS.THAT'S MOSTLY WHAT THAT, THAT, THAT TYPE OF CONVENIENCE DOES, DOES DO ANY OF THE OTHER CAMP PARTNERS HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTING FOR US TO KNOW ABOUT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY NEED TO, TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T ALREADY, YEAH, I CAN, I CAN TRY TO POLL PARTNERS.
UM, CAUSE I DO THINK LIKE THE CITY HAS ITS RIGHT, ITS ITS NETWORKS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND HIGHER ED, BUT, UM, BUT I CAN DO SOME POLLING, YOU KNOW, OF OTHER, YEAH.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT OTHER NETWORKS EXIST.
YOU KNOW, OTHER CHAMBERS, RIGHT.
BESIDES THE LGBT CHAMBER MAY HAVE THEIR NETWORKS AS WELL.
SO, UM, SO YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY USEFUL, UM, INFORMATION TO HAVE.
SO I'LL SEE IF I CAN JUST BECOMING THE QUOTE.
IT'S JUST BECOMING CLEARER AND CLEARER THAT GOVERNMENT'S VOICE IN THAT BUILDING IS, IS BEING LESS USEFUL.
AND IF WE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO LEVERAGE AND HOW AND POROUS BEING, BEING THE AUSTIN VERSION OF WHATEVER THE THING IS.
YOU ARE MAKES YOU THE NATURAL CONVENER OF THIS CONVERSATION FOR ANY OF YOUR OTHER STATEWIDE RELATIONSHIPS.
UM, I KNOW, I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE LGBT CHAMBER FOLKS ON THE CALL TODAY, BUT THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR, I THINK THE LAST TWO SESSIONS.
SO THERE MAY BE SOME INSIGHTS IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN EXPLORING A SIMILAR IDEA AND WE'LL SAY PEDAL, I HAD TO DROP OFF.
UM, BUT SHOULD WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SHOULD, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALWAYS CONVEY OUR QUESTIONS OR GET MORE INFORMATION FROM HER.
UM, I AM ALSO JUST TO RESPOND TO WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY TO ME.
I, I THINK IT'S ALSO IN LIZ AND CHRIS, YOU CAN RESPOND TO THIS TOO.
I MEAN, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY STUDENTS IN AUSTIN AND OFTEN THEY ARE THE MOST, UM, EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS FOR SOME OF THESE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO GO OVER THERE AND STAND IN LINE AND WAIT AND YOU KNOW, SO, UH, THAT WAS ALSO A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAD THE WINTER STORM THAT SORT OF IMPEDED ANYBODY FROM PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PARTICIPATE NOW AS WELL.
WE, WE ATTEMPTED A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DAY WHERE WE HAD STUDENTS DO ZOOM WITH THEIR MEMBERS AND OUR MEMBERS WERE GREAT.
UH, AND IT WAS NICE, BUT IT WASN'T THE SAME AS BRINGING IN A CADRE OF STUDENTS OR NURSING STUDENTS IN SCRUBS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, SIT IN THE GALLERY.
I JUST HAVE ONE UNKIND QUESTION EDNA IF YOU'RE STILL THERE AROUND, UM, UH, SOME OF THE, THE LEGISLATION AFFECTING AISD AND HOW, IF WE DO SORT OF HOW AISD WORKS WITH OUR ADJACENT DISTRICTS, UM, I KNOW PFLUGERVILLE SPREAD OF THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, WE DEL VALLEY IS PART OF THIS CANNED CONVERSATION AS WELL.
SO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY, UM, UH, VISION OF DOING THAT MORE AS WE HEAD INTO THE SESSION TOO.
SO, UM, SEVERAL WAYS THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UM, FOR CENTRAL TEXAS, THERE IS A, WHAT'S CALLED A CENTRAL TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AND IT'S MADE UP OF ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN REGION 13.
UM, AND SO THERE'S SOME COLLABORATION THERE, BUT THEY DON'T ALL HAVE SOMEBODY THAT THEY DON'T ALL HAVE A POSITION LIKE THE POSITION THAT I, THAT I'M IN.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PEOPLE WHO ARE SO BUSY RUNNING SCHOOLS AND, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH STUDENTS AND ALL THAT
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TO REALLY, UM, UM, DIG, DIG IN DEEPLY.UM, SO, BUT I THINK THEY GET MOST OF THEIR INFORMATION LIKE JODI, THE SUPERINTENDENT IN ELGON IS VERY, VERY, UM, INVOLVED.
UM, IS PFLUGERVILLE PART OF PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION? IS IT MAINER AND DEL VALLEY? UM, SO, AND THEN I'VE GOT COUNTERPARTS IN, UH, THREE IN SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ONE IN RICHARDSON SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE COLLABORATE A LOT.
WE BELONG TO ASSOCIATIONS LIKE SOME OF THE REST OF YOU, UM, THE URBAN COUNCIL OF SUPERINTENDENTS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE BROADBAND BILL, UM, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT URBAN URBAN DISTRICTS ARE INCLUDED, UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME, UM, PR UH, ISSUES THAT RURAL DISTRICTS MAY HAVE.
UM, BUT WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH AFFORDABILITY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S NO, WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A COLLABORATION, A FORMAL ONE WITH MAYNOR AND DEL VALLEY BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE STAFF.
SOMETIMES THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE INVOLVED, UM, AND THEY MAY COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I TELL PEOPLE, I'VE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE THE FIVE TIMES AT THE FIVE D FIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS I'VE BEEN WITH AUSTIN ISD PRIOR TO THAT, I WAS WITH SENATOR WATSON'S OFFICE IS OUR AUSTIN DELEGATION IS AWESOME, BUT THERE'S ONLY SIX OF THEM IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, AND THERE ARE 150 MEMBERS AND WE NEED TO REALLY COLLABORATE WITH THOSE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATION, UM, BECAUSE THEY LISTENED TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
SO THERE, THERE REALLY IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, TO COLLABORATE MORE DEEPLY AND MORE THOUGHTFULLY AND MORE STRATEGICALLY.
I WELCOME WORKING WITH YOU AND OTHERS ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
WELL, YOU WILL DEFINITELY HEAR FROM US AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH SUPERINTENDENTS GOING FORWARD.
AND WITH THAT, I JUST, I VERY MUCH WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK OUR GUESTS TODAY.
I THINK THAT WAS A WONDERFUL RUNDOWN OF EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO WATCH FOR.
AND YES, NORA, I FEEL THE SAME WAY.
AND I THINK JIMMY, THE POINT THAT WAS JUST MADE BY AETNA ABOUT COLLABORATION, SO ON YOU HAVE PUSHED ON ANY NUMBER OF TIMES.
AND THE OTHER THING IS IT REALLY COMES DOWN.
THIS IS CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT, THIS IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND IF WE DON'T MOVE, IF WE DON'T DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENGAGE THE CITIZENS, TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS, BECAUSE I FEAR THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
IT'S I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT SAYS.
YOU KNOW, I READ IT, I READ IT THREE TIMES AND I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT SAYS.
SO IT'S LIKE, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, OTHER GROUPS, I THINK WE NEED TO FIND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE GOING TO INFORM AND EDUCATE OUR, OUR CITIZENS, WHATEVER IT IS WE NEED TO DO, WE BETTER DO IT, OR WE'RE GOING TO LOSE BIG TIME.
AND SO I'M HERE TO HELP WHATEVER THAT TAKES.
SO IF I CAN JUST JUMP IN HERE, ONE OF OUR, OUR NEW TRUSTEES, LYNN BOSWELL, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW HER, UM, AND
AND SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN, DIMISS DEMYSTIFY THE CAPITAL FOR PEOPLE, FOR PEOPLE TO BE, UM, COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE CAPITOL, KNOWING WHERE THE KIOSKS ARE TO REGISTER OPPOSITION OR REGISTER TO TESTIFY, KNOWING WHERE THEIR LEGISLATORS OFFICES ARE.
I MEAN, IT'S AMAZED DOWN THERE.
IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO YEARS WORKING THERE BEFORE I COULD FIGURE OUT WHERE OFFICES WERE AND SO FORTH.
SO, UH, ONE IDEA THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY, WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY WAS FOR EXAMPLE, IF, UM, OPHELIA'S GROUP INTERFAITH IS HAVING A MEETING IN AUSTIN, UH, LET'S MAKE, LET'S TAKE AN AFTERNOON AND GO TO THE CAPITOL AND SHOW THEM AROUND.
UM, AND SAME, SAME THING FOR IT.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE A BIG ORGANIZED DEAL.
IT CAN BE SORT OF AN ADD ON TO ALL THESE OTHER, UH, MEETINGS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAVE.
SO IF WE CAN JUST START MAYBE DEMYSTIFYING THE PROCESS AND MAKING FAMILIAR WITH GOING TO THE CAPITOL AND NOT BEING INTIMIDATED, THAT'S A START.
I ALSO FEEL THAT CHILDREN ARE A BIG, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE STUFF HOME, THEY TAKE THIS HOME AND SHARE IT WITH YOUR PARENTS USED TO BE A THING
[01:50:01]
CALLED KIDS VOTING THAT REALLY KIND OF DID A LOT OF THIS SORT OF THING.I THINK WE NEED TO THINK BIGGER ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE PROCESS AND USE OUR CHILDREN, UM, TO HELP.
AND THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT I THINK THAT 20, UH, THE 2018 ELECTION MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE TENOR OF THE 86 LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE 2020 ELECTION, UH, SET THE TENOR FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND, UM, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE AND WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED.
AND BECAUSE IT REALLY DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN 2018.
AND SO, AND I THINK THE PEER TO PEER FOR, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT I SHARED WITH LYNN IS MAYBE WE COULD GET PEOPLE LIKE AT ST ED'S UNIVERSITY, AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT HOUSTON TILLOTSON AT UT TO BE SORT OF THE POINT PEOPLE FOR GETTING PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO RESPOND MORE TO THEIR PEERS AND THEY ARE TO, YOU KNOW, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS REPRESENTATIVES NECESSARILY.
SO, UM, IF WE CAN MAYBE START BUILDING THOSE, UH, KEY, UH, NETWORKS AT EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AND UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, WE CAN DO THAT.
WE REGISTER KIDS, UM, IN HIGH SCHOOLS.
IN FACT, THERE'S A LAW THAT REQUIRES A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO BE A VOTER REGISTRAR.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'LL DO IS WE'LL PICK UP OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR PACE AND MAKE SURE KIDS GET REGISTERED TO VOTE.
AND IT'S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.
IT'S A, IT'S A CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ISSUE.
SO, UM, I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT.
AND MAYBE YOU CAN, CAN, UM, PARTICIPATE.
I, I, THAT IS, UH, IN MY WHEELHOUSE EDNA, AND I HEARD MY MARCHING ORDERS NOW.
AND I THINK THAT RECOGNIZING THAT CANNED PARTNERS ARE SORT OF EXIST ALONG THE PIPELINE.
UM, AS NORA WAS SAYING, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH FOLKS ACROSS THESE AGES AND, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY GET TO, UM, I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW THE BILL, BUT THE, AS YOU'VE REFERRED TO IT AS THE WHITE WASHING BILL THAT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR, OUR STUDENTS SORT OF EDUCATED IN OUR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, I JUST CAN'T GET CREDIT FOR IT, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T GET CLASS CREDIT FOR IT.
I THINK THEY WOULD BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED ANYWAY, JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
ED'S THE PRIMARY ELECTION IN MARCH.
IT WAS THE VOTER TURNOUT WE'D EVER HAD ON OUR CAMPUS POLLING LOCATION, WHICH WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT'S ONLY ON ELECTION DAY.
IT WAS THE BEST VOTER TURNOUT WE'VE EVER HAD.
AND YOU CAN ASSUME IT'S MOSTLY STUDENTS.
AND I THINK ALSO TRYING TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS, THAT WHEN THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE SENATE AND PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THAT, YOU KNOW, CITY, UM, CITY ELECTIONS ARE FAR MORE RELEVANT TO THEIR DAY TO DAY LIFE.
AND ALSO THEIR VOTE CAN REALLY MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT VOTING IS IMPORTANT, BUT, UM, WHEN YOU LIVE IN AUSTIN AND YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT THE DISTRICTS AND LINES ARE DRAWN, YOU KNOW, THAT THOSE, UM, PRESIDENTIAL AND SENATE RACES, AREN'T DETERMINED BY A CAMPUS OF STUDENTS.
UM, BUT CITY TYPES OF POLICIES CAN BE, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID IN 2018, MY, I HAVE ADULT CHILDREN.
AND, UM, THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT BETHEL RAN AGAINST TED CRUZ.
AND EVERYBODY KNEW THEY WANTED TO VOTE FOR BETO.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ELSE ON THE BALLOT.
AND SO ONE OF THEIR FRIENDS, UH, SAID, LET'S HAVE A BALLOT PARTY AND INVITE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO I HAD A BALLOT PARTY AT MY HOUSE AND ABOUT 18, 18 KIDS CAME 18.
YOUNG ADULTS CAME AND WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE BALLOT.
SOME OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE DID.
SOME DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE COMPTROLLER DID.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS, WHO, WHAT WAS WHAT? AND, UM, I INVITED A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY, UH, WITH THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE ON THERE FOR THE CITY.
AND SO WE WENT OVER EVERY SINGLE THING ON THE BALLOT AND, UM, I GOT THEIR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
I WOULD SEND THEM THINGS PERIODICALLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I SAID, YOU HAVE TO VOTE IN EVERY SINGLE RACE, ESPECIALLY THE LOCAL RACES.
THEY AFFECT YOU THE MOST, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SO SURE ANYMORE, BUT, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT DOING IS, IS EDUCATING MORE OF OUR, UM, YOUNG ADULTS ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT AND WHO'S WHO, AND HOW THEY CAN FOLLOW IT AND HOW THEY CAN DO THEIR RESEARCH AND LANGUAGE, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE STUDENTS TO SPEAK A LOT OF LANGUAGES AND THEY
[01:55:01]
NEED TO GO ON IN THE COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUALS AND EDUCATE.I WAS, I WAS TELLING JIMMY BEFORE THIS MEETING, I WAS REALLY, UM, EXHAUSTED FROM THE SEMESTER AND THE SESSION.
AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOMETHING TO DO SO.
AND, UM, AND, UH, BREE HAD TO DROP OFF, BUT THANK YOU TO THEM AS WELL.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE, I
[Executive Director’s Report]
WANT TO RECOGNIZE REBEL FOR JUST HIS VERY BRIEFEST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME AWAY FROM YOU, BUT THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORK OF THE, SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR ROLE NOW.
YOU CAN SEE THE VERY SHORT POWERPOINT IN THE SHARED FOLDER.
UM, BUT IT'S JUST TO BE BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ONE IS, UM, UH, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO KIND OF HAVE OUR PRESS RELEASE OR PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE DASHBOARD NEXT WEEK, BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING RECEIVED THE DATA FOR SIX OF THE INDICATORS, ABOUT SIX OF THE INDICATORS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DELAY THE RELEASE TILL AUGUST 1ST WEEK IN AUGUST.
SO WE'LL SEND THAT UP SORT OF A SAVE THE DATE FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME DATES FOR THE REGIONAL SUMMIT, WHICH AGAIN, IS GOING TO BE AROUND WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND EQUITABLE KIND OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
UM, SO I JUST PUT THEM IN THE CHAT, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER 27TH, UM, OCTOBER 29TH, NOVEMBER 3RD, OR NOVEMBER 5TH.
SO IF, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING BIG, HUGE IT'S HAPPENING ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS, JUST LET US KNOW.
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT CONFLICT.
UM, BUT OF COURSE WE'RE TRYING NOT TO CONFLICT WITH COMMISSIONER'S CHORD OR THE BOARD, THE AISD BOARD OR A CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO, UM, SO ANYWAY, JUST GIVE US YOUR, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
SO THAT'S IT FOR NOW, AND YOU'LL BE GETTING SOME UPDATES FROM ME PERIODICALLY IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, THIS MONTH AND NEXT MONTH UNTIL WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING IN AUGUST.
THANKS CANTEEN FOR, FOR MOVING US FORWARD.
UM, I AGAIN, WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, PLEASE TAKE A VACATION AND, UH, WE ARE NOT GOING TO MEET IN JULY.
UH, WE WILL RECONVENE ON AUGUST 13TH.
UM, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A FEW MARCHING ORDERS.
THINK ABOUT PLEASE THOSE DATES FOR ORIGINAL REGIONAL SUMMIT.
AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT, UM, THIS CONTINUED DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE PURCHASE THE SPECIAL SESSION AND THIS CONTINUED VIEW OF OUR LEGISLATION AND THANK YOU TO ALL FOR STAYING LATE.
AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN JUST A MINUTE PASSED AT 3 0 1, UNLESS ANY OBJECTION.
OH, I WANT TO ASK, DO WE HAVE A DATE FOR PLANNING THE SUMMIT? DO YOU HAVE A TIME WHEN YOU WANT TO CONVENE? WHOEVER'S WORKING, NOT THE NEXT MEETING HASN'T BEEN ESTABLISHED YET AND BALANCING SCHEDULES RIGHT NOW FOR SOME VERY BUSY PEOPLE, BUT I'LL INCLUDE YOU IN THAT IF YOU LIKE.
WE'RE GONNA THANK YOU, SHERRY.
WE'RE GONNA BE CONCENTRATING ON THAT THROUGHOUT THE, THE END OF THE SUMMER HEADING INTO THE FALL.
SO, AND TAMRA, OF COURSE, WHO IS HAPPILY ON VACATION WILL BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THAT CONVERSATION.