Update

I also wanted to update you all on the movement of my legislation concerning human trafficking. This week we were able to hear House bills 3370, 3371, 3372, and 3374 in the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence. Two of these bills have already been voted out of committee and we are anticipating that the last of these bills be voted out favorably within the coming week. The proposed legislation approaches the problem from a broad perspective. It will give law enforcement the tools to find and prosecute people who traffic others in what is a modern day slave trade. It will help the victims of human trafficking and make sure that they get the help they need and are not mistakenly treated as criminals. They will also implement steps to prevent further occurrences of human trafficking. We can not afford to go on without addressing this problem fully. I am still waiting on one bill, House Bill 3377, to be set for public hearing in the Committee on Civil Practices. I again anticipate that this bill be heard and reported favorable within the next week.

TSU

On Friday, April 13, 2007 Governor Perry recommended that Texas Southern University be placed under a conservatorship. Despite the many problems that currently surround TSU, this recommendations is not a step in the right direction. I immediately issued a letter to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House concerning the further damage a conservatorship might inflict on TSU. The following day I sent an urgent letter to the Governor, requesting that he set up a meeting immediately regarding his recommendation for TSU. I have participated in several meetings since that date and am pleased to say that we are working together towards a better solution.