THE LITTLE DOG REPORT

Texas State Representative Senfronia Thompson Gives Her "Little Dog" Report From The State Capitol

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

House Bill 1988

Yesterday the House passed House Bill 1988 by Representative Mando Martinez to protect victims of sexual assault from their attackers. This bill would allow a protective order for victims of sexual assault to be effective for the duration of the lives of the offender and victim, or for a shorter amount of time if specified. The bill also allow for a parent or guardian to act on behalf of a person who is 17 or younger when applying or rescinding an order for protection. I feel that this is an important bill to protect all the victims of sexual assault, but felt it necessary to add a provision to specifically guard our children against further harm. Children who are sexual assaulted have trouble enough trying to live a normal life without worry of running into the person who sexual assaulted them. Current law requires that victims of sexual assault to prove that a threat of further harm exists to receive a protective order against their assaulter. Allowing minor victims of sexual assault to be granted protective orders without proving an ongoing threat would remove a burden from children who are sexually assaulted as well as their families. My amendment to House Bill 1988 authorizes the issuance of a protective order to victims of sexual assault who are younger than 18 years of age without proving that a threat of further harm exists.

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

UT host the African American Legislative Summit 2007

This year the University of Texas at Austin and the Heman Sweatt Symposium on Civil Rights hosted the annual African American Legislative Summit. They invited many African American Legislators, both state and congressional, as well as many knowledgeable speakers to attend and participate in the summit. The whole event was a true success. I was very pleased to see so many of my constituents as well as many others make the trip to Austin. It means so much to us legislators to see our constituents show their support by participating.

Panel discussion were held on a wide variety of subjects from health and education to electricity and leadership. One of the highlight events of the summit was the discussion on TSU and Prairie View A&M. The dialogue that took place between the audience and us legislators was very productive. We were especially focused on the issue of a conservatorship over TSU. The ideas, concerns, and suggestion made during the panel discussion will not go unheard.

Thank you to UT, everyone who came to be a part of this wonderful event, and to all my fellow colleagues who took the time out of their busy schedules to show our constituent that we really do care.