Bill Tracking

GOVT 2306Bill Tracking Assignment

Assignment Overview

Students will pick and report on one of the legislative bills from the 86th Texas state legislative session.

Students will take a position on whether they support the bill passing or not.

In order to support their position, students will need to conduct research and provide information about the proposed legislation.

Assignment Parts

Bill Tracking Activity homework assignments completed in BlackBoard (25 points)

One-paragraph summary of chosen bill submitted in BlackBoard (25 Points)

Four-page Bill Tracking Paper (100 points)

Bill Tracking Video Assignment Submission (50 points)

Assignment Schedule

The schedule for this assignment is:

Step Action Date Points

1 Complete the Bill Tracking Assignment Orientation October 18, 2020 5

2 Choose a bill from the list provided or one that has been approved by Professor Giglio. October 18, 2020 0

3 Complete the online Bill Tracking Activities October 18, 2020 20

4 Submit a one-paragraph summary of the bill in eCampus. November 1, 2020 25

5 Submit completed bill information paper November 29, 2020 100

6 Submit bill tracking video assignment December 6, 2020 50

Texas Legislature Online

Access information about the bills in the reports section of the Texas Legislature Online (TLO) at https://capitol.texas.gov/Reports/General.aspx When you are looking for information on the TLO website, make sure that you are looking for your bill in the 86(R)-2019 list. This represents the 86th regular legislative session.

Content of the research

Position

When the paper is submitted, a position on passage of the proposed legislation needs to be included. While the student might start the research process with one opinion, it is perfectly okay to change that opinion through gathering and analyzing research on the topic. By the time the paper is written, a decision has to be made about support or opposition to the bill. This will become your thesis position.

Details About the Issue – The following prompts can be used to guide the student research and writing. Due to the variety of bills that are being researched, not all of this information is readily available about all of the bills. Students can add additional information if they find something interesting and relevant about their particular bill.

What will the proposed legislation do?

Include some background or history as to why this bill might have been proposed. Why did this issue rise to the point that it needed to be proposed as legislation in the Texas state legislature?

Explain how this bill relates to larger state and/or national issues.

All bills have proponents and opponents. Discuss those who support the proposal and those who are against it and explain the positions of the different sides. (Sponsors, special interests, opponents, etc.)

What are the political pressures for or against the legislation? (Political party positions, reelection concerns, etc.)

Consider the constitutionality of the proposed bill. If the bill passed, might the state have to defend the resulting legislation in court? Look the issue up, it might already be involved in litigation.

Details About the Bill Process –

Provide an overview of the history of the bill from the “Bill Stages” tab. Where did the bill end in the legislative process?

Was there a companion bill introduced in the other chamber?

Provide a conclusion that brings together the research to support the thesis position.

Structure of the Paper

1) Length and Style:

MLA format required

To cover the content, a minimum length is four (4) full written pages and a works cited page.

2) Sources:

At least four (4) credible, unique sources must be used. (Texas legislature online website and the class textbook count as sources. Periodicals count as sources.)

Wikipedia and Google are NOT sources in and of themselves.

Include citations for ALL sources used. A separate works cited page MUST be included, along with short form, in-text citations (parenthetical) citations within the paper.

3) Submission:

The paper must be turned in via eCampus in .doc or .docx format.

This assignment must be turned in on time to be eligible for full credit.

86(R) – 2019 Bills for Bill Tracking Assignment

(Students can choose from the list below or submit a bill choice to Professor Giglio for approval if the bill they would like to work on is not listed below.)

Issue – Elections and voter access

SB9 – Relating to elections and voter access including penalties for voting when ineligible

Issue – School Safety

SB11 – Relating to school safety and mental health promotion

Issue – Raise the smoking age to 21

SB21 – Relating to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products.

Issue – Defunding Abortion Providers

SB22 – prohibiting certain transactions between a governmental entity and an abortion provider

Issue – Protecting religious liberties versus discrimination

SB 1978 – the protection of membership in, affiliation with, and support provided to religious organizations. (“Save Chick-fil-A Bill”)

Issue – School financing

HB 3 – Relating to public school finance and public education. (Also see SB 4)

Issue – Rape kit backlog

HB 8 – Relating to the criminal statute of limitations for certain sexual offenses and the collection, analysis, and preservation of evidence of sexual assault. (Lavinia Masters Act)

Issue – Management of a fetus after abortion

HB 16 – Enforcement of rights of an unborn child; creating penalties.

Issue – Reducing the penalties for marijuana possession

HB 63 – Relating to penalties for possession of small amounts of marihuana.

Issue – Abortion

HB 896 – Relating to prohibiting abortion.

Issue – Death Penalty

HB 1139 – Applicability of the death penalty to an offense committed by a person with an intellectual disability.

Issue – Curfew

HB 1332 – Repeal of the authority of political subdivisions to adopt or enforce juvenile curfews.

Issue – Bail Reform

HB 2020 – Relating to the release of defendants on bail.

Issue – Medical Marijuana

HB 3703 – Relating to the prescription of low-THC cannabis for medical use by certain qualified physicians to patients with certain medical conditions.

Issue – Extending the statute of limitations for sex abuse lawsuits

HB 3809 – Limitation period for personal injury claims from offenses involving child sexual abuse.Information about bills can be gathered from several sources. There are thousands of bills introduced in the legislature each session, so wading through the options can be cumbersome. Some possible sources to look for additional information about bills are:

Major Issues of the 86th Legislature is published by the House Research Organization (HRO). The HRO overview highlights legislation on major topics, including bills that did not pass, and features extensive analysis and statements by supporters and opponents.

Summary of Enactment 86th Legislature 2019 is published by the Texas Legislative Council (TLC). The TLC overview offers summaries of all enrolled legislation, notes effective dates, and contains veto statements.