Action Alerts:
HB1911, Tarlton - Ban on gays serving as foster parents
HB945, King - Requiring Parental Consent for Abortion
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Action Alert:
HB1911, Tarlton - Ban on gays serving as foster parents
(posted by Travis County Court Appointed Family Advocates)
The following is an eyewitness report regarding last nights' State Affairs hearing and a plea for help from one of CAFA's former clients (he and his partner had adopted a child).
Dear Friends and Family,
Please read this entire email. I desparately need your help.
Last night I testified before the House Committee On State Affairs about a bill that would ban all single adults from the foster care system. Moments before my testimony, the author of this bill, Representative Talton, submitted a change to the bill so that now HB 1911 will only ban gay people from being foster parents. When asked why he wanted to make the change he said that the earlier version would cost too much. When asked why he wanted to ban gays he said this: “They are like sex offenders and child molesters. They learn these behaviors and teach them to their children. “ Representative Talton went on to say that he would rather see Samantha in an orphanage than in my home. When questioned further, Representative Talton let it be known that his church and his God believe this too.
You can imagine my shock and surprise. All my life I’ve received support…from my family…from my friends…from my employers. I’ve never really known discrimination or the fear that comes from being targeted and singled out by someone who openly hates you. I barely made it through my testimony, but when I finished telling the story, over 100 people gave me a standing ovation and then I looked at the Committee Members and was terrified to see that most of them didn’t care. I was a gay man and in their minds, Samantha should be in an orphanage.
At approximately 3:00 a.m., the committee adjourned. Public testimony on HB 1911 was not finished (it was last of about 11 bills). It is expected that they will call the bill back up when they meet again this Thursday (4/25). You can:
1. If possible, please go to the meeting, sign a card in opposition or even testify. They meet in Room JHR350 upon adjournment of the House. Check www.capitol.state.tx.us to confirm they are meeting - this bill does not have to be listed since it already has been on the agenda.
2. Please call the bill sponsor:
HB 1911 Author
Rep. Robert Talton
(R-Houston)
(512) 463-0460
3. If you are a constituent, call one of the committee members below (see bottom of email).
4. If you are not, PLEASE forward this and/or contact people you know in Carrolton, Plano, Houston, Corsicana, Georgetown, Arlington, Ft. Worth, or San Antonio, and ask that they contact committee members below.
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HB945 (King) Requiring Parental Consent for Abortion
(posted by Texas Campaign for Women's Health)
Existing law requires that a minor notify her parent, managing conservator or legal guardian (“parent”) if she wishes to have an abortion. She may obtain a confidential judicial bypass waving notification if she demonstrates to the court that she is mature and well-informed and that notification would not be in her best interests or that it may lead to her physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
HB 945, pending in House State Affairs Committee, would:
1. require parental consent, not merely notification
2. require the parent or guardian to swear out an affidavit concerning their consent and present governmental identification showing they are the parent or guardian
3. the judicial bypass proceeding would
- only occur in the minor’s county of residence,
- the burden of proof for the minor would be raised to “clear and convincing evidence” rather than “preponderance of the evidence”
- dramatically up the standard for showing that notification may lead to physical, sexual or emotional abuse
- delete a method for the physician to give constructive notice when the parent cannot be contacted in person
What You Can Do:
1. If you are a constituent, call one of the committee members below.
2. If you are not, PLEASE forward this and/or contact people you know in Carrolton, Plano, Houston, Corsicana, Georgetown, Arlington, Ft. Worth, or San Antonio, and ask that they contact committee members below.
********************************************
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS
Chair -- Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-Carrolton) HD-115
(512) 463-0468
Vice-Chair -- Rep. Jerry Madden (R-Plano) HD-67
(512) 463-0544
Rep. John Davis (R-Houston) HD-129
(512) 463-0734
Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) HD-8
(512) 463-0730
Rep. Gary Elkins (R-Houston) HD-135
(512) 463-0722
Rep. Dan Gattis (R-Georgetown) HD-20
(512) 463-0309
Rep. Toby Goodman (R-Arlington) HD-93
(512) 463-0562
Rep. Glenn Lewis (D-Fort Worth) HD-95
(512) 463-0716
Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) HD-123
(512) 463-0532
To find out who your Representative is, simply enter your zip code at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm.