2015 latino summit: economic opportunities

Texas Latino Summit

Economic Opportuniti

es

Priorities from State and Community Meetings

Housing: Establish a dedicated revenue source to fund the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.Building Small Business: Improve access to capital and access to banking services.College Savings: Amend SNAP and TANF asset limits to allow children to save for college and improve access to

information about for-profit collegesAsset Protection:Rein in abusive payday lending and property tax lending and uphold home equity lending protectionsProtecting Investments: Simplify probate process and adopt model laws for basic standards for tax preparersRepeal Driver’s Responsibility Program:Workforce Issues: Increase minimum wage, worker’s compensation protections, strengthen wage theft laws.

Session Achievements

No back sliding on important asset protection efforts; HB 1933 (Darby/Hinojosa) clarifies terms of county property tax installment plans to improve and standardize operation of the programs.

HB 3987 (Farney/Garcia) Enables school-based savings programs and allows funds to be exempt from many public benefits.

Housing saw some incremental program-related changes. Slip backwards was preemption of “Source of Income” ordinance. (SB 267 Perry/Burrows)

SB 512 (Zaffirini/Thompson) requires the Supreme Court to promulgate simple forms for wills and other probate matters to help more families have wills and probate plans.

HB 1626 (Johnson/West) creates banking development districts to encourage banks and credit unions to locate in underserved communities.

HB 1546 (Allan/Rodriguez) streamlines and guarantees the award of diligent participation credit to state jail inmates who participate in a work program or successful completion of an educational, vocational, or treatment program. The bill would result in reduced time served and a budget savings to the state.

SB 901 (Eltife/Collier) increased temporary income benefits under Worker’s Compensation System.

Lessons and Insights

• Stopping bad bills is just as important as passing good ones. It is a victory to stop a back-slide in the law.

• Incremental change with any eye on a goal is an effective way to move issues forward in the legislature.

• Focus on strategies that can garner bi-partisan support.• “Think outside the Lege” for change opportunities—city

ordinances, county action and administrative rules processes can push forward reforms otherwise unachievable or more complicated to achieve through the legislature.