Issues before the 81st Legislature

There are many important issues that face those representing us in Austin during the 81st legislative session. In reading through the Texas Association of Business (TAB) legislative update there are several key issues that stood out. (The following information items are TAB’s position on these issues, not the Chamber’s.)
· Texas has the second highest number of employees in the labor force (of any state).
· Forty percent of all new jobs created in the US in 2007 were created in Texas.
· Texas is the number one exporting state in the nation.
Economic Development
· Texas needs to support state-appropriated economic development funds for rural areas.
· Support tax incentives to encourage business participation in education initiatives.
· Support healthy economic growth by promoting the production of adequate supplies of all forms of energy at competitive prices.
Education and Workforce
· Support career and technology education in conjunction with community colleges.
· Create flexibility for school districts in the requirement that grades K through 4 is comprised of no more than 23 students to one teacher, allowing school districts to use the 23:1 mandate as a district average.
· Support education at the community college level as an important contributor to training students for jobs in the workforce.
· Support measures that give school districts the flexibility to meet the needs of their students.
· Support increased funding for the Skills Development Program administered by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Employment Relations
· Oppose legislation that would erode employment-at-will as a right for all Texas employers and employees.
· Oppose efforts to modify the Family Medical Leave Act.
· Support efforts to keep Texas a right-to-work state and oppose agency shop legislation.
Environmental Quality
· Support activities for teachers and students that promote a balanced perspective in environmental education based on sound science.
· Support legislation to limit intrusion by federal agencies in the state’s implementation of delegated environmental programs.
· Support streamlining of the permitting process to ensure that businesses can maintain and enhance environmental compliance and at the same time minimize roadblocks that result in expensive procedural delays.
· Support legislation that encourages more voluntary environmental program activities.
General Business
· Oppose legislation that restricts the ability of private parties to contract.
· Support reforms that would prevent uninsured motorists from collecting pain and suffering damages if they are in an accident with an insured driver.
· Support the recording of legislative votes during and after floor debate in the Texas Legislature.
Health Care
· Oppose any measure that increases costs for Texas employers and their employees and families.
· Support legislation to promote consumer-directed health care models. Encourage employers to be more involved in their health, and encourage education of employers and employees on actual health care costs and fees.
· Empower employees and consumers with information regarding the cost and quality of health care services to allow consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Taxes and Spending
· Support state policies and programs that maximize the receipt and use of federal matching and other funds for state purposes.
· Support an exemption from the franchise (margin) tax of all flow-through funds that are mandated by contract to be distributed to other entities.
· Support reinstating the research and development tax credit (provided under the previous franchise tax) and allowing it to be carried forward.
· Oppose the imposition of a gross receipts tax.
· Support elimination or reduction of local inventory taxes.
· Maintain franchise (margin) tax relief for small business.
Tort Reform
· Oppose attempts to amend current law to extend statutes of limitations or timetables for filing a lawsuit.
· Protect legislative reforms enacted to address rising medical malpractice insurance costs.
Transportation
· Support improved highways, ports of entry and other infrastructures that facilitate trade, tourism and other cross-border traffic between Texas and Mexico.
· Support limitations on the use of motor fuel taxes, except for the constitutionally-required percentage used to fund our educational system, by reducing diversions to the fullest extent.
· Support the construction of toll roads where appropriate. Users will directly pay for the new roads, and tolls will be dedicated solely to maintenance and new construction.
Workers’ Compensation
· Support accountability measures for providers within the workers’ compensation system.
· Support cost-effective health and safety measures.
· Oppose legislation that imposes new laws or regulations on employers that are non-subscribers to workers’ compensation.
· Support measures to increase the efficiency in the operation and administration of the Texas Department of Insurance.

There are many other issues that will be addressed during the 81st legislative session. The Chamber encourages you to do your own research on these and many other topics that will be brought before the legislature.