LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2019 YCT.ORG 86TH LEGISLATURE · 2019. 1. 10. · LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2019 YCT.ORG 86TH LEGISLATURE Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) releases its legislative agenda

2019YCT.ORG

LEGISLATIVEAGENDA86THLEGISLATURE

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) releases its legislative agenda each session with the hope that Texas legislators will support bills that promote effective, limited

government. Our priorities also shape our endorsement and legislative ratings process. They are designed to make clear to challengers and incumbents alike the foundational principles

that guide our organization.

LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES

1 86th Legislature www.yct.org

CONTENTS

Subject Page

TopLegislativePriorities 2

HigherEducation 3

K-12Education 4

Life&Liberty 5

Fiscal 6

Healthcare 7

Immigration 8

Government&Ethics 9

Other 10

Citations/FurtherExplanation 11



TOPLEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES

86THLEGISLATUREBelowareYCT’s“TopLegislativePriorities,”whichcanalsobefoundthroughoutthisdocument.

FAVOR

● Eliminatingallsocalled“free-speechzones,”especiallythoseinplaceatpublicuniversities.[1] ● Repealingtuition“deregulation”ofpublicuniversities.[2] ● Eliminatingallsocalled“gun-freezones,”especiallythosestillinplaceatpublicuniversities.[3] ● TheimplementationofConstitutionalCarry.[4]● Encouragingcompetitioninourpublic-schoolsystemthroughuniversalschoolchoiceoreducation

savingsaccounts.● Endingallstategovernmentbenefitsgrantedtoindividualsinthiscountryillegally. ● Requiringzero-basedbudgetingforallgovernmentagencies. ● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringthatnogoverningentityraisesspendingmorethanthe

combinedgrowthofpopulationandrateofinflation. ● “TruthinBudgeting.”TheLegislatureshouldfullybalancethebiennialbudgetwithouttheuseof

deceptionand/oraccountingtricks.WesupporttheConservativeTexasBudgetasproposedbytheTexasPublicPolicyFoundation.[5]

● Barrierstomunicipalitiesandcountiesfromenactingoverbearingregulationsthatencroachuponpersonalliberties,productsaleanduse,employment,andpropertyrights.

● PaycheckProtectionActandanylegislationthatensurestaxpayermoneyisnotusedforpartisanpoliticsandfurtherempowersindividualemployeesasopposedtolocalgovernmentunions.[6]

OPPOSE

● Therestrictionofthetime,place,mannerofspeech,andassemblymorethanabsolutelynecessarytoprotectnormalacademicandinstitutionalactivities.

● Thecreationofanynewtaxesandfees. ● MedicaidExpansion,oranyattempttofurthersocializethedeliveryofhealthcareandmedicine. ● Usingrace,ethnicity,gender,sexualpreferences,orcitizenshipasafactorindeterminingeithercollege

acceptanceortheamountofstatescholarship/grantdollarsastudentreceives. ● Anyunnecessaryregulationsoncigarettes,includinge-cigarettes. ● Targetingindividualsandorganizationsforpoliticalpurposesthroughcampaignfinancelaw,or

expandingthereachoftheTexasEthicsCommission. ● Anytaxpayer-fundedabortionand/orcontraception,includinguniversitysubsidizedPlanB. ● Revenuecollectionthroughtheuseofpropertyandfranchisetaxes. ● ArbitraryDWIcheckpoints,blooddrawsbynon-medicalprofessionals,“norefusal”policies,andany

reductioninthemaximumbloodalcoholcontentrulesforDWIcrimes. ● Anyexpansionofregulatedgambling.[7]



HIGHEREDUCATIONFAVOR

● Eliminatingallsocalled“freespeechzones,”especiallythosestillinplaceatpublicuniversities.[1] ● Therepealorerosionoftuition“deregulation.”[8] ● Eliminatingallsocalled“gun-freezones,”especiallythosestillinplaceatpublicuniversities.[9] ● Cappingtheamountcollegesanduniversitiescanraisetuition/feestothepreviousyear’srateplus

inflation. ● Stateinterventionregardingnewlyaddedcorerequirementsatpublicuniversities.[10] ● Anappropriationsriderrequiringanycutsinhighereducationfundingtobetakenfromresearchand

administrativeoverheadasopposedtocoreundergraduateteachingfunctions. ● RequiringthestateComptrollertoauditpubliccollegesanduniversities. ● Shiftingalargeamountofthestate’sappropriatedmoneyfromindividualuniversitiestotheTexas

GrantProgram.[11] ● Transparencyinmandatoryfeesimposeduponstudentsatpublicuniversities. ● EliminatingtheSunsetexemptionforHigherEducationandrequiringeachuniversitysystemto

undergoasunsetreview. ● Separatingtheteachingandresearchbudgetsofstatecollegesanduniversitiesinordertoincrease

efficiencyandtransparency.

OPPOSE

● In-statetuitionratesandallfinancialassistanceforillegalimmigrants. ● Universitieslobbyingwithtaxdollars,studentfees,ortuitiondollars. ● The“TopTenPercent”Ruleandanyotherautomaticadmissionpolicies. ● Stateorstudenttuition/feefundingforethnicandgenderstudiesprogramsandcenters. ● Usingrace,ethnicity,gender,orsexualpreferencesasafactorindeterminingeitheracceptance,orthe

amountofstatescholarship/grantdollarsastudentreceives.[12] ● Currentmandatesrequiringacertainportionofeverystudent’stuitionbeset-asideforfinancialaid. ● Awardingtenuresolelyonthebasisofseniorityand/orlongevity. ● Therestrictionofthetime,place,mannerofspeech,andassemblymorethanabsolutelynecessaryto

protectnormalacademicandinstitutionalactivities.[13] ● TuitionRevenueorCapitalConstructionbondpackages.[14] ● AnyattempttoweakenoreliminatetheTexasHigherEducationCoordinatingBoard.



K-12EDUCATIONFAVOR

● Eliminatingtheuseofpropertytaxesforpublicschoolmaintenanceandoperationfunding. ● Legislationrequiring75%ormoreofaschooldistrict’sbudget,excludingbussingcosts,goesdirectly

towardsclassroomteachersandstudentinstruction. ● Givingschooldistrictsmoreflexibilitytoreviewanddismissteachers. ● Allowingretiredworkersinrelevantfieldstogothroughastreamlinedcertificationprocesstoincrease

thenumberofcertifiedteachers. ● PromoteEnglish-immersionprogramsratherthanbilingualeducationprograms. ● Allowingparentstobeabletoaccessallschooldistrictrecordsconcerningtheirchild.[15]● Transparencyinsexual-educationclasses.● EliminatingtheTexasEducationAgencyandgivingtheirresponsibilitiestotheStateBoardof

Education. ● Encouragingcompetitioninourpublic-schoolsystemthroughuniversalschoolchoiceoreducation

savingsaccounts.[16] ● Restrictingthepowerofthegovernmenttointerferewiththeprivateschoolcurricula. ● Legislationallowingteacherstohavemorediscretioninthecreationandenforcementofclassroom

rules. OPPOSE

● Anyunnecessaryincreaseinfundingforeducation.[17] ● Expensiveandexcessivestandardizedtesting. ● Alllegislationthatwouldcriminalizechildishmisbehaviorinschool. ● The“minimumsalaryschedule”forteachers.Compensationshouldbeindividually-based,results-

oriented,andbasedoffofmerit. ● Theuniversalimplementationofanyfederalteachingstandards. ● Expansionandincreasedfundingforpre-kindergarteninpublicschools.[18] ● Limitingfoodchoicesinpublicschoolsfor“nutritional”purposes. ● Anyattempttosubvertpublicschoolcurriculumtoadvocateanideology,and/orerodefoundational

Americanconcepts. ● Measureslimitingtheparentalrightsordiscouragingparentsfromhomeschoolingtheirchildren.



ISSUESOFLIFEANDLIBERTYFAVOR

● Protectingthelivesofunbornchildren,thoughalllegislationthatdecreasesoreliminatesabortioninTexas.

● AnyexpansionofSecondAmendmentrights,includingthecompleteeliminationofsocalled“gun-free”zonesonpublicproperty,allowingforconstitutionalcarry,andlooseningtherestrictionsonalaw-abidingcitizen’sabilitytopurchasegunsandammunition.

● Anylegislationthatpreventsmunicipalitiesandcountiesfromenactingoverbearingregulationsthatencroachonpersonalliberties,productsaleanduse,employmentopportunities,andpropertyrights.

● LegislationexplicitlyallowingTransportationNetworkCompaniestooperatestatewideinTexas. ● Eliminating“BlueLaws”inTexas. ● Protectingprivatepropertyrightsbylimitingthegovernment’spowerofeminentdomain,protecting

againsteminentdomaincorruption,andabuse,andensuringthatpropertyownersreceivefullcompensationforthevalueoftheirproperty.

● Legislationthatprotectslaw-abidingcitizensfromhavingtheironlineprivacyviolatedbythegovernmentorprivateentities.

● Legislationallowingdirect-saleofautomobilestoTexans. ● ReformingTexas’sCriminalJusticeSystem,includingeliminatingfrivolous,victimlessfelonies.[19] ● Legislationensuringthatnoarreststakeplacefornon-jailableoffenses. ● TheRepealontheStatewideBanontextingwhiledriving.● Texas’sabilitytoutilizeCapitalPunishmentwhereappropriate.[20]

OPPOSE

● TargetingofindividualsandorganizationsforpoliticalpurposesthroughcampaignfinancelaworexpandingthereachoftheTexasEthicsCommission.

● Anyeffortstoinstituteastatewidesmokingban,aswellaslimitsone-cigaretteuse. ● Regulationsandfinesagainstprivateentitiesthatrefusetoprovideservicestheyobjecttoforreligious

orpersonalreasons. ● TheTexas“OpenContainer”law. ● Municipalitiesannexinglandwithouttheconsentoftheaffectedresidents. ● ArbitraryDWIcheckpoints,blooddrawsbynon-medicalprofessionals,and“norefusal”policiesaswell

asanyreductioninthemaximumbloodalcoholcontentrulesforDWI. ● Raisingthelegalagetopurchasecigarettesandtobaccoabovethatofeighteenyearsofage. ● Anytaxpayer-fundedabortionand/orcontraception. ● CivilAssetForfeiturewithoutcharginganindividualwithacrime.[21]



FISCALACCOUNTABILITYFAVOR

● “TruthinBudgeting.”TheLegislatureshouldfullybalancethebiennialbudgetwithouttheuseofdeceptionand/oraccountingtricks.WesupporttheConservativeTexasBudgetproposedbytheTexasPublicPolicyFoundation.[4]

● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringazero-basedbudgetandanylegislationrequiringagenciestoalsousethezero-basedbudgetingmethod.

● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringthatnogoverningentityraisesspendingmorethanthecombinedgrowthofpopulationandrateofinflation.

● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringtwo-thirdsapprovalofbothchambersoftheLegislatureforanynewtaxorfeeincrease.

● Abolishingthefranchisetaxandreformingthepropertytax. ● DefundingtheTexasEnterpriseFundandpre-emptingmunicipalitiesfromofferingtaxabatementsand

cashawardstocompaniesforrelocatingtoTexas.

OPPOSE

● Thecreationofanynewtaxesorfees. ● Divertingdedicatedfundsfromtheirspecifiedpurposes. ● Excessivelicensureof,andregulationofentryinto,alreadyregulatedprofessions. ● Fundingofanygovernmentprogramdesignedtoawardcorporatewelfareorengageincronyismby

choosingwinnersandlosersinthefreemarket. ● Anyregulationsthatunnecessarilyburdenbusinessand/orreduceincentivesforexpansion. ● Socalled“green”energytaxbreaks,includingcarbonemissiontaxes,electriccarsubsidiesandwind

energysubsidies.



HEALTHCAREFAVOR

● Theexpansionofscopeofpracticeforallmedicalprofessionalstothefullestextentoftheirtraining.Specifically,expandedscopeofpracticeforOptometrists,AdvancedPracticeRegisteredNurses(APRNs),andPodiatrists.

● Interstatecompactstoallowformorechoiceininsuranceproviders. ● Anylegislationthatencouragestransparencyinhealthcarecosts. ● Comprehensiveentitlementreformtodecreaseindividualdependenceongovernment. ● Protectingprivatereligiousinstitutions,entities,andbusinessesfromhealthcaremandateswhichforce

aviolationofsincerelyheldreligiousprinciples.

OPPOSE

● MedicaidExpansion,oranyattempttofurthersocializethedeliveryofhealthcareandmedicine. ● Increasingtaxesorfeestofundpublichealthcareprograms. ● Excessiveregulationsthatlimitpatientaccesstoquality,affordablehealthcare. ● ThecurrentconvolutedprescriptiveauthoritymodelforTexas’AdvancedPracticeRegisteredNurses.



IMMIGRATIONFAVOR

● Requiringallemployerstousethe“E-Verify”systemduringthehiringprocess. ● RequiringdocumentationoflegalstatusintheU.S.toreceiveadriver’slicenseandfurtherrequirethat

alllicensesissuedtonon-citizensexpirewhentheindividual’slegalstatusintheU.S.terminates,andforthatexpirationdateandresidencystatustobeclearlynotedontheirlicenses.

● RequiringproofofU.S.citizenshipwhenregisteringtovote.● Allowingofficersofthelawtoinquireaboutlegalstatusduringalawfulstop,detention,orarrest. ● MakingEnglishtheofficiallanguageoftheStateofTexas. ● Improvingbordersecuritythroughstrategicallyincreasingtheamountofborderpatrolagents,

constructingfencesandbarrierswherelawfullyaccessible,andinvestinginnewtechnologies.

OPPOSE

● Anyefforttoenactamnestyforthosehereillegally,regardlessofage. ● Illegalimmigrantsreceivingstateentitlements,healthcare,oreducation. ● Anyspecialconsiderationsforthechildrenofillegalimmigrants. ● Anytemporaryreleasefromcustodyofarrestedillegalimmigrantsbeforetheconclusionoftheirtrials.



GOVERNMENTANDETHICSFAVOR

● Publicandtransparentlegislativecommitteevotingrecords.[22]● PaycheckProtectionActandanylegislationthatensurestaxpayermoneyisnotusedforpartisan

politicsandfurtherempowersindividualemployeesasopposedtolocalgovernmentunions.[6]● Electronicrecordvotinginmachinereadableformat.● Requiringstrictandtransparentdisclosuresofcampaignexpendituresandendingthepracticeof

conglomerationofexpensesthroughconsultingfirms.[23]● ChangingthenameoftheTexasEthicsCommissiontothatoftheTexasComplianceCommission

andgivingsole-appointmentauthoritytotheGovernorofTexas.● MovingschoolboardandlocalelectionstotheunifiedNovemberelectiondate.● Makingtheprocessfortaxpayerrollbackelectionseasierandmoretaxpayer-friendly.

OPPOSE

● Anyefforttoallowcollectivebargainingbypublicemployees,oranymeasuretoerodethestate’s“RighttoWork”laws.

● Allowinganyindividualstocastaballotforelectiononline.● AllowingforElectionDayvoterregistrationordecreasingthe30-daydeadlinebeforeElectionDay

tobeappropriatelyregistered.● Anyefforttotakeredistrictingoutofthehandsofademocratically-electedlegislativebody.● Alleffortstocapcampaigncontributionsorspending.



OTHERFAVOR

● Alleffortstonullifyanyunconstitutionalfederallaw. ● Aconstitutionalamendmentallowingfortherepealofanyfederallaworregulationuponavoteoftwo-

thirdsofallstatelegislators. ● Exemptingintrastate-producedfirearmsfromfederalfirearmslawsandtheauthorityofBureauof

Alcohol,Tobacco,FirearmsandExplosives(BATFE). ● Banningracial,ethnic,gender,orcitizenshipstatuspreferencesfrombeingusedinhiring,promotion,

andcontractingdecisionsbystateagencies,counties,citiesandotherpoliticalsubdivisionsofthestateofTexas.

● EliminatingorprivatizingtheTexasStateLottery. ● Eliminatingthevehicleinspectiontax.

OPPOSE

● Anymeasurerelatedtojudicialselectionorappointmentasapreferredmethodtodirectelections. ● “HateCrimes”lawsandlawsthataffordprotectedclassstatustoparticularsegmentsofsociety. ● AnyefforttoexpandregulatedgamblinginTexas.[6] ● Useofcamerasoranyotherphoto/videorecordingequipmenttoenforceredlightorothertrafficlaws. ● Anyefforttorestricttheabilityoflaw-abidingcitizenstofilmpoliceofficerswhileincommissionof

theirduties.



CITATIONSANDFURTHEREXPLANATION

1. SenateBill1151(85R)2. HouseBill3015(78R).3. SenateBill11(84R).4. HouseBill357(86R)5. ConservativeTexasBudget.YCTisacoalitionmember.The2020-21 Conservative Texas Budget limits growth of all Texas state government

spending to the rate of population growth plus inflation for the last two fiscal years. $156.5B State Funds, $234.1B All Funds, and 8% Increase.6. PaycheckProtectionAct.OvertwomillionTexansvotedinfavorofnon-bindingballotProposition3in2016RepublicanPrimaryElection

leadingtoitsroughly83%to17%passage.7. YCTbelievesthattheissueoftheexpansionofgamblinghaslittletodowithlibertyandeverythingtodowithincreasingthesizeand

scopeofgovernment.Assuch,YCTopposestheregulatedpracticeofgamblinginthestateofTexas.Regulatedgamblingwouldcreatelarge,expensivebureaucraticagenciesthatwouldgrowgovernmentexponentiallyandcostthestatebillionsofdollars.

8. Thetuitionderegulationexperimenthasfailed.Sincethelegislatureplacedthepowertoraisetuitioninthehandsofunelectedbureaucratsin2003,tuitionhasrisenrapidlystatewide.Thelegislatureshouldactimmediatelytolimittuitionincreases.

9. ThepassageofSenateBill11inthe84thlegislativesessionthoughastepintherightdirectionstillleavesexceptionstoareasinwhichlaw-abidingcitizenswhoobtainaLicensetoCarryarerelegatedtonotcarryoncollegecampuses.Evenworse,isthenowcontrastinrulesastheyvaryfromcampustocampus.YCTsupportslegislationthatworkstocorrect‘watered-down’campuscarry.

10. Publicuniversitiesareslowlyincreasingtherequirementsforgraduationbymakingitmandatoryforstudentstotakeclassesthataremeanttoindoctrinatestudentswithleftistpropaganda.

11. TowardExcellence,AccessandSuccessGrantProgram(TEXASGrant).Allowingstatefundstofollowstudentswillincreasecompetitioninhighereducation,thusincreasingtheeffectivenessofuniversitiesinTexas.

12. Bycreatingquotasorgivingpreferentialtreatmenttospecificsegmentsofsociety,themostempiricallydeservingareoftendeprivedofopportunitiesthathaveotherwisebeenearnedthroughtheirownhardwork.YCThaslongopposedaffirmativeactionincollegeadmissionsandwouldratherseeasysteminplacewhereasequentialnumberwasusedthroughtheentiretyoftheprocesssotoensurethatnoidentifyinginformationitselfwasusedtodecideadmissions.

13. i.e.“freespeechareas”oncampus.14. HouseBill100(84R).15. SenateBill242(85R)16. Educationshouldbeaboutthestudents,notthesystem,andweshouldallowforallparentstoutilizetheirchild’sshareofstate-

appropriatedfundsforpublicschoolenrollment,privateschooltuitionandtransportationcosts,orforthepurposeofhomeschooling.17. Theproblemswithpubliceducationarestructural,notfiscal.Educationcanbeimprovedthroughmarketreforms,notincreased

spending.Thebulkofeducationspendingneedstobemovedfromadministrativebureaucracytotheclassroom.18. HouseBill4(84R).19. TPPF’sMarcLevinnotesthat:“TheConstitutionlistsonlythreefederalcrimes,butthenumberofstatutoryfederalcrimeshasnow

swelledtoaround4,500.Thisistosaynothingofthethousandsofbizarrestate-levelcrimes,suchasthe11feloniesinTexasrelatedtotheharvestingofoysters.Theexplosionofnon-traditionalcriminallawsgrowsgovernmentandundermineseconomicfreedom.Criminallawshouldbereservedforconductthatisblameworthyorthreatenspublicsafety,notwieldedtoregulatenon-fraudulenteconomicactivityinvolvinglegalproducts.”Seehttp://www.rightoncrime.com/the-conservative-case-for-reform/

20. RobertBorkinGreggV.GeorgiaintheSummaryofArgumentstates“Thedeathpenaltyistraditionalsanctionforthoseoffensessocietyconsidersthemostdangerous.Whetherthatpenaltyisnecessary,orevenappropriateinaparticularcaseisajudgementproperlylefttotherepresentativesofthepeopleandtothejudgesandjurieswhomustdecidewhethertoimposesociety’sultimatesanction.Wesubmitthatitisinappropriateforthiscourttosubstituteitsjudgementabovetheproprietyofthedeathpenaltyforthatofthelegislaturesbothmoreproperlychargedwiththedutyofmakingthatjudgementandmoreadvantageouslysituatedtocollectandassesstherelevantinformation.”(ATimetoSpeak,page7)

21. Currentlawenableslawenforcementtoseizepersonalpropertywithoutcharginganindividualwithacrimeundercivillaw.Individualscanchallengetheforfeitureinacivilsuitbutpayforthisproceedingfromtheirownpocketsasstateappointedattorneysarenotprovidedunlessforcriminaldefensecases.TheInstituteforJusticeestimatesthatlawenforcementagencieswithinthestateofTexasaverageover$41Minforfeitureseveryyearwhichpotentiallyencourages‘policingforprofit’asopposedtopublicserviceandsafety.

22. HouseBill4,Amendment11(85R)23. Currently,candidatesoftenmakelump-sumpaymentstotheirgeneralconsultantsandallowtheconsultantstomakepurchasing

decisionswithoutrevealingindividualcontractorsandvendors.Thisprocessconcealsnecessaryinformationaboutcandidatesandtheircampaignactivitiesandsubvertsthetransparentdesignofthereportingsystem.



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LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2019 YCT.ORG 86TH LEGISLATURE · 2019. 1. 10. · LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2019 YCT.ORG 86TH LEGISLATURE Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) releases its legislative agenda