Legislators want your input for upcoming interim charge hearings. Now that both the Texas House and Senate have released their interim charges (the key issues policymakers will explore in the months leading up to the next legislative session), our coalitions are hard at work looking at what these charges will mean for Texas kids.
At yesterday's Partners in Child Protection Reform meeting at the Capitol, we were joined by several legislative staffers who gave us an inside lookat how their offices will be approaching some of the charges that pertain to child welfare. In addition to offering some very helpful insight, they made one thing clear: they will not be researching and making decisions about these charges in a vacuum. They will be seeking input from the public at committee hearings so that the bills they write will help meet real needs and are consistent with best practices.
That's whyit's important to get involved in this process by bringing your expertise and experiences to the hearings that will take place at the Capitol beginning this month and continuing through the summer. Some of the hearings have been scheduled, but many have yet to be announced. You can sign up to receive alerts about committee hearings, the progress of bills, and other happenings at the Texas Legislature Online website, and/or sign up for Texans Care's alerts to know when you can make your voice heard on the children's issues that matter most to you. Input received in the hearings will help shape the course of the next legislative session. To learn more about the legislative interim and ways to make your voice heard, please visit our page on the Texas Legislative Process in our online Advocacy Center.
