Jessica’s Law: Why Didn’t This Get Hashed Out In Committee?

A few minutes ago, during debate between Reps. Phillips and Madden on Phillips’ amendment to the amendment, both just mentioned that the Floor Substitute by Gattis didn’t go through committee.

It’s a good point. Why the heck wasn’t this hashed out in committee?

First, the committee considered the bill on two different days and heard a lot of quality testimony.

For one thing, I think that Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball), author of the original bill, and victims advocates probably but a lot of pressure on the committee to report Jessica’s Law out quickly.

Second, in neither meeting in which the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee considered HB 8 was the full committee present.

For Feb. 20, four members were absent according to the minutes:

Representatives Hodge; Mallory Caraway; Moreno, Paul; Talton (4).

On Feb. 21, four members were absent also:

Representatives Escobar; Hodge; Mallory Caraway; Moreno, Paul (4).

I am by no means trying to single out these members who were absent; for one thing, many committees meet simeltaniously. For another, many times constiuant matters will take up the members’ times and prevent them from being at a committee meeting. I doubt there is a Representative anywhere that has a perfect attendance record in Committee.

But, with full committee strength, perhaps more of these points would have been raised in committee.

And, I’m not trying to fault Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg), chair of Criminal Jurisprudence. Rep. Pena is a good lawmaker whom I have high regard for.
However, on such major legislation, I think we would all prefer to see full committee strength before the bill is considered.

The Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, more so than perhaps any other committee, is under a significant microscope from victims’ groups, prosecutors, and civil liberties’ groups.

I’ve seen first hand as a former reporter how aggressive victim’s rights groups (such as MADD) can be in getting a prosecutor to take a case to trial even to the point of showing up for trial. I’m not faulting them, because that is their job. However, with so many outside interests putting down pressure on a piece of legislation like this, which has gained national attention, it seems as though more than two days in committee might be necessary—with full committee strength.

My point is that committee members should not see themselves as rubber stamps for victims’ advocates, prosecutors, utility companies, the business lobby or anyone else. And, to be honest, I don’t think that the members of Criminal Jurisprudence were doing this. I want to be clear on that.
However, I recognize that some bills may not need more than 5 minutes of debate, while some may need three or four days. I believe, perhaps, the House Committees should all consider this.

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