State of Texas: Paying to Protect Children

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SOUND OF: STATE OF TEXAS THEME
MUSICROBERT:GOOD MORNING AND
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
STATE OF TEXAS.I'M ROBERT
HADLOCK.TEXAS LAWMAKERS IN
BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE THIS
WEEK VOTED TO OVERHAUL CHILD
PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN TEXAS.
IT WAS UNANIMOUS. 3 DIFFERENT
BILLS.. 2 CHAMBERS.AND NOT ONE
LAWMAKER VOTED AGAINST THEM.
POLITICAL REPORTER PHIL PRAZAN
TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT
SENATE BILL 11 - AND HOW IT
HANDS SOME STATE
RESPONSIBILITIES TO
NON-PROFITS. PHIL: BRIEFCASE
IN HAND, WAYNE CARSON, CEO OF
THE NON-PROFIT ACH CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES, TRIES TO
CONVINCE LAWMAKERS HIS GROUP
HOLDS THE KEYS TO THE STATE'S
CHILD WELFARE WOES.WAYNE
CARSON, CEO OF ACH CHILD AND
FAMILY SERVICES, "WE KNOW OUR
KIDS AND WE KNOW OUR
COMMUNITY. WE CAN MAKE FASTER
AND BETTER DECISIONS FOR KIDS
BY BEING MORE INFORMED ON WHAT
THEIR NEEDS ARE."PHIL: THE NON-
PROFIT WATCHES OVER ABUSED AND
NEGLECTED CHILDREN AROUND FORT
WORTH - MAKING SURE THEY'RE
OUT OF DANGEROUS SITUATIONS
AND INTO SAFE ONES. IN A 2014
PILOT PROJECT, ACH WORKERS
TOOK OVER A ROLE PREVIOUSLY
HELD BY STATE CASEWORKERS.
LAWMAKERS ARE NOW TRYING TO
PHASE IN THAT SO-CALLED
"COMMUNITY BASED CARE"...
FIRST IN NORTH TEXAS... THEN
IN EIGHT REGIONS ACROSS THE
STATE OVER TWO YEARS.SARAH
CROCKETT, TEXAS CASA, "REALLY
DOES A GOOD JOB OF SAYING
LET'S GO REALLY SLOWLY, LET'S
MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS
READY FOR THIS STEP BEFORE WE
IMPLEMENT IT."PHIL: SARAH
CROCKETT OVERSEES TEXAS CASA
VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL TAG TEAM
WITH NON-PROFIT WORKERS
INSTEAD OF STATE EMPLOYEES.
WAYNE CARSON, CEO OF ACH CHILD
AND FAMILY SERVICES,'IT CAN
IMPROVE OUTCOMES THAT HAVE
BEEN A CHALLENGE IN THE FOSTER
CARE SYSTEM FOR 20 YEARS."
PHIL: BUT IF THIS BILL BECOMES
LAW, THE SUCCESS OF THE
PROGRAM WILL STILL REST IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
PROTECTIVE SERVICES.ACH PUT UP
SIX MILLION DOLLARS OF THEIR
OWN MONEY TO MAKE IT WORK AT
THE BEGINNING. OTHER
NON-PROFITS LIKELY WON'T BE
ABLE TO DO THAT.SARAH
CROCKETT, TEXAS CASA,"IF THEY
WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL
THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE'S MONEY IN THE
BUDGET TO IMPLEMENT THIS
SUCCESSFULLY."PHIL: IF IT
DOESN'T WORK, THE STATE WILL
CONTINUE STRUGGLING TO TAKE
CARE OF ITS MOST VULNERABLE.
PHIL PRAZAN FOR STATE OF
TEXAS...ROBERT: THERE ARE
OTHER REQUIREMENTS IN THE
SENATE BILL TO HELP PROTECT
CHILDREN IN CPS CARE. IT
CREATES AN "OVERSIGHT AND
QUALITY ASSURANCE DIVISION"
WITHIN D-F-P-S. IT REQUIRES
ALL CHILDREN ENTERING THE
FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TO GET A
MEDICAL EXAM WITHIN 3 DAY -
AND A "COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT" WITHIN THE FIRST
30 DAYS. WHEN THERE IS
SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT AT
FOSTER HOMES OR TREATMENT
CENTERS - CPS INVESTIGATORS
WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE
FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH
VICTIMS WITHIN 24 OR 72 HOURS
INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT 5-DAY
STANDARD. GEORGETOWN SENATOR
CHARLES SCHWERTNER AUTHORED
SENATE BILL 11. AND SENATOR
SCHWERTNER JOINS US NOW FOR
SOME PERSPECTIVE.WELCOME TO
STATE OF TEXAS. APPRECIATE YOU
COMING IN.SEN. SCHWERTNER:
"YOU BET. THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE."
ROBERT: "YOU BET. IT'S NOT
OFTEN YOU SEE A BILL PASS
UNANIMOUSLY IN THE TEXAS
SENATE. DID YOU EXPECT TO SEE
THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT?"SEN.
SCHWERTNER: "I'M HONORED TO
HAVE THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT. IT
SPEAKS TO IT BEING A BILL THAT
AFFECTS ALL TEXAS. IT'S NOT A
PARTISAN BILL. THIS WAS
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT ON A
BIPARTISANSHIP BASIS. BECAUSE
I THINK THE MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE, THE MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE UNDERSTAND THAT
CPS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED THIS
SESSION AND THAT ALL IDEAS ARE
WELCOME AND THE BEST IDEAS
NEED TO BE PASSED AND
IMPLEMENTED."ROBERT: "WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU SEE
GOING FORWARD WITH GETTING
THIS BILL ROLLING THROUGH?"
SEN. SCHWERTNER: "WELL IT'S
PASSED OBVIOULSY ONE BIG
HURDLE, PASSING THE SENATE.
AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE, AND I
THINK I WAS TWENTY SEVEN TO
TWENTY EIGHT CO-AUTHORS. AND
OF COURSE IT WAS A UNANIMOUS
THIRTY ONE TO ZERO VOTE. WE
NEED TO WORK WITH THE HOUSE IN
FASHIONING THE BEST POLICY.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF IDEAS IN
THEIR HOUSE BILL FOUR, FIVE,
AND SIX. AND AS SOON AS THOSE
COME OVER FROM THE HOUSE,
WE'LL LOOK AT THEIR IDEAS."
ROBERT: "SO WHERE IS THE MONEY
GOING TO COME FROM? "SEN.
SCHWERTNER: "WELL WE NEED TO
FIND THE MONEY. IT'S A TIGHT
BUDGETARY CYCLE BUT WE NEED TO
PRIORITZE WHERE WE SPEND OUR
MONEY AND CERTAINLY THE CARE
OF OUR CHILDREN THAT NEED THE
ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION FROM
ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND
EXPLOITATION. AS WELL AS
CHILDREN IN OUR FOSTER CARE
SYSTEM. THEY NEED OUR HELP.
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE
FULFILL THAT DUTY." ROBERT:
"LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE GOING TO
BE ABOUT TWELVE BILLION
DOLLARS IN THE RAINY DAY FUND.
ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF GOING TO
THAT PILE OF CASH TO PAY FOR
THIS?"SEN. SCHWERTNER: "I
THINK WE CAN FIND IT IN THE
EXISTING REVENUE. THERE'S A
NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS
THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED
FOR. RIGHT NOW THERE BUDGET IS
$3-POINT-8 BILLION DOLLARS.
THEY WANT ON TOP OF THAT NINE
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS MORE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE
EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS TO THE
BUDGET AND MAKING SURE THEY
FIT WITHIN THE ENTIRE
PERAMETERS OF THE MISSION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
PROTECTIVE SERVICES. AND I
CERTAINLY ANTICIPATE THAT A
NUMBER OF THOSE EXCEPTIONAL
ITEMS WILL BE FUNDED."ROBERT:
"TEXANS HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF
ATTEMPTS TO FIX THINGS AT CPS
THAT HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. HOW
CERTAIN ARE YOU THAT THIS IS
GOING TO MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE?"SEN. SCHWERTNER:
"WELL IT'S NOT THE STATUS QUO.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT REGARDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
PROTECTIVE SERVICES. IN
PARTICULAR, ABOUT FOSTER CARE.
AND WHAT THIS DOES, IS ALLOW
COMMUNITIES TO RE-ENGAGE, TO
GET ENGAGED IN THE CARE OF
THEIR CHILDREN THAT RESIDE IN
THAT COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT A
TOP DOWN APPROACH COMING FROM
AUSTIN. BUT IT ALLOWS FOR
LOCAL NONPROFITS WITH A
HISTORICAL MISSION AND CHILD
WELFARE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL
UNITIES SUCH AS COUNTY
GOVERNMENT FOR INSTANCE TO SET
UP A SYSTEM THAT IS RIGHT FOR
THE CHILDREN OF THAT REGION TO
ALLOW THEM TO HAVE
INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT
FUNCTION. INDIVIDUALIZE PLANS
FOR THAT CHILD THAT'S RIGHT
FOR THAT CHILD. THE RIGHT TYPE
OF CARE, THE RIGHT TYPE OF
THERAPIES, THE RIGHT TYPE OF
SETTING FOR THAT.ROBERT:
"WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF TIMES
OVER THE YEARS OF WE NEED MORE
MONEY. MORE MONEY IS GOING TO
FIX THINGS. HOW CERTAIN ARE
YOU THAT MONEY IS GOING TO FIX
THIS?"SEN. SCHWERTNER: "WELL
WE DO NEED MORE MONEY IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND
PROTECTIVE SERVICES. BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT
POLICY. MONEY IS NOT THE
ANSWER TO THE ENTIRE ANSWER OF
THE PROBLEM. WE NEED TO HAVE
THE RIGHT STRATEGIES THAT
ENGAGE OUR FAITH BASED AND NOT
FOR PROFIT COMMUNITY TO ASSIST
US IN THE CARE OF THE CHILDREN
OF TEXAS. THIS IS NOT JUST THE
REPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY OF US
ALL."ROBERT: "WE KNOW ABOUT
THE FEDERAL COURT CASE AND
DOES SENATE BILL ELEVEN DO
ENOUGH TO KEEP TEXAS FROM
PREVENTING ANOTHER LAWSUIT
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?"
SEN. SCHWERTNER: "WELL I
WOULDN'T WANT TO SPEAK TO
OBVIOUSLY THE JUDICIAL ASPECTS
OF HOW THEY MIGHT RULE IN THE
FUTURE. BUT CERTAINLY THIS
GOES A LONG WAYS TO ADDRESSING
SOME OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS
BROUGHT ABOUT BY JUDGE JACK'S
RULING. THOSE THAT CONCERN
INVESTIGATIONS, CAPACITY IN
OUR FOSTER CARE, AND THE
CONCERNS BROUGHT ABOUT BY
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS
IN KEEPING CHILDREN IN A
APPROPRIATE SETTINGS THAT ARE
NOT CONDUSIVE TO THAT CHILD."
ROBERT: SWITCHING GEARS A
LITTLE BIT, WE GOT SXSW COMING
UP INH AUSTIN IN THE NEXT
SEVERAL DAYS. A LOT OF PEOPLE
COMING INTO TOWN, REACHING FOR
THEIR PHONES TRYING TO GET AN
UBER OR LYFT AND THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE IT. SEN.
SCHWERTNER: THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO HAVE IT. THAT NEEDS TO
CHANGE. WE NEED A STATE-WIDE
POLICY THAT ALLOWS FOR A VERY
NOVEL, INNOVATIVE INDUSTRY.
RIDESHARING TO FLOURISH. WE
DON'T NEED RESTRICTIVE LOCAL
ORDINANCES; PATCH WORK OF
LOCAL ORDINANCES THAT ARE
REALLY PUT IN PLACE TO PROTECT
OUTDATED UNIONS AND INDUSTRIES
SUCH AS A TAXI INDUSTRY.
ROBERT: "FOLKS IN THE CITY OF
AUSTIN WOULD SAY, "WE'RE ALL
FOR CONTROL. WE WANT TO
CONTROL WHAT'S INSIDE OUR CITY
LIMITS." WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?"
SEN. SCHWERTNER: "WELL
TRANSPORTATION DOESN'T STOP AT
THE AUSTIN CITY LIMIT BORDERS.
THIS IS MORE OF A REGIONAL OR
STATE WIDE ISSUE THAT NEEDS A
STATE WIDE RESPONSE. I ALSO
WOULD SAY THAT THE ISSUE IS A
SAFETY AND MOBILITY NEED TO BE
SPOKEN TO. AND ARE ISSUES THAT
ARE STATE WIDE ISSUES AS WELL.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A VERY VIBRANT RIDE
SHARING INDUSTRY IN AUSTIN.
ESPECIALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE
SERVICES OF THE TWO LARGEST
PROVIDORS OF RIDE SHARING;
UBER AND LYFT."ROBERT: "AND
QUICKLY RURAL COMMUNITIES
WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS AS
WELL."SEN. SCHWERTNER: "THAT'S
RIGHT. IT HELPS MOBILITY
ACROSS. BEINT ABLE TO TAKE A
RIDE SHARING SERVICE ACROSS
COUNTRY LINES, STATE LINES.
THE IMPEDIMENTS THAT ARE PUT
IN PLACE BY CERTAIN
RESTRICTIONS AT THE MUNICIPAL
LEVEL JUST REALLY SHOULDN'T BE
TOLERATED."ROBERT: SENATOR
CHARLES SCHWERTNER. REPUBLICAN
FROM GEORGETOWN. THANK YOU FOR
COMING IN, WE GREATLY
APPRECIATE IT. SEN.
SCHWERTNER: "YOU BET. IT'S
GREAT TO BE HERE."ROBERT: SHE
DIED IN A JAIL CELL - AFTER A
CONTROVERSIAL ARREST...NOW,
SEE HOW HER CASE IS BRINGING
FOCUS TO NEW LAWS AIMED AT
PROTECTING PEOPLE IN CUSTODY
HERE IN TEXAS...PRESIDENT
TRUMP: "I BELIEVE THAT REAL
AND POSITIVE IMMIGRATION
REFORM IS POSSIBLE..."ROBERT:
PRESIDENT TRUMP SENDING
"CONFLICTING MESSAGES" ABOUT
IMMIGRATION REFORM.WHY THAT'S
LEADING TO BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT
"ANY" IMMIGRATION MEASURE IN
Only at Jack in the Box.
SOUND OF: STATE OF TEXAS THEME
MUSICROBERT: AFTER MONTHS OF
WAITING, FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR
RICK PERRY HAS A NEW JOB.VICE
PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE GAVE
PERRY THE OATH OF OFFICE
THURSDAY FOR THE POST OF
ENERGY SECRETARY.A SENATE VOTE
CONFIRMED PERRY NEARLY THREE
MONTHS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP
ANNOUNCED HIS NOMINATION.RICK
PERRY/ENERGY SECRETARY: JUST
AS THEN-PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD
TRUMP LOOKED ACROSS HIS DESK
AND SAID PERRY, HERE'S WHAT I
WANT YOU TO DO. I WANT YOU TO
DO FOR AMERICAN ENERGY WHAT
YOU DID FOR TEXAS. AND I SAID
I GOT IT MR. PRESIDENT...
(APPLAUSE) ROBERT: WHEN PERRY
RAN FOR PRESIDENT, HE WANTED
TO CLOSE THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT.
NOW, HE'LL "LEAD" THE
DEPARTMENT - OVERSEEING THE
COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROGRAMS - ENERGY RESEARCH AND
CONSERVATION - AS WELL AS
DOMESTIC ENERGY POLICY.
PRESIDENT TRUMP RAISED HOPES
ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM
BEFORE HIS ADDRESS TO CONGRESS
ON TUESDAY.BUT HIS ACTUAL
SPEECH SET A MUCH DIFFERENT
TONE - LEAVING A LOT OF
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS..."MANU
RAJU" HAS A CLOSER LOOK FROM
WASHINGTON.MANU RAJU:
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOLD
REPORTERS HE'D BE OPEN TO A
DRAMATIC SHIFT ... LEGALIZING
SOME UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
AS PART OF A BROAD COMPROMISE
BILL....TRUMP: "I BELIEVE THAT
REAL AND POSITIVE IMMIGRATION
REFORM IS POSSIBLE.MANU RAJU:
BUT DURING HIS SPEECH TO
CONGRESS TRUMP WAS VAGUE ON
THE DETAILS, INSTEAD
EMPHASIZING TOUGHER
ENFORCEMENT AND FOR BUILDING A
WALL ON THE BORDER WITH
MEXICO..TRUMP: AS WE SPEAK
TONIGHT, WE ARE REMOVING GANG
MEMBERS, DRUG DEALERS AND
CRIMINALS THAT THREATEN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND PREY ON OUR
VERY INNOCENT CITIZENS.MANU
RAJU: THE MIXED MESSAGES
SPAWNED CONFUSION ON CAPITOL
HILL AND LEFT MANY DEEPLY
SKEPTICAL THAT ANY IMMIGRATION
MEASURE COULD PASS CONGRESS
THIS YEAR....SEN. CHUCK
GRASSLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE:
BUT WHAT'S A NECESSARY
FORERUNNER TO GET WHAT YOU
CALL A COMPREHENSIVE BILL IS
TO BUILD CONFIDENCE WITH THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO DELIVER ON WHAT FOR
THE LAST 20 YEARS WE SAID
WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER ON,
SECURING THE BORDER AND WE
HAVEN'T DELIVERED ON IT.MANU
RAJU, CNN: HE SUGGESTED HE'D
BE OPEN TO LEGAL STATUS FOR
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. HE
TOLD THAT TO REPORTERS
YESTERDAY. WOULD YOU BE OPEN
TO THAT? LEGAL STATUS?SEN.
GRASSLEY: BEFORE YOU EVEN DEAL
WITH THAT QUESTION, YOU'VE GOT
TO TAKE CARE OF THESE OTHER
THINGS. THAT'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING YOU'VE GOT TO
BUILD CONFIDENCE FOR.
CONSERVATIVES ARE DUBIOUS THAT
TRUMP MAY BACK OFF HIS
HARD-LINE STANCE ON ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATIONSEN. TED CRUZ, R-
TEXAS: "YOU KNOW, I DON'T MAKE
IT A HABIT TO RESPOND TO
RUMORS PASSED ON BY REPORTERS--
"RAJU: "IT WASN'T A RUMOR. IT
WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES."CRUZ: "WELL
YOU'RE WELCOME TO TESTIFY AND
GIVE YOUR OWN VIEWS. I'M GOING
TO WAIT 'TIL I SEE SPECIFIC
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO
COMMENT ON THEM AND NOT CHASE
DOWN EVERY PRESS RUMOR PEOPLE
--"RAJU: "WELL WHAT ABOUT JUST
THE IDEA OF GIVING LEGAL
STATUS TO UNDOCUMENTED
IMMIGRANTS? ARE YOU OPEN TO
THAT IDEA?"CRUZ: "MY VIEW IS
WE NEED TO SECURE THE
BORDER... I DON'T SUPPORT
AMNESTY."MANU RAJU: THE
PUSHBACK COMES AS TRUMP IS
TRYING TO DELIVER ON HIS
CENTRAL CAMPAIGN PROMISE ...
TO BUILD A WALL PAID FOR FULLY
BY MEXICO.TRUMP: "WE WILL SOON
BEGIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
GREAT, GREAT WALL ALONG OUR
SOUTHERN BORDER."MANU RAJU:
BUT THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
THAT CONGRESS WILL FIRST HAVE
TO APPROVE HAVE GIVEN SOME
REPUBLICANS PAUSE...SEN. JAMES
LANKFORD, R-OKLAHOMA: WE'VE
GOT TO FIND SOME WAY TO PAY
FOR IT, WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE
THAT DEBT.MANU RAJU: AND SOME
INFLUENTIAL REPUBLICANS
QUESTION THE VIABILITY OF THE
WALLSEN. ROB PORTMAN, R-OHIO:
THERE ARE PARTS OF THE BORDER
WHERE AN ACTUAL WALL WOULD BE
INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE FOR
TAXPAYERS AND INCREDIBLY
EXPENSIVE TO MONITOR//I THINK
THERE'S A WAY TO DO THIS, BUT
NOT ON THE ENTIRE BORDER.
ROBERT: THAT WAS "MANU RAJU"
REPORTING...NBC NEWS FACT-
CHECKED SOME OF THE CLAIMS
PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE IN HIS
ADDRESS TO CONGRESS.THE
PRESIDENT TOUTED HIS "LOBBYING
BAN" AS AN EXAMPLE OF KEEPING
HIS PROMISE TO "DRAIN THE
SWAMP" IN WASHINGTON.THAT
CLAIM IS TRUE.PRESIDENT TRUMP
ENACTED THIS CHANGE BY
EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE EIGHTH
DAY OF HIS PRESIDENCY. BUT HE
ALSO MADE IT EASIER FOR FORMER
LOBBYISTS TO JOIN THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH - BY REVOKING
A 2009 ORDER BLOCKING
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD WORKED AS
A LOBBYIST IN THE PREVIOUS
YEAR FROM TAKING
ADMINISTRATION JOBS. IN TERMS
OF UNEMPLOYMENT - THE
PRESIDENT TOLD CONGRESS THAT
94 MILLION AMERICANS ARE OUT
OF THE LABOR FORCE.WHILE THE
NUMBER HE CITES IS TECHNICALLY
CORRECT, IT IS MISLEADING
BECAUSE IT COUNTS AMERICANS
WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED "BY CHOICE"
- INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS, RETIRED SENIORS AND
STAY-AT-HOME MOTHERS.
ACCORDING TO POLITIFACT'S
MATH, THE REAL NUMBER OF
AMERICANS WHO ARE OUT OF WORK
AND IN THE JOB MARKET IS 21
MILLION - A FRACTION OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NUMBER.
ASHTON WOODS: "...AND THEY'RE
HOPING THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVE THE POWER TO VOTE THIS
INTO LAW, THAT YOU PASS IT."
ROBERT: A CALL TO ACTION FOR
STATE LAWMAKERS. HOW A WOMAN'S
DEATH AFTER A CONTROVERSIAL
ARREST COULD LEAD TO NEW
PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN
SOUND OF: STATE OF TEXAS THEME
MUSICROBERT: A JUDGE THREW OUT
THE FEDERAL SECURITIES FRAUD
CASE AGAINST TEXAS ATTORNEY
GENERAL KEN PAXTON - BUT HE
STILL FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES
AT THE STATE LEVEL. HE'S
ACCUSED OF MISLEADING
INVESTORS IN A HIGH-TECH
STARTUP - BY PERSUADING THEM
TO INVEST, BUT NOT TELLING
THEM HE WAS BEING PAID BY THE
COMPANY. THE ACCUSATIONS
HAPPENED BEFORE PAXTON BECAME
TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE
FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSED THE
FEDERAL CASE WITHOUT MAKING
JUDGMENT ON THE CHARGES.
PAXTON'S TRIAL IN THE STATE
CASE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON
MAY 1ST.ON MONDAY THE U.S.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED
IT WOULD DROP ITS CHALLENGE OF
THE TEXAS VOTER ID LAW.BUT
THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE CASE.
OPPONENTS OF THE LAW ARGUED
THEIR CASE TUESDAY BEFORE A
FEDERAL JUDGE IN CORPUS
CHRISTI.THE LAW REQUIRES
VOTERS TO SHOW ONE OF SEVEN
ACCEPTED FORMS OF PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION BEFORE CASTING
A BALLOT.THE QUESTION IS
WHETHER THE REQUIREMENTS
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST
MINORITIES AND THE POOR.THE
JUDGE ORDERED LAWYERS TO FILE
MORE BRIEFS - AND SET A
TIMELINE FOR LATER THIS MONTH
TO ISSUE A RULING.IN JANUARY
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
DECLINED TO TAKE UP THE CASE.
BUT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS
SAID THE STATE COULD TRY AGAIN
AFTER THE LOWER COURT MAKES
ITS RULING ON WHETHER THE LAW
DISCRIMINATES AGAINST
MINORITIES.THE TEXAS SUPREME
COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS IN A
CASE CHALLENGING WHETHER LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN PAY EMPLOYEE
BENEFITS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES.
THE LEAD ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE
ARGUE THE 2015 U.S. SUPREME
COURT DECISION LEGALIZING SAME-
SEX MARRIAGE DOES NOT COVER
INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR COUPLES
WHO MARRIED BEFORE THAT RULING.
OPPONENTS SAY IT'S IMPLIED IN
THE HIGH COURT'S RULING.CHUCK
SMITH/CEO OF EQUALITY TEXAS:
"THE FEAR IS THAT IF THIS CASE
WERE TO PROCEED THAT SOMEHOW
WE ARE CREATING TWO DIFFERENT
CLASSES OF MARRIAGE. AGAIN,
WHICH I WOULD CONTEND THERE IS
NOT A LEGAL BASIS FOR AND THAT
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT WAS VERY CLEAR IN THEIR
RULING THAT SAME SEX COUPLES
CANNOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY."
ROBERT:THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT
INITIALLY DECLINED TO HEAR THE
CASE IN SEPTEMBER, BUT SEVERAL
REPUBLICAN STATE OFFICIALS
URGED THE COURT TO RECONSIDER.
A RULING IS EXPECTED BEFORE
THE END OF JUNE. SHE DIED IN A
JAIL CELL - AFTER A
CONTROVERSIAL ARREST... NOW,
HER CASE IS BRINGING FOCUS TO
NEW LAWS AIMED AT PROTECTING
PEOPLE IN CUSTODY...TEXAS
LAWMAKERS FILED THE SANDRA
BLAND ACT THIS WEEK - INTENDED
TO ADDRESS RACE, POVERTY,
MENTAL HEALTH AND
ACCOUNTABILITY IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT.KXAN INVESTIGATOR
BRIAN COLLISTER EXPLAINS.
ASHTON WOODS/BLMHOU: I TALKED
TO SANDRA BLAND'S FAMILY THEY
KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING
TODAY. AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE THE
POWER TO VOTE THIS INTO LAW,
THAT YOU PASS IT.BRIAN:
STANDING IN FRONT OF THE TEXAS
SUPREME COURT, REPRESENTATIVE
GARNET COLMAN UNVEILED THE
SANDRA BLAND ACT.IT STEMS FROM
A D-P-S TRAFFIC STOP NEARLY
TWO YEARS AGO.THE TROOPER GOT
INTO A HEATED CONVERSATION
WITH THE DRIVER, SANDRA BLAND,
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR
ASSAULTING A PUBLIC SERVANT.
THREE DAYS LATER, THE
28-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND DEAD IN
HER JAIL CELL - RULED A
SUICIDE BY HANGING.THE BILL
WOULD ABOLISH CONSENT SEARCHES
DURING TRAFFIC STOPS AND
ARRESTS FOR MINOR TRAFFIC
VIOLATIONS.REP. GARNET
COLEMAN: THIS BILL IN TOTAL
CHANGES THE DEFINITION OF
RACIAL PROFILING. BRIAN: IF IT
PASSES, OFFICERS WOULD HAVE TO
HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH,
OFFICERS COULD NOT USE THE PRE-
TEXT OF A MINOR TRAFFIC
VIOLATION TO FISH FOR BIGGER
CRIMES.REP. GARNET COLEMAN: SO
WHEN THE DPS SAYS, HEY WE
DON'T RACIALLY PROFILE. WELL,
IF ALL THIS BECOMES LAW, YES
YOU DO. BRIAN: THE BILL ALSO
WOULD INCREASE POLICE OFFICER
TRAINING FOR DE-ESCALATION AND
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, AND
FUND MORE TREATMENT PROGRAMS
TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL.
CHAS MOORE/AUSTIN JUSTICE
COALITION: I THINK ABOUT DAVID
JOSEPH THE NAKED 17 YEAR OLD
TEENAGER THAT WAS HERE IN
AUSTIN. I THINK ABOUT LAST
WEEK HERE IN AUSTIN 30 YEAR
OLD MORGAN RANKINS THAT HAD A
HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH. BUT
INSTEAD OF SERVING THESE
PEOPLE AND HEARING THEIR
OUTCTRY, OUR COPS ARE NOT
TRAINED TO DEAL WITH THESE
PEOPLE.SHERIFF A.J.
LOUDERBACK/SHERIFF'S ASSOC. OF
TX: WE'RE SUPPORITNG THE BILL.
BRIAN: COLEMAN'S BILL HAS THE
BACKING OF SHERIFFS WHO RUN
JAILS DEALING WITH THOSE WITH
MENTAL ILLNESS.SHERIFF A.J.
LOUDERBACK/SHERIFF'S ASSOC. OF
TX: THE MENTAL HEALTH PORTION
OF THE BILL HAS LONG BEEN A
CONCERN OF TEXAS SHERIFFS.
BRIAN: NEXT FOR THE SANDRA
BLAND ACT, LEGISLATIVE
HEARINGS, FINDING A SPONSOR IN
THE SENATE AND A FISCAL NOTE
FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET
BOARD THAT ESTIMATES THE COST
TO TAXPAYERS.BRIAN COLLISTER,
KXAN INVESTIGATES.ROBERT: PART
OF THE PROPOSED LAW IS A
DIRECT RESULT OF A KXAN
INVESTIGATION.OUR COVERAGE
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS
REVEALED PROBLEMS IN THE WAY
TROOPERS RECORD "RACE" DURING
TRAFFIC STOPS.SOME DPS
TROOPERS WERE ISSUING TRAFFIC
TICKETS TO HISPANIC DRIVERS -
BUT RECORDING THEIR RACE AS
"WHITE".AFTER OUR REPORTS THE
DPS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM - AND
PROMISED LAWMAKERS CHANGES TO
FIX IT.AND THEY'RE MAKING
PROGRESS: IN THE FOUR YEARS
BEFORE OUR INVESTIGATION, UP
TO 18-PERCENT OF MOTORISTS
TICKETED AS "WHITE" BY THE DPS
HAD HISPANIC SURNAMES.AFTER
OUR REPORTS, IN 2016 THAT
DROPPED DRAMATICALLY TO JUST
4-PERCENT.THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
JOINING US FOR STATE OF TEXAS.
STAY TUNED FOR MEET THE PRESS
WITH CHUCK TODD COMING UP AT 9.
I'M ROBERT HADLOCK.HAVE A

State of Texas: Paying to Protect Children

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