04.03.09
Maldonado gets first bill through the House
Via the AAS, Maldonado skips chicken dance, passes her first bill in House.
Freshman State Rep. Diana Maldonado, D-Round Rock, passed her first bill in the House today with just a bit of hazing by her colleagues.
Several House members asked her teasing questions, and one — Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen — tried unsuccessfully to get Maldonado to do the chicken dance.
But finally, Maldonado succeeded in getting fellow representatives to support House Bill 1332, which would hold Texas students responsible for damaged or lost school-issued electronic materials. Now, students are held responsible for textbooks; her measure expands that requirement to include electronic textbooks and other technological equipment.
“My bill, if made law, will ensure our schools have the maximum amount of funds to use in the classroom and will add a level of responsibility for our students to take care of the school’s property,” Maldonado said.
Press release from Diana Maldonado is in the extended entry, here’s an excerpt:
“It has truly been an honor to work with so many of my colleagues in the House Committee on Public Education to receive unanimous support for my bill,” said Maldonado. “I was proud to be among the first members to pass legislation out of the House when I received bipartisan support from all of my colleagues on my first bill to reach the floor. My bill, if made law, will ensure our schools have the maximum amount of funds to use in the classroom and will add a level of responsibility for our students to take care of the school’s property.”
Currently, students are held responsible for damaged or lost textbooks, but that same requirement is not in place for electronic materials. House Bill 1332 would close that loophole to place electronic textbooks under the same umbrella as regular textbooks.
Rep. Maldonado Passes First Bill in House of Representatives
Legislation Protects Schools From Unintended Expenses
For Immediate Release: April 2, 2009
Contact: Jon Niven 512.463.0670
Austin – In just the first full that week the Texas House of Representatives has considered legislation on the floor, State Representative Diana Maldonado (HD-52) of Round Rock Thursday passed her first bill, House Bill 1332. In doing so, Maldonado became the second member of the freshman class to move legislation to the Senate for consideration.
“It has truly been an honor to work with so many of my colleagues in the House Committee on Public Education to receive unanimous support for my bill,” said Maldonado. “I was proud to be among the first members to pass legislation out of the House when I received bipartisan support from all of my colleagues on my first bill to reach the floor. My bill, if made law, will ensure our schools have the maximum amount of funds to use in the classroom and will add a level of responsibility for our students to take care of the school’s property.”
Currently, students are held responsible for damaged or lost textbooks, but that same
requirement is not in place for electronic materials. House Bill 1332 would close that loophole to place electronic textbooks under the same umbrella as regular textbooks.
Maldonado sits on the House Committee on State Affairs and the Committee on Defense and Veterans’ Affairs. She is serving her first term in the Texas House of Representatives and represents House District 52 which encompasses a portion of Williamson County, including Round Rock, Taylor, Hutto, Thrall, Coupland and part of Georgetown and Austin.