A look at politics: school safety is the focus of state lawmakers

Texas is facing litigation over the state’s near-total ban on abortion. Legislators have filed several different pieces of school safety legislation. And Governor Greg Abbott is pushing for a new economic development program to keep Texas competitive. CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink dives into these stories and more in the latest issue of Eye on Politics (Original air date: March 9).

Each week, CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink brings you the most headline-grabbing political stories in North Texas and beyond. Watch the latest episode of Eye on Politics in the video player above and stream new episodes live every Thursday and Friday at 7:00 pm on CBS News Texas.

School Safety Legislation

School safety is a top priority for state legislators in this legislative session, following last year’s mass fatal shooting in Uvalda, in which a gunman killed 19 students and two of their teachers at Robb Elementary School. After announcing $600 million in spending, lawmakers this week introduced a number of school safety bills.

The three measures are considered the highest priority legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Republican from Lubbock, introduced Bill 3. If approved, every campus would require an armed guard. It will also ensure that there is a telephone or some form of electronic device in every classroom so that the teacher or substitute teacher can contact district personnel or emergency services immediately in the event of an emergency.

The legislation also provides for $15,000 for each school campus to install physical barriers, security cameras, or other equipment.

House Bill 13, introduced by Rep. Ken King of Hemphill, would require training for teachers and others who interact regularly with students to identify those with mental health problems.

There will also be an active shooting preparation plan that will require prior coordination with law enforcement and a grants program to help schools fund larger infrastructure needs.

Watch the video below to learn more about the legislation.

Background checks for gun buyers in Texas

A new bill in the Texas Legislature will make it easier for the federal government to identify individuals between the ages of 18 and 20 who should not be allowed to buy guns.

In the aftermath of the Uvalda shooting, Congress passed a bill requiring the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, to conduct more thorough background checks on gun buyers under the age of 21.

Authorities are looking for anyone 16 years of age or older who received court-ordered mental health care or was institutionalized due to mental retardation or mental illness as part of a misdemeanor hearing.

But a report released by the Texas House of Representatives Legislative Committee in January showed that federal authorities are facing challenges in conducting background checks on people under the age of 21. It says:

“The problem is, Texas doesn’t have a central source of statewide mental health juvenile court decision information.”

This information is now held by 450 county and county clerks throughout Texas.

The new bill filed would require these clerks to submit appropriate mental health records to the Texas DPS.

To find out more, check out the story below.

Texas sued over abortion law

A controversial abortion law in Texas faces a new legal challenge.

Five women, including two from North Texas, filed a lawsuit against the state, saying the ban on most abortions put their lives at risk.

Women are represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

“Pregnancy in Texas is dangerous. Doctors and hospitals are denying even emergency medical care to patients,” said Nancy Northup, longtime president and CEO of the organization.

She said it was because doctors were worried that if they were prosecuted for an abortion, they could face jail time, fines and loss of their medical license.

A spokesman for the Texas Attorney General’s office told CBS News Texas that Ken Paxton sent instructions to suppliers after a new state law went into effect last year.

Watch the video below to find out more.

Deadly shooting at Dallas hospital could lead to changes in state law

Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia of Dallas introduced three bills aimed at preventing a repeat of last year’s fatal shooting at Dallas Methodist Medical Center.

In October, Nestor Hernandez, a paroled felon, received permission from the parole officer to visit the hospital. He is accused of shooting and killing two employees after allegedly beating his girlfriend in a hospital bed.

This week, Anchia announced bills that would require hospitals to be notified of visits to parolees and make it a crime if an ankle monitor is hacked or disabled.

Find out about Anchia by watching the video in the player below.

Gov. Abbott Seeks to Keep Texas Competitive

Last week in Austin, Texas received Site Selection Magazine’s Economic Development Award for the 11th year in a row.

But speaking to more than 400 people at a Dallas Regional Chamber dinner in Dallas this week, Gov. Greg Abbott said the state program that helped enable corporate relocations had expired and a new one was needed.

“There is no reason why we cannot replace it with an equally effective tool that is actually more strategically important for the future of our state,” he said.

Abbott called on business leaders to encourage lawmakers to act:

“You should set aside five minutes a day to call your state representative and state senator if you think economic development tools are needed. You have the right and the need to participate in this process.”

Find out more about what Abbott said in the story below.