We are very pleased to report that during his first session, with your help and with the help of the entire Valley legislative delegation, Rep. Muñoz was able to pass several significant pieces of legislation that bore his name. Among them were:
► A budget amendment found in HB 1 that restored $630,000 for the bachelor’s degree program at South Texas College; STC is an important part of McAllen’s economic engine, providing a ready workforce and jobs for the entire region… Rep. Muñoz is always ready to fight for STC;
In fact… We have just received preliminary approval for STC’s third BAT program degree; this one will be in Medical and Health Services Management and will increase the earning potential of its graduates, leading to better way of life and a more productive community.
► He was very proud to sponsor SB 975 for Senator Hinojosa in the Texas House… This bill creates partnerships for Dropout Recovery Programs between Community Colleges and high schools. It is modeled after the extraordinarily successful program run by Dr. Danny King of PSJA, and establishes the nationally-recognized program first here in Hidalgo County, then will be implemented statewide in the Fall of 2013. The programs will save state and local governments millions of dollars as would-be dropouts will now join the educated workforce and in many cases will join their friends and classmates in college;
► Rep. Muñoz also co-authored a bill, HB 3746 by Rep. Frullo, that will generate more funding for law enforcement programs that investigate sexual predators who use the Internet to prey on young people and children;
► SB 773 provides an extension of the telecommunications discount that will save a combined $100 million for public schools and colleges, nonprofit hospitals, and public libraries throughout Texas so they can afford to provide high-speed Internet services for their students, medical professionals, patients, and patrons. Without SB 773, the discount would have expired at the end of this August; Rep. Muñoz was a key sponsor in the House and had filed the a very similar original version of the bill in the House, HB 2442;
► He also co-sponsored SB 24, a new law that will increase criminal penalties against human traffickers, especially those who exploit and endanger women;
► To Honor our South Texas Vietnam veterans for their bravery and sacrifice, Rep. Muñoz & Senator Hinojosa passed HCR 56… This Concurrent Resolution welcomes home our veterans and honors their service that kept communism and tyranny in check for decades… The efforts culminated in the event held at the McAllen Convention Center in April.
► On behalf of Hidalgo County, Rep. Muñoz passed HB 1768, a bill which would have allowed larger, urbanizing counties, including Hidalgo County, to regulate many rural roadside vendors as the largest Texas Counties do already. These vendors create traffic and other health and safety issues, encroach into rights-of-way, and avoid paying sales taxes, allowing them to unfairly compete against established, legitimate businesses who do play by the rules.
HB 1768 was vetted through the entire Legislative process and we feel that the bill would have improved the public safety in certain unincorporated areas of larger counties… Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed this piece of legislation.
► Another measure vetoed by the Governor which Rep. Muñoz co-authored, was HB 397 by Rep. Gonzáles – This was a good piece of legislation that would have created the Bureau for Economic Development of the Border Region. The goals of this border economic development bill are tremendous – House Bill 397 would have armed us with the ability to produce much-needed research to foster meaningful economic development for McAllen and the rest of Texas which borders Mexico.