The House Committee on Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety, Select

86th Legislature

January 9, 2020

9:00 a.m. (MST)

El Paso, Texas (see details below)

 

Pursuant to a notice posted on December 19, 2019, the House Committee on Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety, Select met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Darby, at 9:07 a.m.

 

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Darby; Blanco; Capriglione; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Johnson, Julie; Landgraf; Lang; Moody; Morrison; Price; and Walle.

 

A quorum was present.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The committee met at The University of Texas at El Paso, Natural Gas Conference Center, located at 2051 Wiggins Way, El Paso, Texas 79902.

 

Representative Fierro, Representative Mary Gonzalez, Representative Ortega, and Senator Rodriguez were also in attendance.

 

The chair made opening remarks.

 

The chair recognized The University of Texas at El Paso President, Dr. Heather Wilson for opening remarks.

 

The chair recognized Representative Blanco for opening remarks.

 

The chair recognized Representative Moody for opening remarks.

 

The committee heard invited and public testimony from individuals and families directly impacted by the mass violence that occurred in El Paso on August 3, 2019.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The committee heard invited testimony on the following duty:

 

(5) evaluate current protocols and extreme risk indicators used to identify potential threats and consider options for improving the dissemination of information between federal, state, and local entities and timely and appropriate intervention of mental health professionals.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative Morrison in chair.)

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative Darby in chair.)

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The committee heard public testimony on the following duties:

 

(1) examine options for strengthening enforcement measures for current laws that prevent the transfer of firearms to felons and other persons prohibited by current law from possessing firearms;

 

(2) examine impediments and challenges to the timely reporting of relevant criminal history information and other threat indicators to state and federal databases;

 

(3) examine the role of digital media and technology in threat detection, assessment, reporting, and prevention, including the collaboration between digital media and law enforcement;

 

(4) evaluate the ongoing and long-term workforce needs of the state related to cybersecurity, mental health, law enforcement, and related professionals; and

  

(5) evaluate current protocols and extreme risk indicators used to identify potential threats and consider options for improving the dissemination of information between federal, state, and local entities and timely and appropriate intervention of mental health professionals.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

At 4:17 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

 

 

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Rep. Darby, Chair

 

 

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Laramie Stroud, Clerk