** REVISION **
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

COMMITTEE:    Mass Violence Prevention & Community Safety, Select
             Duty (4)  

TIME & DATE:  N/A
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 

PLACE:       N/A 
CHAIR:       Rep. Drew Darby 

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and challenges in scheduling public hearings at this time, the House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety is conducting necessary oversight functions through an information gathering process under Section 301.014, Government Code. This is notice that the Select Committee is seeking information and input from the public. Submissions received in response to this request will be transmitted to members of the Select Committee and posted on the House website: https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/?committee=C385 

·                The Select Committee seeks specific information from the Designated Parties listed below. Any questions from Select Committee members will be submitted to these Parties today, August 4, 2020, with responses due via email by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2020. Questions submitted to Designated Parties by Select Committee members are posted under the "Responses" heading on the Select Committee's "Formal Request for Information" page on the House website: https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/requests-for-information/?committeeCode=C385

·                The Select Committee also seeks submissions from the public, which are due via email by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020.

Submission Guidelines:

·                Submissions must be in Microsoft Word.

·                Submissions are requested to be limited to six (6) pages in length. This limit includes any graphs, photos, spreadsheets, or charts, etc.

·                Submissions must be submitted via email to laramie.stroud_hc@house.texas.gov, and are requested to include "Duty # 4 Submission" in the subject line of the email.

·                Please include the following information in the body of the submission email: submitter name (first and last name), organization or entity (if applicable and an authorized representative), mailing address, email address, and telephone number.

·                Comments received in response to this Formal Request for Information will be publicly posted on the Texas Legislature Online (TLO), Texas Legislative Information System (TLIS), and the House website.

·                When submitting comments, please remove any personal identifying information from the Word document, such as your personal phone number, residence address, or email address (only your name and authorized organization or entity, if applicable, should be at the header of the Word document).

Submission Deadlines:

·                Designated Party: The deadline for receipt of Designated Party comments via email is 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 14, 2020. Submissions received by Designated Parties will be posted under the "Responses" heading on the Select Committee's "Formal Request for Information" page on the House website by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17, 2020.

·                Public: The deadline for receipt of public comments via email is 5:00 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2020. Submissions received by the public will be posted under the "Responses" heading on the Select Committee's "Formal Request for Information" page on the House website by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2020.

Duty:

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

Duty (4) Designated Parties:

·                Dr. Ronald E. Acierno, Vice Chair for Veterans Affairs, Executive Director, UTHealth Trauma and Resilience Center

·                Mark Barden, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Sandy Hook Promise

·                Andy Bennett, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, Texas Department of Information Resources

·                Stephen Glazier, Chief Operating Officer, Harris County Psychiatric Center, UTHealth Houston

·                Greg Hansch, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas

·                Colleen Horton, Director of Policy, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health

·                Kevin Lawrence, Executive Director, Texas Municipal Police Association

·                Jennifer Szimanski, Public Affairs Coordinator, Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)

·                Dr. Jeff Temple, Director, Center for Violence Prevention, UTMB Health

In the event it becomes feasible to safely conduct a public hearing, the Select Committee reserves the right to hold an in-person hearing.

If you need assistance with submissions or have any questions, please contact the Select Committee at (512) 463-0331 or via email at laramie.stroud­_hc@house.texas.gov.