2019YCT.ORG
LEGISLATIVEAGENDA86THLEGISLATURE
Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) releases its legislative agenda each session with the hope that Texas legislators will support bills that promote effective, limited
government. Our priorities also shape our endorsement and legislative ratings process. They are designed to make clear to challengers and incumbents alike the foundational principles
that guide our organization.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
1 86th Legislature www.yct.org
CONTENTS
Subject Page
TopLegislativePriorities 2
HigherEducation 3
K-12Education 4
Life&Liberty 5
Fiscal 6
Healthcare 7
Immigration 8
Government&Ethics 9
Other 10
Citations/FurtherExplanation 11
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
2 86th Legislature www.yct.org
TOPLEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
86THLEGISLATUREBelowareYCT’s“TopLegislativePriorities,”whichcanalsobefoundthroughoutthisdocument.
FAVOR
● Eliminatingallsocalled“free-speechzones,”especiallythoseinplaceatpublicuniversities.[1] ● Repealingtuition“deregulation”ofpublicuniversities.[2] ● Eliminatingallsocalled“gun-freezones,”especiallythosestillinplaceatpublicuniversities.[3] ● TheimplementationofConstitutionalCarry.[4]● Encouragingcompetitioninourpublic-schoolsystemthroughuniversalschoolchoiceoreducation
savingsaccounts.● Endingallstategovernmentbenefitsgrantedtoindividualsinthiscountryillegally. ● Requiringzero-basedbudgetingforallgovernmentagencies. ● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringthatnogoverningentityraisesspendingmorethanthe
combinedgrowthofpopulationandrateofinflation. ● “TruthinBudgeting.”TheLegislatureshouldfullybalancethebiennialbudgetwithouttheuseof
deceptionand/oraccountingtricks.WesupporttheConservativeTexasBudgetasproposedbytheTexasPublicPolicyFoundation.[5]
● Barrierstomunicipalitiesandcountiesfromenactingoverbearingregulationsthatencroachuponpersonalliberties,productsaleanduse,employment,andpropertyrights.
● PaycheckProtectionActandanylegislationthatensurestaxpayermoneyisnotusedforpartisanpoliticsandfurtherempowersindividualemployeesasopposedtolocalgovernmentunions.[6]
OPPOSE
● Therestrictionofthetime,place,mannerofspeech,andassemblymorethanabsolutelynecessarytoprotectnormalacademicandinstitutionalactivities.
● Thecreationofanynewtaxesandfees. ● MedicaidExpansion,oranyattempttofurthersocializethedeliveryofhealthcareandmedicine. ● Usingrace,ethnicity,gender,sexualpreferences,orcitizenshipasafactorindeterminingeithercollege
acceptanceortheamountofstatescholarship/grantdollarsastudentreceives. ● Anyunnecessaryregulationsoncigarettes,includinge-cigarettes. ● Targetingindividualsandorganizationsforpoliticalpurposesthroughcampaignfinancelaw,or
expandingthereachoftheTexasEthicsCommission. ● Anytaxpayer-fundedabortionand/orcontraception,includinguniversitysubsidizedPlanB. ● Revenuecollectionthroughtheuseofpropertyandfranchisetaxes. ● ArbitraryDWIcheckpoints,blooddrawsbynon-medicalprofessionals,“norefusal”policies,andany
reductioninthemaximumbloodalcoholcontentrulesforDWIcrimes. ● Anyexpansionofregulatedgambling.[7]
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
3 86th Legislature www.yct.org
HIGHEREDUCATIONFAVOR
● Eliminatingallsocalled“freespeechzones,”especiallythosestillinplaceatpublicuniversities.[1] ● Therepealorerosionoftuition“deregulation.”[8] ● Eliminatingallsocalled“gun-freezones,”especiallythosestillinplaceatpublicuniversities.[9] ● Cappingtheamountcollegesanduniversitiescanraisetuition/feestothepreviousyear’srateplus
inflation. ● Stateinterventionregardingnewlyaddedcorerequirementsatpublicuniversities.[10] ● Anappropriationsriderrequiringanycutsinhighereducationfundingtobetakenfromresearchand
administrativeoverheadasopposedtocoreundergraduateteachingfunctions. ● RequiringthestateComptrollertoauditpubliccollegesanduniversities. ● Shiftingalargeamountofthestate’sappropriatedmoneyfromindividualuniversitiestotheTexas
GrantProgram.[11] ● Transparencyinmandatoryfeesimposeduponstudentsatpublicuniversities. ● EliminatingtheSunsetexemptionforHigherEducationandrequiringeachuniversitysystemto
undergoasunsetreview. ● Separatingtheteachingandresearchbudgetsofstatecollegesanduniversitiesinordertoincrease
efficiencyandtransparency.
OPPOSE
● In-statetuitionratesandallfinancialassistanceforillegalimmigrants. ● Universitieslobbyingwithtaxdollars,studentfees,ortuitiondollars. ● The“TopTenPercent”Ruleandanyotherautomaticadmissionpolicies. ● Stateorstudenttuition/feefundingforethnicandgenderstudiesprogramsandcenters. ● Usingrace,ethnicity,gender,orsexualpreferencesasafactorindeterminingeitheracceptance,orthe
amountofstatescholarship/grantdollarsastudentreceives.[12] ● Currentmandatesrequiringacertainportionofeverystudent’stuitionbeset-asideforfinancialaid. ● Awardingtenuresolelyonthebasisofseniorityand/orlongevity. ● Therestrictionofthetime,place,mannerofspeech,andassemblymorethanabsolutelynecessaryto
protectnormalacademicandinstitutionalactivities.[13] ● TuitionRevenueorCapitalConstructionbondpackages.[14] ● AnyattempttoweakenoreliminatetheTexasHigherEducationCoordinatingBoard.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
4 86th Legislature www.yct.org
K-12EDUCATIONFAVOR
● Eliminatingtheuseofpropertytaxesforpublicschoolmaintenanceandoperationfunding. ● Legislationrequiring75%ormoreofaschooldistrict’sbudget,excludingbussingcosts,goesdirectly
towardsclassroomteachersandstudentinstruction. ● Givingschooldistrictsmoreflexibilitytoreviewanddismissteachers. ● Allowingretiredworkersinrelevantfieldstogothroughastreamlinedcertificationprocesstoincrease
thenumberofcertifiedteachers. ● PromoteEnglish-immersionprogramsratherthanbilingualeducationprograms. ● Allowingparentstobeabletoaccessallschooldistrictrecordsconcerningtheirchild.[15]● Transparencyinsexual-educationclasses.● EliminatingtheTexasEducationAgencyandgivingtheirresponsibilitiestotheStateBoardof
Education. ● Encouragingcompetitioninourpublic-schoolsystemthroughuniversalschoolchoiceoreducation
savingsaccounts.[16] ● Restrictingthepowerofthegovernmenttointerferewiththeprivateschoolcurricula. ● Legislationallowingteacherstohavemorediscretioninthecreationandenforcementofclassroom
rules. OPPOSE
● Anyunnecessaryincreaseinfundingforeducation.[17] ● Expensiveandexcessivestandardizedtesting. ● Alllegislationthatwouldcriminalizechildishmisbehaviorinschool. ● The“minimumsalaryschedule”forteachers.Compensationshouldbeindividually-based,results-
oriented,andbasedoffofmerit. ● Theuniversalimplementationofanyfederalteachingstandards. ● Expansionandincreasedfundingforpre-kindergarteninpublicschools.[18] ● Limitingfoodchoicesinpublicschoolsfor“nutritional”purposes. ● Anyattempttosubvertpublicschoolcurriculumtoadvocateanideology,and/orerodefoundational
Americanconcepts. ● Measureslimitingtheparentalrightsordiscouragingparentsfromhomeschoolingtheirchildren.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
5 86th Legislature www.yct.org
ISSUESOFLIFEANDLIBERTYFAVOR
● Protectingthelivesofunbornchildren,thoughalllegislationthatdecreasesoreliminatesabortioninTexas.
● AnyexpansionofSecondAmendmentrights,includingthecompleteeliminationofsocalled“gun-free”zonesonpublicproperty,allowingforconstitutionalcarry,andlooseningtherestrictionsonalaw-abidingcitizen’sabilitytopurchasegunsandammunition.
● Anylegislationthatpreventsmunicipalitiesandcountiesfromenactingoverbearingregulationsthatencroachonpersonalliberties,productsaleanduse,employmentopportunities,andpropertyrights.
● LegislationexplicitlyallowingTransportationNetworkCompaniestooperatestatewideinTexas. ● Eliminating“BlueLaws”inTexas. ● Protectingprivatepropertyrightsbylimitingthegovernment’spowerofeminentdomain,protecting
againsteminentdomaincorruption,andabuse,andensuringthatpropertyownersreceivefullcompensationforthevalueoftheirproperty.
● Legislationthatprotectslaw-abidingcitizensfromhavingtheironlineprivacyviolatedbythegovernmentorprivateentities.
● Legislationallowingdirect-saleofautomobilestoTexans. ● ReformingTexas’sCriminalJusticeSystem,includingeliminatingfrivolous,victimlessfelonies.[19] ● Legislationensuringthatnoarreststakeplacefornon-jailableoffenses. ● TheRepealontheStatewideBanontextingwhiledriving.● Texas’sabilitytoutilizeCapitalPunishmentwhereappropriate.[20]
OPPOSE
● TargetingofindividualsandorganizationsforpoliticalpurposesthroughcampaignfinancelaworexpandingthereachoftheTexasEthicsCommission.
● Anyeffortstoinstituteastatewidesmokingban,aswellaslimitsone-cigaretteuse. ● Regulationsandfinesagainstprivateentitiesthatrefusetoprovideservicestheyobjecttoforreligious
orpersonalreasons. ● TheTexas“OpenContainer”law. ● Municipalitiesannexinglandwithouttheconsentoftheaffectedresidents. ● ArbitraryDWIcheckpoints,blooddrawsbynon-medicalprofessionals,and“norefusal”policiesaswell
asanyreductioninthemaximumbloodalcoholcontentrulesforDWI. ● Raisingthelegalagetopurchasecigarettesandtobaccoabovethatofeighteenyearsofage. ● Anytaxpayer-fundedabortionand/orcontraception. ● CivilAssetForfeiturewithoutcharginganindividualwithacrime.[21]
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
6 86th Legislature www.yct.org
FISCALACCOUNTABILITYFAVOR
● “TruthinBudgeting.”TheLegislatureshouldfullybalancethebiennialbudgetwithouttheuseofdeceptionand/oraccountingtricks.WesupporttheConservativeTexasBudgetproposedbytheTexasPublicPolicyFoundation.[4]
● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringazero-basedbudgetandanylegislationrequiringagenciestoalsousethezero-basedbudgetingmethod.
● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringthatnogoverningentityraisesspendingmorethanthecombinedgrowthofpopulationandrateofinflation.
● Aconstitutionalamendmentrequiringtwo-thirdsapprovalofbothchambersoftheLegislatureforanynewtaxorfeeincrease.
● Abolishingthefranchisetaxandreformingthepropertytax. ● DefundingtheTexasEnterpriseFundandpre-emptingmunicipalitiesfromofferingtaxabatementsand
cashawardstocompaniesforrelocatingtoTexas.
OPPOSE
● Thecreationofanynewtaxesorfees. ● Divertingdedicatedfundsfromtheirspecifiedpurposes. ● Excessivelicensureof,andregulationofentryinto,alreadyregulatedprofessions. ● Fundingofanygovernmentprogramdesignedtoawardcorporatewelfareorengageincronyismby
choosingwinnersandlosersinthefreemarket. ● Anyregulationsthatunnecessarilyburdenbusinessand/orreduceincentivesforexpansion. ● Socalled“green”energytaxbreaks,includingcarbonemissiontaxes,electriccarsubsidiesandwind
energysubsidies.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
7 86th Legislature www.yct.org
HEALTHCAREFAVOR
● Theexpansionofscopeofpracticeforallmedicalprofessionalstothefullestextentoftheirtraining.Specifically,expandedscopeofpracticeforOptometrists,AdvancedPracticeRegisteredNurses(APRNs),andPodiatrists.
● Interstatecompactstoallowformorechoiceininsuranceproviders. ● Anylegislationthatencouragestransparencyinhealthcarecosts. ● Comprehensiveentitlementreformtodecreaseindividualdependenceongovernment. ● Protectingprivatereligiousinstitutions,entities,andbusinessesfromhealthcaremandateswhichforce
aviolationofsincerelyheldreligiousprinciples.
OPPOSE
● MedicaidExpansion,oranyattempttofurthersocializethedeliveryofhealthcareandmedicine. ● Increasingtaxesorfeestofundpublichealthcareprograms. ● Excessiveregulationsthatlimitpatientaccesstoquality,affordablehealthcare. ● ThecurrentconvolutedprescriptiveauthoritymodelforTexas’AdvancedPracticeRegisteredNurses.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
8 86th Legislature www.yct.org
IMMIGRATIONFAVOR
● Requiringallemployerstousethe“E-Verify”systemduringthehiringprocess. ● RequiringdocumentationoflegalstatusintheU.S.toreceiveadriver’slicenseandfurtherrequirethat
alllicensesissuedtonon-citizensexpirewhentheindividual’slegalstatusintheU.S.terminates,andforthatexpirationdateandresidencystatustobeclearlynotedontheirlicenses.
● RequiringproofofU.S.citizenshipwhenregisteringtovote.● Allowingofficersofthelawtoinquireaboutlegalstatusduringalawfulstop,detention,orarrest. ● MakingEnglishtheofficiallanguageoftheStateofTexas. ● Improvingbordersecuritythroughstrategicallyincreasingtheamountofborderpatrolagents,
constructingfencesandbarrierswherelawfullyaccessible,andinvestinginnewtechnologies.
OPPOSE
● Anyefforttoenactamnestyforthosehereillegally,regardlessofage. ● Illegalimmigrantsreceivingstateentitlements,healthcare,oreducation. ● Anyspecialconsiderationsforthechildrenofillegalimmigrants. ● Anytemporaryreleasefromcustodyofarrestedillegalimmigrantsbeforetheconclusionoftheirtrials.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
9 86th Legislature www.yct.org
GOVERNMENTANDETHICSFAVOR
● Publicandtransparentlegislativecommitteevotingrecords.[22]● PaycheckProtectionActandanylegislationthatensurestaxpayermoneyisnotusedforpartisan
politicsandfurtherempowersindividualemployeesasopposedtolocalgovernmentunions.[6]● Electronicrecordvotinginmachinereadableformat.● Requiringstrictandtransparentdisclosuresofcampaignexpendituresandendingthepracticeof
conglomerationofexpensesthroughconsultingfirms.[23]● ChangingthenameoftheTexasEthicsCommissiontothatoftheTexasComplianceCommission
andgivingsole-appointmentauthoritytotheGovernorofTexas.● MovingschoolboardandlocalelectionstotheunifiedNovemberelectiondate.● Makingtheprocessfortaxpayerrollbackelectionseasierandmoretaxpayer-friendly.
OPPOSE
● Anyefforttoallowcollectivebargainingbypublicemployees,oranymeasuretoerodethestate’s“RighttoWork”laws.
● Allowinganyindividualstocastaballotforelectiononline.● AllowingforElectionDayvoterregistrationordecreasingthe30-daydeadlinebeforeElectionDay
tobeappropriatelyregistered.● Anyefforttotakeredistrictingoutofthehandsofademocratically-electedlegislativebody.● Alleffortstocapcampaigncontributionsorspending.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
10 86th Legislature www.yct.org
OTHERFAVOR
● Alleffortstonullifyanyunconstitutionalfederallaw. ● Aconstitutionalamendmentallowingfortherepealofanyfederallaworregulationuponavoteoftwo-
thirdsofallstatelegislators. ● Exemptingintrastate-producedfirearmsfromfederalfirearmslawsandtheauthorityofBureauof
Alcohol,Tobacco,FirearmsandExplosives(BATFE). ● Banningracial,ethnic,gender,orcitizenshipstatuspreferencesfrombeingusedinhiring,promotion,
andcontractingdecisionsbystateagencies,counties,citiesandotherpoliticalsubdivisionsofthestateofTexas.
● EliminatingorprivatizingtheTexasStateLottery. ● Eliminatingthevehicleinspectiontax.
OPPOSE
● Anymeasurerelatedtojudicialselectionorappointmentasapreferredmethodtodirectelections. ● “HateCrimes”lawsandlawsthataffordprotectedclassstatustoparticularsegmentsofsociety. ● AnyefforttoexpandregulatedgamblinginTexas.[6] ● Useofcamerasoranyotherphoto/videorecordingequipmenttoenforceredlightorothertrafficlaws. ● Anyefforttorestricttheabilityoflaw-abidingcitizenstofilmpoliceofficerswhileincommissionof
theirduties.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
11 86th Legislature www.yct.org
CITATIONSANDFURTHEREXPLANATION
1. SenateBill1151(85R)2. HouseBill3015(78R).3. SenateBill11(84R).4. HouseBill357(86R)5. ConservativeTexasBudget.YCTisacoalitionmember.The2020-21 Conservative Texas Budget limits growth of all Texas state government
spending to the rate of population growth plus inflation for the last two fiscal years. $156.5B State Funds, $234.1B All Funds, and 8% Increase.6. PaycheckProtectionAct.OvertwomillionTexansvotedinfavorofnon-bindingballotProposition3in2016RepublicanPrimaryElection
leadingtoitsroughly83%to17%passage.7. YCTbelievesthattheissueoftheexpansionofgamblinghaslittletodowithlibertyandeverythingtodowithincreasingthesizeand
scopeofgovernment.Assuch,YCTopposestheregulatedpracticeofgamblinginthestateofTexas.Regulatedgamblingwouldcreatelarge,expensivebureaucraticagenciesthatwouldgrowgovernmentexponentiallyandcostthestatebillionsofdollars.
8. Thetuitionderegulationexperimenthasfailed.Sincethelegislatureplacedthepowertoraisetuitioninthehandsofunelectedbureaucratsin2003,tuitionhasrisenrapidlystatewide.Thelegislatureshouldactimmediatelytolimittuitionincreases.
9. ThepassageofSenateBill11inthe84thlegislativesessionthoughastepintherightdirectionstillleavesexceptionstoareasinwhichlaw-abidingcitizenswhoobtainaLicensetoCarryarerelegatedtonotcarryoncollegecampuses.Evenworse,isthenowcontrastinrulesastheyvaryfromcampustocampus.YCTsupportslegislationthatworkstocorrect‘watered-down’campuscarry.
10. Publicuniversitiesareslowlyincreasingtherequirementsforgraduationbymakingitmandatoryforstudentstotakeclassesthataremeanttoindoctrinatestudentswithleftistpropaganda.
11. TowardExcellence,AccessandSuccessGrantProgram(TEXASGrant).Allowingstatefundstofollowstudentswillincreasecompetitioninhighereducation,thusincreasingtheeffectivenessofuniversitiesinTexas.
12. Bycreatingquotasorgivingpreferentialtreatmenttospecificsegmentsofsociety,themostempiricallydeservingareoftendeprivedofopportunitiesthathaveotherwisebeenearnedthroughtheirownhardwork.YCThaslongopposedaffirmativeactionincollegeadmissionsandwouldratherseeasysteminplacewhereasequentialnumberwasusedthroughtheentiretyoftheprocesssotoensurethatnoidentifyinginformationitselfwasusedtodecideadmissions.
13. i.e.“freespeechareas”oncampus.14. HouseBill100(84R).15. SenateBill242(85R)16. Educationshouldbeaboutthestudents,notthesystem,andweshouldallowforallparentstoutilizetheirchild’sshareofstate-
appropriatedfundsforpublicschoolenrollment,privateschooltuitionandtransportationcosts,orforthepurposeofhomeschooling.17. Theproblemswithpubliceducationarestructural,notfiscal.Educationcanbeimprovedthroughmarketreforms,notincreased
spending.Thebulkofeducationspendingneedstobemovedfromadministrativebureaucracytotheclassroom.18. HouseBill4(84R).19. TPPF’sMarcLevinnotesthat:“TheConstitutionlistsonlythreefederalcrimes,butthenumberofstatutoryfederalcrimeshasnow
swelledtoaround4,500.Thisistosaynothingofthethousandsofbizarrestate-levelcrimes,suchasthe11feloniesinTexasrelatedtotheharvestingofoysters.Theexplosionofnon-traditionalcriminallawsgrowsgovernmentandundermineseconomicfreedom.Criminallawshouldbereservedforconductthatisblameworthyorthreatenspublicsafety,notwieldedtoregulatenon-fraudulenteconomicactivityinvolvinglegalproducts.”Seehttp://www.rightoncrime.com/the-conservative-case-for-reform/
20. RobertBorkinGreggV.GeorgiaintheSummaryofArgumentstates“Thedeathpenaltyistraditionalsanctionforthoseoffensessocietyconsidersthemostdangerous.Whetherthatpenaltyisnecessary,orevenappropriateinaparticularcaseisajudgementproperlylefttotherepresentativesofthepeopleandtothejudgesandjurieswhomustdecidewhethertoimposesociety’sultimatesanction.Wesubmitthatitisinappropriateforthiscourttosubstituteitsjudgementabovetheproprietyofthedeathpenaltyforthatofthelegislaturesbothmoreproperlychargedwiththedutyofmakingthatjudgementandmoreadvantageouslysituatedtocollectandassesstherelevantinformation.”(ATimetoSpeak,page7)
21. Currentlawenableslawenforcementtoseizepersonalpropertywithoutcharginganindividualwithacrimeundercivillaw.Individualscanchallengetheforfeitureinacivilsuitbutpayforthisproceedingfromtheirownpocketsasstateappointedattorneysarenotprovidedunlessforcriminaldefensecases.TheInstituteforJusticeestimatesthatlawenforcementagencieswithinthestateofTexasaverageover$41Minforfeitureseveryyearwhichpotentiallyencourages‘policingforprofit’asopposedtopublicserviceandsafety.
22. HouseBill4,Amendment11(85R)23. Currently,candidatesoftenmakelump-sumpaymentstotheirgeneralconsultantsandallowtheconsultantstomakepurchasing
decisionswithoutrevealingindividualcontractorsandvendors.Thisprocessconcealsnecessaryinformationaboutcandidatesandtheircampaignactivitiesandsubvertsthetransparentdesignofthereportingsystem.
LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES
12 86th Legislature www.yct.org
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