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Hello student advocates,
We hope you've all enjoyed your Spring Break and aren't too bummed about heading back to classes next week.
Because we've got work to do on ending sexual assault here in Texas!
There are two committee hearings next week on MONDAY and THURSDAY that could use real, human stories to back them up. That means we need our trained and capable student advocates (aka: YOU) to join us, if you can!
House Bill 281: Rape Kit Tracking
- Who? The Criminal Jurisprudence Committee is holding a hearing on Representative Neave's bill.
- What? HB 281 would establish a state-wide electronic tracking system for sexual assault evidence kits. The tracking system would allow victims to receive a confidential log-in that they could use to track the status of their evidence kits throughout the process. Current law requires that victims be able to receive notifications of changes in status of their kit. This bill seeks to streamline that process and increase transparency between law enforcement agencies and victims.
- When? 2:00pm on Monday, 3/20.
- Where? Texas State Capitol, room E2.014.
- Why? Because Representative Howard needs your support!
- How? By sharing your story. Your voices are the ones that matter in convincing the committee that this bill is worthwhile, so we hope you'll bravely share that 3-minute testimony as you did with us last week.
SB 970: Affirmative Consent*
SB 969: Amnesty
SB 968: Electronic Reporting
- Who? The State Affairs Committee is holding a hearing on Senator Watson's bills.
- What? Brush up on each bill's objectives in this handout provided by Senator Watson's office. *Extra Support needed for SB 970 which they feel will be hardest for the committee to understand!
- When? Thursday, 3/23 - time: TBD.
- Where? Texas State Capitol, room TBD.
- Why? Because Senator Watson needs your support!
- How? There are 3 ways to help:
- Provide oral testimony which is usually limited to 3 minutes, but varies. (You will need to fill out a witness affirmation card registering your position on the bill then provide oral testimony.)
- Provide written testimony (You will need to fill out a witness affirmation card registering your position on the bill and provide 20 copies of your written testimony with your name on it and give it to the committee clerk at the hearing); OR
- Solely fill out a witness affirmation card registering your position on a bill. If you would like to support all 3 bills, you must fill out 3 different cards.
We need all hands on deck to register their support and testify, and we'll be there to help support you! Wendy Davis herself will be testifying on Monday.
Email alicia@deedsnotwords.com if you want to put those new skills into action and plan to attend. We hope to see you all there!
In solidarity,
Alicia, Wendy and the Deeds Not Words team
P.S. Interested in plugging into other social change initiatives? Be sure to subscribe to our once-weekly newsletter!
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