BILL ANALYSIS S.C.R. 15 By: Moncrief et al (S. Thompson) 04-19-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND A national toll-free hotline was set up for battered women in 1988 and was receiving 10,000 calls per month. In 1992 it was terminated because of lack of funds. In 1994, Congress authorized funds to be used for grants to re-establish the toll-free hotlines for victims of domestic violence. The Texas Council on Family Violence, under contract with the Dept. of Human Services to manage domestic violence programs in Texas, has been preparing grant requests to obtain both private and public funds to establish such a hotline. More than $200,000 in private donations has already been raised to help reestablish the hotline. PURPOSE S.C.R. 15 recognizes the work of the Texas Council on Family Violence and resolves to set up the toll-free hotline for victims of domestic violence. S.C.R. 15 also petitions the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to award to the Texas Council on Family Violence funds from the National Domestic Violence Hotline Grant. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that S.C.R. 15 does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION On April 3, 1995, the Human Services Committee convened in a public hearing and the Chairman laid out S.C.R. 15 and asked Rep. Thompson to explain the bill. The following witness testified for S.C.R. 15: Cyndy Perkins, Texas Council on Family Violence. No one testified against or neutral on S.C.R. 15 and the bill was left pending. In a formal meeting on April 19, 1995, the committee took up S.C.R. 15 which had been pending. Rep. Jones moved to adopt the resolution without amendment; Rep. Davila seconded the motion. The motion prevailed by a record vote of 9 Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 PNV and 0 Absent.