On top of Austin voters banning “Urban Camping” (i.e., garbage strewn tent cities of transient drug addicts), the State of Texas has also banned it:
In a rebuke over a year in the making, the Texas House of Representatives gave initial approval to a statewide ban on homeless camping — aimed tacitly, if not directly, at the City of Austin’s near-two-year experiment in public camping.
House Bill (HB) 1925 by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) passed on second reading by a vote of 85 to 56 on Wednesday. Eight Democratic members voted with Republicans in support of the bill. They were Reps. Rafael Anchía (D-Dallas), Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City), Abel Herrero (D-Robstown), Tracy King (D-Uvalde), Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville), Terry Meza (D-Irving), Richard Peña Raymond (D-Laredo), and John Turner (D-Dallas).
Interesting that such a significant number of Hispanic Democrats back the ban.
“I want to be clear,” Capriglione said while laying out his bill, “this bill does not criminalize homelessness.”
Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin) stated in opposition, “I hate the homeless problem in Austin, but this bill does nothing to solve the root problem.”
The legislation revokes grant funding for any city that violates its provision and tasks the attorney general with seeking injunctive relief against an offending city.
Opponents objected — echoing the city council’s original justification for rescinding the ban in the first place — saying the policy would burden homeless individuals with fines they cannot pay.
An amendment clarifying that recreational camping in public parks and beach access plan campsites are exempt was tacked onto the bill.
However, some of the bill’s opposition was successful with tacking on amendments. One successful amendment was a requirement that officers notify the homeless individual about alternative housing, “if reasonable and appropriate” contact a government official or non-profit organization representative, and provide information on human trafficking.
Others included allowing a homeless individual arrested to secure their personal property and a specific carve-out for camping on the property of a homeless shelter.
Snip.
HB 1925 must pass another House vote before moving to the other chamber. The bill was on the floor last week, but was recommitted to committee after a valid point of order was called.
The equivalent Senate Bill, SB987, still hasn’t passed committee.
No other Texas city has been as pigheadedly stupid as Austin in encouraging vast camps of drug-addicted transients, but with a statewide ban, hopefully no other Texas city will ever have to go through what Austin has the last two years.