State Representative-elect Dr. Stuart Spitzer, R-Kaufman, has filed his first piece of legislation.
According to an announcement released by Spitzer Thursday, “HB 384 is designed to provide general-law municipalities the ability to pass local ordinances to restrict sex offenders from child safety zones in the municipality.”
The bill, if passed, will allow cities with populations under 5,000 the power to set child safety zones, a power that already exists for Home Rule cities with populations over 5,000.
Spitzer said, “I talked to thousands of voters in my campaign and this is one of the many issues we encountered that must be fixed as soon as possible. I look at this as a local control issue and this puts the decision where it should be, in local government.”
Spitzer said the bill was filed at the request of a local mayor, although the press release does not identify which mayor.
The bill was filed in the last session by State Rep. J.M. Lazano, R-Kingsville, and State Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Terrell, but neither bill made it out of committee.