Military Custody Legislation Advances in Texas Senate

The Senate Committee on Jurisprudence has unanimously approved SB 279 by Senator Nelson, protecting the rights of military personnel deployed overseas. SB 279 amends the Family Code to prohibit a parent's military service from being used as the sole factor in modifying a custody order. Current law states that if a parent relinquishes custody for more than 6 months, courts can consider it abandonment and modify custody. There are more than 140,000 single parents in the military at risk of having their custody rights altered while they are deployed overseas. Testifying in support of SB 279 were the American Legion and advocates for military parents who have returned from duty to find their custody rights have been abridged. "When our service men and women deploy, they are not abandoning their children. They are serving our country. That service should be honored -- not used against them in family court," Senator Nelson said.

Senator Nelson Helps Raise Awareness About Domestic Abuse in Texas

Senator Nelson, who has filed three bills this session to curb family violence in Texas, spoke at the "Purple Postcard Day" press conference sponsored by the Texas Council on Family Violence. "This remains an underreported and underestimated problem in Texas," Senator Nelson said, noting that more than 186,000 incidents of domestic violence occur every year in our state. Also speaking was Courtney Sanchez of Austin, sharing her story as a survivor, and David Russell, a Verizon executive who discussed the company's efforts to prevent workplace violence and the importance of men speaking about this issue

Texas Parent Teacher Association Celebrates 100th Birthday

PTA members from across Texas rallied on the steps of the Texas Capitol this week in celebration of the organization's 100th anniversary. Senator Nelson, a former sixth-grade teacher and lifetime member of the PTA, addressed the delegation. "Thank you for the excellent work you are doing on behalf of our school children!" she said.

Tarrant County Delegation Converges on State Capitol

Business and civic leaders from Tarrant County converged on the State Capitol last week for Tarrant County Days. The delegation met with legislators about priority issues that affect Tarrant County, especially transportation. "This was the largest Tarrant County delegation I can remember visiting the Capitol, and that is because this is a critical session for our community," Senator Nelson said.

Senator Nelson Recognizes CASA Volunteers at Capitol

Dozens of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) converged on the State Capitol this week to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. Senator Nelson sponsored SR 208 recognizing the work of this organization, which helps neglected and abused children through the legal process. "The legal system can be a scary place for young children, which is why more than 5,000 CASA volunteers throughout Texas are so committed to being there every step of the way," Senator Nelson said.

Discussions Under Way on Federal Stimulus

The federal government's massive stimulus package includes $16.9 billion available to the State of Texas. Now the Legislature must consider if and how much of these funds it will accept. "We are in the process of reviewing the stimulus and determining what kind of strings are attached to these funds. Philosophically, I do not think Texas should help the federal government go deeper into debt. Nor do I want these dollars -- which come from the pockets of Texas taxpayers -- going to states that have run up enormous deficits," Senator Nelson said.

Bill Spotlight: SB 279 by Senator Nelson Protecting Military Parental Rights

Among the bills filed by Senator Nelson this session is a proposal to preserve the custody rights of military parents who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. SB 279 states that the courts may not consider absences associated with military service overseas as grounds for awarding custody. "There are many factors that go into awarding custody, but never should honorable military service be grounds to deny a parent access to their children," she said. "Unfortunately, some of our military are returning home to broken families. We want to make sure their service is honored -- not used against them in court.