Austin –State Representative Dianne White Delisi announced that two of her legislative proposals to help our U. S. Armed Forces and the military families that serve within it have taken some big steps forward. Delisi also announced the filing of legislation (HB 2931) that will make it possible for the City of Temple to undertake a much-needed military expansion project.

"I have a trio of major military items that I am working on this session," Delisi stated. "It will be a real triple-play for Central Texas to get all three done."

The first piece of military legislation news is that Delisi's HB 548 was voted out of the Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations committee late last week. This bill gives Texas' military communities more tools to help preserve and possibly expand their local bases through the upcoming round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The legislation restores the ability of local communities to use 4A/4B economic development funds by undoing a restriction inadvertently adopted in the 78th Session (2003). The bill also enhances the use of 4A/4B for military communities by allowing these local-option sales taxes to be used to attract new missions to an existing base or assist in converting a closed base.

Next up for Delisi's military agenda were proposals to make life easier for the children of military families. Delisi was able to add two important military families amendments to HB 2, the Omnibus Public Education Bill, which left the House late last week.

One amendment reduced to 10 days (down from 30) the number of days a school district had to transfer student records to a new school once a request was received. The second amendment provided for the option of an alternate exit exam for students who either moved into their new school after January 1 of their final year or who had been out Texas Public Schools for more than four years. These mobile students will now have the option of taking a nationally-recognized test to determine their level of education.

"These two items will clearly benefit our military children," Delisi said. "However, all mobile students, from those in foster care to migrant workers, will be better off under these reforms. I am pleased that both were integrated into HB 2."

Delisi was also pleased to file HB 2931, a bill that will enable the City of Temple to move forward with its plans to build a helicopter maintenance facility and lease it to the U.S. Government. The project will help support the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command operation at the local airport and should generate almost $100 million in annual economic activity for Temple.

"This project is ready to go, but it needs a slight change in statute to go forward, " Delisi explained. "I am proud to carry it and look forward to getting it done."