Call for special legislative committees to find solutions to 'protect all Texans'
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent a joint letter on June 1 requesting that legislative leaders in the state convene special legislative committees following last week's deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
#NEW @GovAbbott sends letter to Lt. Governor @DanPatrick & Speaker @DadePhelan to convene special legislative committees to develop recommendations on school safety, mental health, social media, police training & firearm safety in response to the deadly Uvalde shootings. @CBSDFW pic.twitter.com/7sGNZyfbGx
— Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) June 1, 2022
Abbott said the special legislative committees, "... should be charged with examining and developing legislative recommendations on school safety, mental health, social media, police training, firearm safety, and more." He also said the state "must reassess the twin issues of school safety and mass violence."
It was just last week when the Governor focused his attention on mental health care and school security and not on gun restrictions as a response to the school massacre that left 19 students and two adults at Robb Elementary School dead.
In the letter to legislators Abbott said, "As leaders, we must come together at this time to provide solutions to protect all Texans. Accordingly, I hereby request that each of you convene a special legislative committee."
The special legislative committees are different from a special legislative session which some lawmakers, including State Sen. Roland Gutierre of Uvalde, have called for and would allow new legislation, that could create new laws, to pass quickly.
The next Texas legislative session is scheduled for January 2023.