Sen. Judith Zaffirini honored
for years of protective legislation

By Paul de la Peña-Franceschi

The Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT) recently named Sen. Judith Zaffirini as Legislator of the Year. The Senator was honored for her work on SB 45, a bill signed into law during the recent 78th Legislature, as well as for her history of work on similar legislation.
The recent SB 45 relates to the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a child passenger in the vehicle, and which provides a penalty. Before SB 45, under state law, a person who drove while intoxicated (DWI) and had a child in the car with them could be charged with child endangerment. However, since child endangerment is a state felony and most DWIs are misdemeanors, the less serious crime, DWI, will not be prosecuted. By creating a new offense of "DWI with a child" and making it a state jail felony, the same offense as child endangerment, the person's record will indicate both a DWI and a child endangerment offense. This law came into effect on September 1, 2003.
Zaffirini has worked on similar legislation since 1987, including SB 1001, relating to the designation of certain chemicals as volatile chemicals. This legislation led to SR 427, declaring April 19 through 25, 1987, as Inhalant Abuse Awareness Week.
SCR 130 directed the State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, to study the problem of substance abuse by public school students.
HB 1079 dealt with the adjudication and disposition of children who drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
In 1989, SB 302 authorithized the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to provide services to persons who abuse volatile chemicals.
The rehabilitation of those who are incarcerated came under SB 1674, relating to the regulation of facilities that treat chemically dependent persons, and also relating to civil and criminal penalties.
In 2001, building upon past legislation such as SB 1, relating to the creation of a statewide administrative license revocation program, HB 63 allowed for the suspension of a person's driver's license following the person's arrest for certain intoxication offenses.
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