Texas House Bill HB3534

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the payment of a judgment against the state in favor of Marilou Morrison.

Impact

HB3534 serves as a legislative measure to facilitate the payment of this judgment, ensuring compliance with court orders and the financial responsibilities of the state. The stipulations in the bill outline that payment can only be made after the judgment has been certified as final and approved by the attorney general, establishing a clear procedure for the state to follow in similar future cases. This process underlines the accountability of the state to honor legal judgments and prevents arbitrary expenditures from state funds.

Summary

House Bill 3534 focuses on the disbursement of funds owed to Marilou Morrison following a judgment against the state of Texas. The bill specifically allocates up to $900,000 from the General Revenue Fund to satisfy the court ruling in the case of Marilou Morrison v. Texas Commission on Human Rights. This ruling stems from a legal dispute involving the state agency and relates to issues of human rights enforcement.

Contention

While the details of the bill demonstrate a process-oriented approach to fulfilling state obligations, it is important to recognize potential concerns regarding the appropriations of state funds for legal judgments. Critics may argue that the bill does not address underlying issues related to the state's handling of human rights cases and the reasons why the state found itself in this situation. Additionally, there may be broader implications for future cases where similar judgments could create financial strain on state resources, leading to discussions about the adequacy of state laws in protecting individual rights.