1 Texas Silver-Haired LegislatureMaking A Difference for 32 Years

2 What is TSHL? Established in 1985 by the 69th Texas Legislature Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 A volunteer, non-partisan organization Operating without public funds Uninterrupted for 30 years In early 1980s, John Diaz, Regional Administrator AOA convened the 5 state directors of state units on aging for quarterly meeting: Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas – discussion SHL. Missouri made presentation. 2.

3 TSHL Vision Statement The applied wisdom, energy andexperience of aging will improve the lives of all Texans through education, knowledge and involvement in legislative and governmental affairs.

4 TSHL Goals PROMOTE GOOD GOVERNMENT: Motivate, engage and educate older Texans in the legislative process ENCOURAGE VOICE: Inform and educate older Texans to become viable political voices and forces PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY: Offer the avenue for older Texans to serve as a resource to public and private sectors on aging issues and concerns MODEL LEGISLATIVE FORUM: Develop a non-partisan forum for discussion, debate and prioritization of issues facing aging Texans DEVELOP ADVOCATES: Educate and train the Texas Silver-Haired Legislators to advocate for passage of resolutions on aging issues to the Texas Legislature

5 Who are TSHL Members? Representing older Texans from the 28 Texas Area Agencies on Aging. Elected by registered older constituents ; vacancies appointed by Area Election Steering Committee. Committed to Serving 2-year term, self-financed. 123 Volunteer Texans ages 60 and older.

6 Profile of TSHL Members?Registered voters in their district. Ages ranging from 60 to 90 + years. Coming from occupations in insurance, education, business, law, government, military, retail, social work, accounting, finance, agriculture, medicine and health care. Volunteering more than 15,000 hours per year cumulatively in service to older Texans.

7 Over the course of 30 yearsA total of 684 older Texans have served as Texas Silver-Haired Legislators and have identified 789 issues concerning older adults in Texas.

8 The voice of aging in TexasInvolved and committed to community organizations Speaking at public events Conducting town hall meetings Listening to individual stories

9 Productive PerformanceThe work of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature has resulted in passage of laws contributing to the improved quality of life for older Texans. Significant laws include:

10 Legislative Committee on AgingGovernor Perry signs HB 610, 81st Session creating the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging

11 Significant Laws relating to TSHL ResolutionsEstablish the Legislative Committee on Aging. Freeze city, county and junior college districts taxes for homesteads of elderly and disabled. No eminent domain used by other private owner. Include senior and disabled homeowners in property tax reduction for public school taxes. Legislative Committee on Aging TSHL #1 priority 2008– HB 610, 81st Session, Rep Naishtat and Rep Susan King; Senate Leticia Van De Putte. Members include: Sen Eddie Lucio, Sen Joan Huffman, Rep Naishtat, Rep Susan King, Homer Lear and Betty Streckfuss. Next meeting – August 4 – Topic: transportation Tax Freeze. TSHL #1 priority cities, 65 counties and 16 junior college districts No eminent domain used by other private owner. TSHL top ten priority 4. Public school taxes decrease to include seniors and disabled.

12 Significant Laws (cont.)Increase personal needs allowance for nursing home residents from $45 to $60 per month. Establish Silver Alert for missing seniors. Theft of a military grave marker. Limit property taxes for veterans with 100% service related disability.

13 Significant Laws (cont.)Constitutional amendment determining homestead market value for ad valorem tax purposes. Provide a cap of $250,000 for non-economic damages awarded by juries for malpractice lawsuits. Allow grandparent caregivers to enroll grandchild in school & provide access to state programs.

14 Significant Laws (cont.)Criminal history checks of employees and applicants at special care facilities. Restore utility Safety Benefit Fund for low-income discount program. Appropriations to expand ombudsman program for assisted living facilities. Alternatives to Guardianship Medical use of low THC-Cannabis for intractable epilepsy.

15 Significant Laws (cont.)Disposition of unclaimed cremated remains of veterans. Veteran’s branch of service on disabled veteran license plates. Permit AAA benefit counselors to help clients prepare advance directives. Assure no fewer than 28 Area Agencies on Aging in Texas.

16 What Do We Do? Listen to concerns of older TexansTestify at Senate and House Committee Hearings Identify public policy issues Advocate for adoption of aging resolutions submitted to the Texas Legislature Study background information Inform State Legislators on the concerns of elderly

17 What Else Do We do? Convene the TSHL Legislative Session at the Capitol every other year Publish the TSHL Directory Main Hold offices and memberships in the National Silver-Haired Congress Publish the Legislative Report and present to the Texas Governor, State Legislators, State Officials, and Aging Network Serve on local and state boards and councils Publish the Silver Bulletin newsletter quarterly

18 Events and Activities 3 TSHL General Sessions: Orientation, Business and Legislative TSHL Foundation Award Banquet Senior Day at the Capitol Aging in Texas Conference TSHL Town Hall Meetings

19

20 TSHL State Officers Speaker, Walter GrahamSpeaker Pro Tem, Mona Bailey Deputy Speaker Pro Tem, Bruce Davis Secretary, Judy Ward Comptroller, Rhonda Rogers

21 Committee Structure Executive Committee Administrative CommitteesLegislative Issue Committees Special Committees

22 Legislative Issues Committee ChairsCriminal Justice, Bill Bailey Education, Joe Henderson Health & Human Resources, Barbara Aydlett Human Services, Mary Pat Smith Insurance, Rene Wallace Retirement & Aging, William Carey Rural-Urban Robert Pfister State Affairs, Chris Kyker Utilities & Natural Resources, Louise Butler

23 Administrative Committees ChairsCommunications, Jamie Larson Elections & Credentials, Barbara Adylett Finance, Wayne Merrill Operations, Ted Hubert Legislative Action, Carlos Higgins

24 TSHL Executive CommitteeThe TSHL officers, Committee chairmen and representatives from 28 regions serve on the executive committee. The executive committee functions between General Sessions and carries out the business of TSHL.

25 Special Committees & ChairsTechnology: Chris Kyker Training, Joe Henderson Silver Bulletin, James B. Warner, Editor Strategic Plan ,Don Lively Ethics, Carol Peters Awards, Jane Blay Resolutions Review Panel, Albert Campbell Official Documents Review, Jene Liaici

26 Staying Connected at http://www.txshl.orgOfficial website: TSHL Organization Officers & Members Official documents Minutes of Meetings TSHL Foundation Links

27 TSHL Online Courses www.txshl.orgOnline courses for TSHL members, older Texans, aging network and interested public. TSHL REALITIES OF THE THIRD AGE TSHL LIVING THE GOOD THIRD AGE TSHL ADVOCACY FOR OLDER TEXANS TSHL CALL FOR LEADERSHIP

28 Calendar 2016-2017 TSHL Leadership Training, Sept 16-17, 2016TSHL Executive Committee, Oct 27, 2016 TSHL Foundation Board, Oct 27, 2016 File For Election to 17th TSHL Jan 2-Feb 28, 2017 TSHL Foundation Dinner, Feb 6, 2017 Senior Day at the Capitol, Feb 7, 2017 TSHL Election Day, April 28, 2017 17th TSHL Orientation Session, July 2017

29 TSHL - TO BE CONTINUED AGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LONGEVITYThe next 30 years of TSHL belong to the BOOMERS! AGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LONGEVITY THE THIRD AGE

30 16th TSHL at the Capitol

31

32 Thank you for joining us.Your Time Has Come!

33 CONTACT Speaker, 16th TSHLWalter Graham, Speaker 451 CR 154 Cisco, TX 76437 cell Speaker, 16th TSHL