Kottonmouth Kings
Moderator: Super Moderators
Medical Marijuana Legislation Author __
Texas State Representative Elliott Naishtat
Biographical Information
Elliott Naishtat, a native New Yorker, has lived in Texas for thirty years. He served as a VISTA volunteer in Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty before moving to Austin and earning a Masters in Social Work and law degree from The University of Texas.
Elliott served as staff counsel for Senator Gonzalo Barrientos before entering private law practice. He also served as chairman of Austin's Community Development Commission and directed the U.T. School of Social Work's Legislative Training Program. He is an adjunct assistant professor of social work at St. Edward's University.
In November, 1990, Elliott was elected to the District 49 seat in the Texas House of Representatives. He has been re-elected six times and serves as Vice-Chair of the Human Services Committee and a member of the Public Health Committee. Rep. Naishtat is a founding board member of the House Progressive Caucus.
In seven sessions, Rep. Naishtat has passed over 150 bills, including the Braille Literacy Act of 1991, Landlord-Tenant Security Devices Act of 1993, Indoor Air Quality Act of 1995, Nursing Home Reform Act of 1997, Newborn Hearing Screening Act of 1999, Medicaid Simplification Act of 2001, and Mold Remediation Licensure Act of 2003. He also passed bills that improved child labor law enforcement, expanded protective services for elderly and disabled people, created a statewide guardianship program, and enhanced crime victims' rights. In addition, Rep. Naishtat co-sponsored the Texas Anti-Stalking Act and the Hate Crimes Act as well as bills that increased protections for patients in managed care organizations and psychiatric, substance abuse and rehabilitation facilities.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Rep. Naishtat has received awards from numerous organizations including the American Association of Retired Persons, American Foundation for the Blind, American Cancer Society, People First!, Common Cause, Sierra Club, Texas Council on Family Violence, Texas Public Health Association, Texas Freedom Network, and Texas Legal Services Center. In 2002, Rep. Naishtat received the National Consumer Health Advocate award from Families USA. In 1999, Rep. Naishtat received the National Public Elected Official of the Year award from the National Association of Social Workers. He has also been named Legislator of the Year by the Texas Apartment Association, one of Texas' Ten Best Legislators by the State Bar Family Law Section, and one of Texas' Outstanding Public Servants by the Consumers Union, Public Citizen, Gray Panthers, and Texas Citizen Action.
Texas Representative Elliott Naishtat
House Bill 658 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Tuesday, April 5th!Texans for Medical Marijuana has been working with the bills author Representative Elliott Naishtat to identify witnesses to testify at the hearing on behalf of all of us who support the bill and medical marijuana in general . . . .
To watch the hearing as it takes place, please click on http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php to find the livestream for the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and see and listen to it online. This committee usual meets at 2pm or upon adjournment of the House . . . .
Noelle Davis
Texans for Medical Marijuana
Edited by cherry