Milner sworn in as Texas Silver-Haired Legislature

Debbie Milner of Dripping Springs was sworn in as a member of the 19th Texas Silver-Haired Legislature at its Orientation Session held July 18-22 in Pflugerville. Sixty-nine delegates from 24 Area Agency on Aging regions in Texas were sworn in for a two-year term by the Honorable Bryan Hughes, member of the Texas Senate from District 1.

Milner represents the Capital Area Agency on Aging, which includes the following counties: Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson. Milner was appointed to serve on the TSHL State Affairs and Communications committees. Others representing the Capital Area Agency include: Gary Gerstenhaber, Bess Mitchell, Carol Peters, Mike Sandoval, Wayne Schurter, Mary Pat Smith, Paul Stempko and Sue Wilson.

The Orientation Session was the first of three TSHL sessions over the next biennium. The delegates will research senior issues in Texas, prepare resolutions for proposed legislation, pass them through committee and vote on them in full chamber at the TSHL Legislative Session to be held in the Spring of 2022. Approved resolutions will be included in a TSHL Legislative Report that will be delivered to all Legislators, as well as to the Governor and Lt. Governor, in advance of the 2023 State session.

The Texas Silver-Haired Legislature is a non-partisan body created by the 69th Texas Legislature with the adoption of SCR 37, on April 3, 1985. Since its inception, some 700 seniors have been elected to serve in TSHL. The vision of TSHL is that “the applied wisdom, energy, and experience of aging will improve the lives of all Texans through education, knowledge, and involvement in legislation and governmental affairs.”

Among the issues that the advocacy group recommended and supported during the 87th session of the Texas Legislature was legislation that increased the financial strength of the Teacher Retirement System and the State Employees Retirement System pension plans, increased the personal needs allowance to $60 for Medicaid nursing home residents, provided for the expansion of broadband services in rural areas, expanded the research into and medical use of low-THC cannabis products and enhanced criminal degree and fines for those who perpetrate Internet fraud against seniors.

Additional information is available on the website, txshl.org.