Paying for recovery from damages inflicted by Hurricane Rita and improving conditions in the state schools for the mentally disabled are among Gov. Rick Perry's emergency items for the legislative session.
Other items Perry designated as emergencies include reforming the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and helping state prisons buy detection and screening equipment to reduce contraband behind bars.
Perry's emergency designation allows lawmakers to begin considering the issue in the first 30 days of the legislative session, which began Jan. 13.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
