Coronavirus: State Rep. Drew Darby Updates State's Efforts

SAN ANGELO, TX – State Representative Drew Darby posted on social media the state's latest actions to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Here's the post:

Below are some important updates about Texas’ COVID-19 response that I want to share with you:

1. Governor Abbott has directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to close all state parks and historic sites beginning at 5:00 p.m. today and they will reopen at the direction of the Governor.

2. Governor Abbott has temporarily waived certain regulations to expand the health care workforce in Texas. Under this waiver, Physician Assistants (PA), Medical Physicists, Perfusionists, and Respiratory Care candidates for licensure who have completed all other requirements may enter the workforce under an emergency license working under supervision prior to taking the final licensure exam. The Governor’s waiver also provides for emergency licensees to undergo name-based background checks.

3. Care.com will be increasing their in-home child care access for frontline workers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this initiative, Care.com is offering 90 days of free, premium access to their services, along with specific portals for frontline workers and caregivers in Texas. Frontline workers looking for childcare, as well as prospective caregivers can both enroll in the program at https://www.care.com/texasfrontline

4. The Texas Supreme Court has further delayed eviction proceedings for residential property and filing deadlines in eviction cases until after April 30th.

5. As a reminder, the Supreme Court has previously issued the following orders:

- Clearing the way for video and teleconference proceedings in civil and criminal cases, and postponing certain deadlines.
- Providing that child-custody schedules follow the original school schedule as published, despite school closings. Existing court orders in child possession cases shall control “in all instances” to determine rights to and access to children, regardless of shelter-in-place directives.
- Tolling deadlines for the filing or service of any civil case from March 13, 2020, until June 1, 2020.
- You can find out more information here: http://www.txcourts.gov/