Texas, Legislature, House of Representatives:

An Inventory of Records of Representative Patricia Gray at the Texas State Archives, 1991-1993, 1995-2002, undated (bulk 1995-2001)

Biographical Sketch

Texas State Representative Patricia Gray, was born on October 2, 1946, earned a BA and Masters of Education from Mississippi State University, a MA from the University of Texas at Austin, and a JD from the South Texas College of Law. Gray practiced as an attorney and was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, as a Democrat, in 1992 to represent District 23, Galveston County. She was reelected and continued to serve through 2002.

While in the House, Gray served on the following committees: Corrections, 1993-2002 (Vice-Chair, 1995-1996); Environmental Regulation, 1993-1994; Appropriations 1995-1996; General Investigating, 1995-1998; Civil Practices, 1997-1998 (Chair); and Public Health, 1999-2002 (Chair). In addition, she was appointed to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission in 1995, for a four year term to begin in 1996, and served as Vice-Chair of the Commission in 1999.

Scope and Contents of the Records

Records include bill copies, correspondence, memoranda, printed materials, agenda, notes, meeting supporting documentation, clippings, publications, reports, bill analyses, talking points, fiscal notes, amendments, redistricting maps, voting statistics, population statistics, photographs, and a CD-Rom, dating 1991-1993, 1995-2002, undated (bulk 1995-2001), that document the service of Representative Patricia Gray in the Texas Legislature from 1993 through 2002. The records predominantly consist of bill files and background information on legislation introduced or sponsored by Representative Gray. The materials reflect Gray's service on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission and work on behalf of her district and the state as a whole. Major subjects of concern include education, managed health care, Medicaid simplification, emergency/disaster management and relief, abortion and parental notification, prescription drugs and the pharmaceutical industry, the privacy of medical records, local issues of interest to Galveston (such as coastal erosion), and contact lenses, optometrists, and opthamologists. As a part of Gray's work with the Sunset Advisory Commission, the records include proposed legislation and sunset reports regarding Texas state agencies that include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Commission for the Blind, Texas Cancer Council, Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council, Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Texas Hospital Equipment Financing Council, Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities, Texas Human Rights Commission, Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission, Texas Governor's Council on People with Disabilities, Texas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division/Program, Texas Department of Human Services, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and Texas Rehabilitation Commission. A single wallet file, located in Box 2003/081-10, contains general office files, including greeting cards, resumes of job applicants, a few subject files, and other miscellaneous documents.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

In accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 306, Representative Patricia Gray allowed public access to the communications between herself and her constituents on December 11, 2002.

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under Public Information Act exceptions, an archivist must review these records before they can be accessed for research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of the Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The researcher may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail, fax, or email including enough description and detail about the information requested to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information requested. If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the Public Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public Information Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a request to make this determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days to render a decision. Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature of the potentially excepted information and if you agree, that information can be redacted or removed and you can access the remainder of the records.

Restrictions on Use

Cotton gloves provided by the Archives must be worn when handling the photographs.

Technical Requirements

Please contact the Archives Preservation Officer to obtain equipment needed to access the CD-Rom.

Related Material

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records of Representative Patricia Gray, House of Representatives, Texas Legislature. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 2003/081

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by Representative Patricia Gray on December 3, 2002.

Processing Information

Nancy Enneking, July 2003

Detailed Description of the Records