Two years ago Texas legislators Quietly cut millions of dollars in financing kits intended to help track the missing children after PROPUBLICA and Texas Tribune discovered There was no evidence they assisted in law enforcement in finding lost children.
The company that created the kits used outdated and exaggerated statistics on the missing children to strengthen their sales and charged for materials when similar products were available less and free.
Now, some Texas legislators are again pushing millions more in taxpayers to buy such kits by sliding financing for a budget per 1000 pages.
Although the proposal does not determine which company to put them as well 2021 Bill The Senator of the Republican State Donna Campbell was introduced, but Texas will contract guarantees with the same supplier, a national program for children identification. Then Campbell made it clear that her intention The law of the long partnership between the state and NCIDP, which has been returning for more than two decades, had to be consolidated. Its legislation, signed by the law, in June, also showed that every time the state allocated the financing of such materials, the Texas Agency for Education should acquire the identification sets that are “infinite”, the technology patented by NCIDP.
A company based in the voc History of unsuccessful businesses And financial troubles, including millions of dollars in federal tax pledges and a ban on running a certain business related to Connecticut, thanks to its role in allegedly investor deception.
Hansmir grew relations with the powerful Texas legislators who continued to support his initiatives. Lieutenant -Governor Dan Patrick, who oversees the Senate, stands for the legislation of Campbell, which finances the kits, and then told the information organizations that the state should prefer anyone that could accelerate the return of the missing child. Campbell told the lawyers at the hearing that the two -party measure brought to her by Hansmir and Patrick was important for “protecting our children”.
Patrick, Campbell and Hansmir did not respond to interview requests. Earlier, Hansmir said his debt and other financial issues were resolved. He also defended the kits of his company, saying that they helped find several missing children and instructed journalists to ask any policeman about the usefulness of kits. However, none of the dozen Texan law enforcement agencies that reached the information organizations, including the three, which Hansmir specifically called – could not remember any examples.
Stacey Pearson, Children’s Security Counselor and former Louisian Police Sergeant, who oversee the state clint for the missing and exploited children, has never seen any cases that demonstrate that these kits have been working, including the legislators.
“I don’t understand why we are coming back to it,” said Pearson, who recently talked to the editorial offices and for a preliminary investigation. “It was not a good idea in 2023, and it’s not a good idea.”
Despite the lack of evidence, Pierson said companies such as NCIDP could make a profit from kits by selling them under a greater security program, a strategy that makes the opposing legislators look as if against the protection of children. Texas allocated nearly $ 6 million on the set between 2021 and 2023.
Legislators did not explain their reasoning when they decided to stop the sets in 2023. Senator of the Republican state Joan Hafman, heading the Financial Committee of the House, said at the time as the House and the Senate agreed to withdraw the financing “after consideration and consideration”.
During the budget process this year, a representative of the democratic state Armand Martinez proposed add 2 million dollars The House’s budget features sets of families with children in kindergarten through second grade.
Martinez did not respond to interview request.
Greg Bonnan, headed by the House of Representatives Committee, did not answer interview requests and written questions.
Bononn was one of 33 legislators who voted against the Campbell’s bill, which created the financing of children’s identification four years ago. The editorial board attempts to reach several legislators, but no one answered.
Hafman and Senate so far Selected not to restore the financing of the program. Hafman refused to interview.
“The whole budget process continues,” she wrote in an email. “No final decisions on most issues were made.”
The legislators of the two houses will continue to distinguish between their budget proposals in the joint committee, which operates behind closed doors. There is no guarantee that the financing will enter the final budget, which legislators must go before the end of the legislation in early June.
Pearson warned the legislators to ask if the kits are the best use of state financing, given the lack of documented success.
“My advice would be to ask themselves,” If it were your personal money, not taxpayers, “would you spend it on this program?” Pearson said. “And the answer will not be.”
