AUSTIN, Texas – 11:00 a.m. - Rep. Trent Ashby closes the public hearing on HB 2000 - Audrii’s Law - after 20 minutes of public hearing.
The Criminal Jurisprudence Committee did not vote on the bill because several members were not present, but they did express urgency to move the bill to the senate so it can reach the governor’s desk quickly.
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10:55 a.m. - Crime Stoppers of Houston Victims Advocate Andy Kahan is called to the podium.
“I told them, ‘Audrii Cunningham is going to be a catalyst for change.’ And that brings us here,” Kahan said while recalling on of his first conversations with Audrii’s family.
Kahan, who has advocated for hundreds of family’s dealing with violent crimes committed against their loved ones, just recently testified in front of lawmakers this month for Jocelyn Nungaray.
“I’m sick and tired of naming bills after dead kids,” Kahan said. “This will prevent future Audrii Cunninghams.”
10:49 a.m. - Philip Munsch, Audrii’s grandfather, addresses the state committee.
“We know this incident had far far-reaching impact across East Texas, our community, the whole great State of Texas,” he said. “It’s a case that touched so many hearts and Audrii was just a charming young lady, lots of potential. Because of a loophole, her life was taken away far too early.”
10:47 a.m. - Audrii’s grandmother, Tabitha Munsch, broke down immediately while addressing lawmakers. She held a tissue in her hand and tears were streaming down her face.
“My granddaughter was the most loving child I’ve ever met,” Tabitha Munsch said. “Had this bill been in place, had this loophole existed, he would never be near our sweet baby. I’m not asking, I’m begging that we close this loophole.”
She spoke for around four minutes before her husband and Audrii’s grandfather, Philip, took the podium.
10:42 a.m. - Rep. Trent Ashby (R) speaks in front of state lawmakers. He gets emotional at least twice while introducing Audrii’s Law.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I bring this bill to you,” Rep. Ashby told lawmakers.
10:30 a.m. - The family of Audrii Cunningham, the slain 11-year-old Livingston girl, will testify in front of Texas state lawmakers on Tuesday as they push to change sex offender registry laws.
READ: ‘It’s common sense’: State lawmakers push for change in honor of Audrii Cunningham
HB 2000, commonly known as ‘Audrii’s Law’, is set for a public hearing on Tuesday.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Trent Ashby (R), who represents the area where Audrii Cunningham lived in.
READ: Finding Audrii: A story of tragic loss and lasting legacy
Audrii Cunningham was brutally murdered last year by Don Steven McDougal, who admitted to killing the 11-year-old girl during a plea agreement in January.
RELATED: KPRC 2 documentary premieres one year after Audrii Cunningham’s disappearance, murder
McDougal was previously convicted a sex crime against a minor in 2007, but took a plea deal in that case, too. The plea deal lessened the crime, which didn’t require him to register as a sex offender.
Audrii’s family took in McDougal and let him live in a camper behind their house while he was allegedly getting his life back on track.
READ: Audrii Cunningham remembered one year after her death, Texas lawmakers consider bill in her honor
The law proposed to state legislators would “close the loophole” and require anybody convicted of a sexual crime to register as a sexual offender, regardless of the plea.
“Audrii’s Law is kind of like a patch in the state of Texas sex offender registry,” said Audrii’s grandfather Philip Munsch.
This is a live blog and will be updated.
