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Florence Shapiro began her career in the Texas Senate in 1993. A former
small business owner, her journey into Texas politics began years prior
and miles away from the Texas Capitol. While she's been a highly
effective advocate on behalf of her constituents in District 8, her
career in public service spans four decades. As a former public school
teacher, she first entered elective office as a Plano City Council
member. Following six terms on the Council, she was elected Mayor of
Plano. During this time, she also served as President of the Texas
Municipal League and the North Texas Council of Governments.
Senator Shapiro's issues while serving in the Senate have been many. A
champion of children, she passed landmark legislation to protect against
sexual predators. Her series of bills known as Ashley's Laws, protects
against, adjudicates, and punishes sex offenders whose victims are
children. These laws, which went into effect in 1995, were national
benchmarks, and Senator Shapiro continues to dedicate herself to
improving the safety and security of our children.
In 1999, Senator Shapiro became chair of the Senate State Affairs
Committee and committed herself to the issue of transportation, creating
the first fund for Texas mobility.
In 2003, the Senator became chair of the Senate Education Committee,
where she passed legislation to overhaul the state's school finance
system. Her landmark legislation, House Bill 1, significantly lowers
property taxes, provides more money for schools, along with a teacher
pay raise and the first-ever incentive pay program, educational reforms
at the high school level to promote college readiness and curb dropouts,
and more meaningful accountability for schools.
Her consistent leadership over the years has earned the Senator many
honors. Senator Shapiro was recently honored by Dallas Can! Academy with
its Lifetime Achievement Award. The Academy, a non-profit organization
giving young Texans a second chance through relationship-based
education, presented the award to the Senator at the Academy's 17th
Annual Motherhood Luncheon. Senator Shapiro was recognized for her
outstanding contributions to education and her work to improve the lives
of children across Texas while also showing great dedication to her
family and community. Prior to this recognition, she was named to the
Legislative Honor Roll by the Texas Association of Realtors, was awarded
Inside Collin County Business's Celebration of Enterprise Award for the
public official business partner of the year, the Government Technology
Conference's Bob Bullock Award for Public Stewardship, Girl Scouts of
the USA Tejas Council's Real Women Award, and the Outstanding Service
Award from Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas.
Today, the Senator serves as Texas representative to The Council of
State Governments (CSG) Education Policy Task Force. She also serves on
the Southern Regional Education Board and the Education Commission of
the States, coalitions of elected officials and education leaders that
address issues such as long-range planning, policy proposals, and the
advancement of education among the states. Senator Shapiro is also an
appointee to the Governor's Criminal Justice Advisory Council, Co-Chair
of the Study Commission on Region C Water Supply, and a member of the
Standing Committee on Education for the National Conference of State
Legislators.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Senator Shapiro holds a
bachelor's degree in secondary education. In addition to chairing the
Senate Education Committee, she currently serves on the Senate
Committees on Finance; Transportation and Homeland and Security; and
Administration.
She and her husband, Howard, live in Plano. They have three children and
nine grandchildren. |