Rep. Dutton Jr., Harold V.

Biography

A native of Fifth Ward, Texas, and a life long Democrat, Harold Dutton’s roots began in the Kelly Courts. After graduating from Phillis Wheatley High School, Dutton attended Texas Southern University (“TSU”), where he earned a BBA in Accounting. His academic and professional achievements resulted in Dutton’ designation as a “Distinguished Alumnus” by the TSU School of Business.

Other than during the period Dutton was Executive Director of Julia C. Hester House, his principal employer upon graduation from TSU was Conoco Inc., where he held management positions in corporate planning and economic analysis. After leaving Conoco, Dutton became President of Four Star Broadcasting and with the assistance of the late Congressman Mickey Leland, Dutton was granted an FCC license to operate TV-67, an independent UHF-TV station, which began airing in the Houston area in early 1986.

For his service to the community, Representative Dutton was cited as an Outstanding Young Man of America. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, a 32nd Degree Mason and is serving his seventeenth term in the Texas House of Representatives.

In the 85th Legislative Session, Dutton serves as Chairman of the Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues, and a member of the Public Education Committee where he has served longer than any member in Texas’ history. Also, as Chairman of the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee, Dutton has led the fight to change Texas' one hundred year old law that allows 17 year olds to be treated as adults in the criminal justice system. In prior Sessions, Dutton has served as Chairman of the Committee on Urban Affairs, a member of the Corrections Committee, the Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance, the Committee on the Operation and Management of the Texas Youth Commission, the Committee on General Investigating and Ethics, the Steering Committee of the House Research Organization, the Insurance Committee and the Sunset Advisory Commission and the Committee on Appropriations. Additionally, Dutton is a member of the House Democratic Caucus where he has served as General Counsel, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus as General Counsel, and he has previously served as Chairman of the 25- member Harris County Delegation.

Representative Dutton is a graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where he was inducted into “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.” Dutton, an Adjunct Professor at the TSU Law School, is a Member of the Texas Bar Association, the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. Dutton operates the Law Offices of Harold V. Dutton, Jr. and Associates.

Dutton’s many legislative achievements include successful sponsorship of Texas’ first statutory program to assist women and minority-owned businesses, initiatives to enhance public education, particularly in alternative education and creation of incentives to reduce the problems of insurance availability and affordability in traditionally underserved areas. Other legislative achievements include legislation for Texas’ annual sales tax holiday and legislation permitting ex-offenders to regain their right, preventing contract for deed scams, revamping the juvenile justice system and solidifying a parent's right to reasonably discipline their children.

For his legislative accomplishments, Dutton has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the Forward Times Newspaper, the Houston Police Officers’ Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Women’s Political Caucus, the Harris County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, the Texas Tourism Caucus, the Afro-American Sheriff Deputy’
Association, the Hispanic Journal, the United States Small Business Administration and the Texas
Association of African American Chambers of Commerce.