SHERMAN, TX -- A number of Grayson County leaders testified in Austin Monday to give counties the ability to regulate halfway houses. Rashi Vats talked with these leaders to see what these regulations would do for the county.

"This residence would have been home to about 20 or 30 ex-convicts, if it wasn't for the residents of Howe who signed a petition to make sure a half way house wouldn't be in their backyard."

It would be completely legal, and also about a mile from Robert Garrett's home.

"It wasn't the right place. We have a lot of children here going in school buses, and they get off and walk down the road and to their houses and grand kids it's just bad," Garrett said. "Maybe I'm a NIMBY. Not in my back yard. Goodness gracious you know. Drive 50 feet, this isn't a place to have that kind of house."

Now community leaders are testifying in Austin in support of a bill that would allow county government to regulate halfway houses, in unincorporated areas of the county.

"What will happen is they will be able to go before each individual counties commissioners court and they will be able to have their own standards and be able to work with the people who are bringing something like this in," said Traci Carlson, President of the Sherman Chamber of Commerce.

One Grayson County Commissioner is in favor of such regulation.

"You could wind up with a 3 bedroom house next to you with 8 sex offenders, there were no rules or regulations to check on these people and under this provision at least it gives us some authority," said Johnny Waldrip, Commissioner Pct 1. "It was convicts supervising convicts...We're not opposed to people being out of prison and get back and be rehabilitated. We would just like to see to it that they are regulated and that the public is safe."

The bill will go to the House, and if approved, on to the Senate. If it passes there, Governor Perry could sign it into law within the next couple of months.

"It's great. That is the best thing that can happen if they pass that bill," Garrett said. And then, he says, he'll at least know who his neighbors are.