Florence Donald Shapiro (born May 2, 1948) is an American politician from Texas, a Republican former member of the Texas Senate. From 1993 to 1995, she represented the 2nd District and from 1995 to 2013, the 8th District, which includes several cities, towns, and other outlying areas of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Shapiro previously served as Senate State Affairs Committee chair and since 2003 has chaired the Senate Education Committee. Her series of bills known as Ashley's Laws, which severely punishes sexual predators, quickly became national benchmarks in the fight against sex offenders. Shapiro's work earned her the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault's "Champion for Social Change Award". and the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas's "Legislator of the Year Award" in 2008. President George W. Bush appointed her to serve on the Honorary Delegation to accompany him to Jerusalem for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel in May 2008. Personal life A first-generation American and the daughter of two Holocaust survivors, Florence Shapiro was born in New York City. After the family moved to Dallas, Texas, she attended and graduated from Hillcrest High School. After high school, Shapiro matriculated to The University of Texas at Austin, the first in her family to attend college, and graduated with a B.S. in secondary education. Shapiro began her professional career as a public school English and speech teacher for the Richardson Independent School District in Richardson, Texas. Shapiro also founded Shapiro & Company, an advertising, public relations and special events agency. She lives in Plano, Texas with her husband Howard; they have three children, Lisa Strauss of Houston, Todd Shapiro of Frisco, Texas, and Staci Rubin of Plano, and 12 grandchildren. Political career Local politics Florence Shapiro entered politics after being elected to be a member of the Plano City Council, where she served six terms from 1979 to 1990. Shapiro was subsequently elected Mayor of Plano and served from 1990 to 1992. During this time, Shapiro was the President of the Texas Municipal League and the North Texas Council of Governments. Texas Senate Florence Shapiro was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1992, after defeating Democratic incumbent Ted Lyon, serving since 1993. In January 2005, she was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate, becoming second in the gubernatorial line of succession, behind the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. She was the first senator from Collin