Fort Worth — The first blueprint of the Republican Party of Texas’ 2014 platform contains a revamped immigration plank that emphasizes a beefed-up plan for border security and a proposes a visa program to allow undocumented immigrants to serve as guest workers, according to a copy obtained by the San Antonio Express-News/Houston Chronicle.

Delegates to the GOP state convention are girding for a big immigration fight as a faction of the party has been lobbying to gut guest worker language dubbed the “Texas Solution” that was inserted into the party platform two years ago (read about that here).

Republican delegates meeting ahead of Thursday’s start of the convention crafted the draft platform, which is currently being amended by a committee of 31 delegates. That process won’t wrap up until late Thursday evening, and will tee up a review by another group of delegates before the final platform is eventually OK’d for floor debate later this week (the visa program/guest worker plank could get rolled back late Thursday evening, when the committee takes it up; if it survives committee, most are expecting a lively floor fight).

The 2014 Texas Solution makes no explicit mention of a guest worker program, opting instead to “support replacement of the current employment visa system with an efficient, cost effective system that responds to labor shortages” and support of “the reallocation of immigration slots balanced to meet labor shortages.”

According to the draft platform, the revamped Texas Solution demands that “the Federal Government immediately secure the borders and bring safety and security for all Americans.” It also says Congress should develop and pay for a national border plan based on recommendations from Texas lawmakers. And it calls on Texas to develop and fund a “border and port of entry security plan utilizing state and local law enforcement.”

The draft language also emphasizes that the spirit of the guest worker program opposes amnesty — and it sets a variety of limitations/requirements like background checks, etc.

With that, supporters of the Texas Solution are hoping to appease critics, who have portrayed the guest worker plan as weak on border security and equivalent to amnesty (full language, along with a preamble or sorts titled “nation of immigrants,” is in the document linked above). Some other highlights from the draft platform:

Homosexuality:

Delegates have stripped language from the party’s plank on homosexuality that says: “we affirm that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God.” However, delegates have inserted language that supports therapy or treatment to “escape from the homosexual lifestyle.”

“We recognize the legitimacy and value of counseling which offers reparative therapy and treatment to patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.”

Note: This change drew some ire during testimony Thursday morning, with at least one delegate imploring the committee to return to the platform language about homosexuality tearing at the fabric of society.

Abortion:

This language looks new: “Until our final goal of total constitutional rights for the unborn child is achieved, we support laws that restrict and regulate abortion including, but not limited to:

parental and informed consent; prohibition of abortion for gender selection; prohibition of abortion due to the results of genetic diagnosis licensing, liability, and malpractice insurance for abortionists and abortion facilities; prohibition of financial kickbacks for abortion referrals; prohibition of partial birth late-term abortions the prohibition of the manufacturing and sale of abortifacients (e.g. morning after pill); new causes of action for so called “wrongful birth” or “wrongful life”; enactment of any other laws which will advance the right to life for unborn children; health insurance coverage for abortion services and abortifacients under Texas law should be considered supplemental coverage and billed to the beneficiary; and repeal of judicial bypass.

Fracking dollars for counties:

Delegates putting together the draft platform also threw counties a bone:

“Counties with oil and gas production should receive a portion of the production taxes the state collects so that the road system can be maintained for the dual purpose of accommodating the needs of the industry and providing adequate public safety.”

Benghazi

And then there’s this: