The House Committee on Public Health 
         76th Legislature 
         July 10, 2000 
         10:00 a.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E2.030 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on June 8, 2000, the House Committee  
         on Public Health met in a public hearing and was called to order  
         by the chair, Representative Gray, at 10:12 a.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Gray; Coleman; Glaze; Maxey; Uresti  
                   (5). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives Capelo; Delisi; Hilderbran; McClendon  
                   (4). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         (Representative McClendon now present.) 
          
         The chair made opening remarks and announced that the purpose of  
         the meeting was to have briefings regarding the implementation  
         status of the following bills passed during the 76th Legislative  
         Session: 
          
         (Representative Delisi now present.) 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee an overview of the implementation status of HB 2085 by  
         McCall/Brown, relating to the continuation and functions of the  
         Texas Board of Health and Texas Department of Health, including  
         the operation of certain boards and councils administratively  
         attached to the department; providing penalties. 
          
         The following person provided oral testimony: 
          
              Charles E. Bell, MD, Deputy Executive Commissioner, Texas  
         Department of Health 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee an overview of the implementation status of SB358 by  
         Madla/Gray, relating to the continuation and functions of the  
         Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and to  
         certain facilities. 
          
         The following person provided oral testimony: 
          
              Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health  
              and Mental Retardation 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee an overview of the implementation status of HB 1398 by  
         Coleman/Moncrief, relating to indigent health care. 
  
         The following persons provided oral testimony: 
          
              Bonnie Magers, Division Director, Indigent Health Care,  
                   Bureau of Policy and Operations, Texas Department of   
                   Health     
              Sue Glover, State and Federal Legislative Analyst, Texas  
              Association of Counties 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee an overview of the implementation status of SB 445 by  
         Moncrief/Gray, relating to a child health plan for certain  
         low-income children. 
          
         The following persons provided oral testimony: 
          
              Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services  
              Commission 
              Jason Cooke, Director, Children's Health Insurance Program,  
              Health and Human Services Commission 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee an overview of the implementation status of HB 2641 by  
         Gray/Brown, relating to the continuation and functions of the  
         Health and Human Services Commission. 
          
         The following person provided oral testimony: 
          
              Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee an overview of the implementation status of HB 2896 by  
         Coleman/Moncrief, relating to the administration and operation  
         of the state Medicaid program. 
          
         The following persons provided oral testimony: 
          
              Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human Services  
              Commission 
              Linda Wertz, State Medicaid Director, Health and Human  
              Services Commission 
          
         The chair called upon witnesses who were invited to give the  
         committee a briefing regarding various healthcare issues of  
         interest to the committee. 
          
         The following persons provided oral testimony: 
              Tyrette Hamilton, Executive Director, Texas Healthy Kids  
              Corporation 
              Jeffry Hill, DDS, Executive Director, Texas State Board of  
              Dental Examiners 
          
         At 1:30 pm, upon the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         __________________________________ 
         Rep. Patricia Gray, Chair 
          
         __________________________________ 
         Pam Crowley, Chief Clerk