3/20/01
The House Committee on Appropriations
77th Legislature
March 20, 2001
7:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, E1.030
Pursuant to a notice posted on March 14, 2001, the House
Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was
called to order by the chair, Representative Junell, at 7:02
a.m.
The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;
Coleman; Delisi; Eiland; Glaze; Hamric; Heflin; Janek;
McReynolds; Moreno, Paul; Pickett; Pitts (14).
Absent: Representatives Farrar; Flores; Gallego; Giddings;
Gutierrez; Hochberg; King, Tracy; Luna, Vilma; Maxey;
Mowery; Puente; Smith; Turner, Sylvester (13).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
Department of Health
(Representative Kitchen, Ann now present.)(Representative Puente
now present.)(Representative Giddings now
present.)(Representative Smith now present.)(Representative
Turner, Sylvester now present.)(Representative King, Tracy now
present.)(Representative Gutierrez now present.)(Representative
Gallego now present.)(Representative Luna, Vilma now
present.)(Representative Maxey now present.)(Senator Bivins,
Teel now present.)(Senator Ellis, Rodney now present.)
(Representative Heflin in chair.)(Representative Junell in
chair.)
At 9:54 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the meeting was recessed until 1:00 p.m., March 20, 2001.
The committee reconvened at 3:04 p.m. and was called to order by
Representative West, George "Buddy". The roll was answered as
follows:
Present: Representatives West, George "Buddy"; Allen; Coleman;
Delisi; Eiland; Farrar; Gallego; Gutierrez; Hamric;
Hochberg; Janek; Luna, Vilma; McReynolds; Moreno,
Paul; Pickett; Pitts; Puente (17).
Absent: Representatives Junell; Flores; Giddings; Glaze;
Heflin; King, Tracy; Maxey; Mowery; Smith; Turner,
Sylvester (10).
A quorum was present.
(Representative Junell now present.)
(Representative Junell in chair.)
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
Department of Health
(Representative Flores now present.)(Representative Glaze now
present.)(Representative King, Tracy now
present.)(Representative Heflin now present.)(Representative
Mowery now present.)(Representative Maxey now
present.)(Representative Turner, Sylvester now present.)
Representative Coleman moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes:
3/20/01
Technical Changes
Remove Object 3140 (Bedding Tax) from Rider 5,
Appropriations Limited to Collections.
In Method of Finance, increase WIC Rebates (GR-Dedicated)
to conform with Biennial Revenue Estimate. Increase
Strategy A.2.1., WIC Food & Nutrition Services, by
same amounts.
Riders
Business Improvement Plan rider (Coleman #1)
Capital Budget rider (Coleman #2)
Educational Leave, Tuition Reimbursement, and Educational
Stipend Programs rider (Coleman #3)
Reimbursement of Advisory Committee Members (Coleman #4)
Oyster Sampling and Research rider (Coleman #5)
State Health Programs Drug Manufacturer Rebates rider
(Maxey #6)
Medically Fragile Children rider (Coleman #7)
Appropriation of License Plate Revenue rider (Coleman #8)
Asbestos Revenue rider (Coleman #9)
St. Paul Tyler Community Health Initiative Funding rider
(Glaze #10)
Emergency Care Attendant (ECA) Training rider (Glaze #11)
Children with Special Health Care Needs Wraparound Services
Allocation rider (Coleman #12)
Product Labeling Requirement rider (Heflin #13)
Health Care Pilot Program rider (Giddings #14)
Article XI
Funds for cost growth in Medicaid
Funds for growth in Medicaid managed care
Funds for increased Medicaid reimbursement rates to
dentists
Funds for increased Medicaid reimbursement rates to
hospitals and for professional services
Funds to remove 3 prescription limit for certain Medicaid
patients
Funds to increase pharmacy dispensing fee for vendor drug
program
3/20/01
Funds to establish a Medicaid dental program for nursing
home residents
Swap EMS/Trauma funds with Dept. of Transportation, for GR
Funds for Cancer Registry
Funds to enhance Texas Birth Defects Registry
Funds for maintaining vital statistics
Funds for community based health services (maternal and
child health)
Funds to maintain current services in kidney health program
3/20/01
Funds for services to patients with end stage renal disease
Funds for expansion of Oral Rabies Vaccination Program
Funds to develop a community based system to reduce health
disparities (7 FTEs)
Funds to establish a epidemiology response team in each
region (28 FTEs)
Funds for the Center for Rural Health Initiatives (5.5
FTEs)
Funds for the Texas Health Care Information Council (7
FTEs)
Funds to upgrade credentialing software and increased
regulatory staff (18 FTEs)
Funds to expand community partnerships to measure tobacco
use reduction through social norm changes (3FTEs)
Funds to establish the Office of Public Health Practice (14
FTEs)
Funds for Hepatitis A vaccines for children in border
counties (17 FTEs)
Funds for Hepatitis C testing, counseling and education
services
Funds for Water Fluoridation Grants in Bexar County
Rabies Lab rider
Funds for Project Redirection in El Paso
Funds to establish the Council on Cardiovascular Disease
and Stroke
Funds for certain child immunization programs
Funds to increase immunization rates along the border
Add Article II, Special Provisions rider, Medicaid
Simplification for Children
Add Air Ambulance Reimbursement Rates rider
Funds for HIV Prevention Mass Media Campaign
Funds for contingency rider for HB2006
(Naishtat/Madden/Coleman) for school assessment of
indoor air quality
Funds for contingency rider for HB 2007
(Naishtat/Madden/Coleman) for mandatory indoor air
quality guidelines
3/20/01
Funds for contingency rider for HB 98 (Maxey/Coleman) for
extended Medicaid coverage for certain children under
21
Funds for contingency rider for HB 2614 (Solis) for dental
care for children pilot project
Funds for contingency rider for HB 1801 (Maxey) for home
health services provided via telemedicine
Funds for contingency rider for HB 1422 (Oliveira/Naishtat)
Contingency rider for HB 3465 (Maxey) for dispensing
opticians program
Funds for Article II, Special Provisions contingency rider
for HB 101 (Maxey/Naishtat/Luna) for Medicaid coverage
for breast and cervical cancer treatment for certain
persons
3/20/01
Contingency rider for HB 825 (Gray/Naishtat/Keffer) for
Medicaid eligibility simplification for children
Contingency rider for HB 826 (Gray/Naishtat/Keffer) for
Medicaid simplification
Contingency rider for HB 827 (Gray/Naishtat/Keffer) for
Medicaid simplification
3/20/01
Contingency rider for HB 828 (Gray/Naishtat/Keffer) for
Medicaid simplification
Contingency rider for HB 1604 (Gray/Naishtat/Keffer) for
Medicaid eligibility simplification for children
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
(Representative West, George "Buddy" in chair.)(Representative
Junell in chair.)
Representative Janek moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes:
Fiscal Changes
Funds to maintain 2001 service levels in community mental
health.
Funds to maintain 2001 service levels in community mental
retardation.
Technical Changes
Adjust performance measures
Correction of FTE caps: decrease of 7 at MHMR with
corresponding increase at Health and Human Services
Commission.
Riders
Capital Budget rider (Janek #1)
Professional Trainees and Interns rider (Janek #2)
Language Interpreter Services rider (Janek #3)
Home and Community-Based Services Mid-Range Waiver rider
(Janek #4)
Client Preference for State School Placement rider (Janek
#5)
Third Party Reimbursement Incentive for Community Mental
Health and Mental Retardation Centers rider (Coleman
#6)
Financing Mental Health Services for Youth rider (Glaze #7)
Indigent Mental Health Services rider (Coleman #8)
Cost Comparison Report rider (Maxey #9)
Pilot Project for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
(West #10)
Contingency Appropriation for H.B. 811, Special Olympics
License Plate rider (Janek #11)
Article XI
Funds for Community Centers to replace lost federal funds;
would maintain current services
Funds for 15% increase in pharmaceutical costs in community
mental health centers
Funds for 32 court referred patients at Mexia State School
Funds to continue interim staff salary increases
Funds to cover pharmaceutical and utilities cost increases
Funds for one-time expenditure to replace state school
passenger vans
Funds for a 90-cent/hour wage increase (11%) for direct
care staff
Funds to increase rates for community care providers
(ICF/MR, HCS, rehabilitation services and service
coordination)
Funds to create more Home and Community Services (HCS)
slots for individuals currently on the waiting list
Funds for Promoting Independence
Funds for mental health community supports to those
individuals most at risk of homelessness, substance
abuse and institutionalization
Funds to address HCS waiting list with a mid-range waiver
(pending HCFA approval.)
Funds for crisis intervention, medication, shelter,
counseling and substance abuse services in Strategy
A.1.2, Adult Mental Health Community Services
Funds for Life Safety Code repairs and renovations
Allocation of Local Matching Requirements for Community
MHMR Centers rider
Funds for Rural Psychiatric Inpatient Initiative
3/20/01
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
At 7:03 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.
________________________
Rep. Junell, Chair
________________________
Darshoel Willis, Clerk