The House Committee on Public Health 
         77th Legislature 
         January 30, 2001 
         1:30 p.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E2.036 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on January 25, 2001, the House  
         Committee on Public Health met in a public hearing and was  
         called to order by the chair, Representative Gray, at 1:30 p.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Gray; Coleman; Capelo; Longoria;  
                   Maxey; Uresti; Wohlgemuth (7). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives Delisi; Glaze (2). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         The Chair made opening remarks and outlined the committee's  
         schedule and procedures. 
          
         (Representative Glaze now present.) 
          
         The chair recognized Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human  
         Services Commission,  to give the committee an overview of the  
         status of the agencies under the health and human services  
         umbrella. 
          
         The chair recognized Tyrette Hamilton, Executive Director, Texas  
         Healthy Kids Corporation, to give the members of the committee  
         an overview of the status of the voluntary dissolution of the  
         Texas Healthy Kids Corporation. 
          
         The chair recognized Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Health and Human  
         Services Commission, to give the committee an overview of the  
         implementation status of the following legislation that passed  
         during the 76th Legislative Session: 
          
         SB 445 by Moncrief/Gray, relating to a child health plan for  
         low-income children.   
          
         Testimony was taken by Jason Cooke, CHIP Director, Health and  
         Human Services Commission.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         HB 2641 by Gray/Brown, relating to the continuation and  
         functions of the Health and Human Services Commission. 
          
         HB 2896 by Coleman/Moncrief, relating to the administration and  
         operation of the state Medicaid program. 
          
         Testimony was taken by Linda Wertz, Medicaid Director, Health  
         and Human Services Commission.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         The chair recognized Charles Bell, MD, Executive Deputy  
  
         Commissioner, Texas Department of Health, to give the committee  
         an overview of the implementation status of the following  
         legislation that passed during the 76th Legislative Session: 
          
         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. 
                    
         HB 1444 by Delisi/Moncrief, relating to local public health  
         services. 
          
         HB 1398 by Coleman/Moncrief, relating to indigent health care. 
          
         The chair recognized Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department  
         of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, to give the committee  
         an overview of the implementation status of the following  
         legislation that passed during the 76th Legislative Session: 
          
         SB 358 by Madla/Gray, relating to the continuation and functions  
         of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation  
         and to certain facilities. 
          
         At 4:35 p.m., on 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