MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, February 7, 2001
8:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a
public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Wednesday,
February 7, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin,
Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis None
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. There being a quorum
present, the following business was transacted:
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to give testimony on the
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommendations:
Medicaid Overview
Federal Funding Overview
Kathy Eckstein, Federal Funds, LBB Analyst
Larry Temple, Director, Welfare Reform Office - Texas Workforce
Commission
Answered questions on TANF and other issues affecting welfare
recipients.
Medicaid
John Keel, Director, LBB
Kelly Furgeson, LBB Analyst
Paul Priest, LBB Analyst
Tobacco Settlement Proceeds - ART. XII
Anita D'Souza, LBB Analyst
Kelly Furgeson, LBB Analyst
John Keel, Director, LBB
At 10:29 a.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand recessed
until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it
was so ordered.
Reconvened at 12:32 p.m.
Health & Human Services Commission
Kelly Furgeson, LBB Analyst
Amanda Jones, LBB Analyst
Jason Cooke, Director, State CHIP Program
Don Gilbert, Commissioner
Mr. Gilbert referred to the HHSC Funding Priority's for Fiscal
Year 2002-03 handout given to members. Answered many questions
from committee. At 2:50, Mr. Gilbert started speaking to the
exceptional items in the budget for the Health & Human Services
Commission (Handout).
Howard Balwin, Deputy Attorney General for Child Support
Answered questions from Committee during Mr. Gilbert's
testimony.
Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair during Mr. Gilbert's testimony.
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to give Public Testimony:
Raul Acosta, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
Fred Genco, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, the
ARC of Texas & Advocacy, Inc.
Karen Greebon, self, ADAPT
Colleen Horton, Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with
Disabilities
Jennifer McPhail, self, ADAPT
Susan Murphree, Advocacy, Inc. & Disability Advocates
Wayne Spahn, self, ADAPT
James Templeton, ADAPT
Stephanie Thomas, ADAPT of Texas
Karen R. Johnson, President, United Way of Texas, supports
funding for 2 1 1 Texas
Jose E. Camacho, Ex. Director, Texas Assoc. of Community
Health Centers
Bob Kafka, ADAPT
Danny Sanze, ADAPT
Pam Williford, Ex. Director, Coalition for the Homeless of
Houston & Harris Co., supports funding for 2 1 1.
Texas Department of Health
Paul Priest, LBB Analyst
Regina Martin, LBB Analyst
Senator Ellis resumed the chair at 4:13 p.m., during LBB testimony.
Larry Alwin, State Auditor
Dennis Bushnell, SAO
Ben Delgado, Texas Department of Health
Answered questions.
Sidney Shelton, State Employee
Answered questions.
J. C. Chambers, Chairman of the Board
Announced that since there was a quorum of board members in
attendance, according to the requirements of the open meeting
law, he was required to call a meeting. Chairman Chambers
called the board meeting to order. Mr. Chambers introduced the
members in attendance. Mr. Chambers stated there were three
things he wanted to say as Board Chair: the first was to assure
the committee that the board is active and involved, they
realize it is their responsibility and certainly their intention
to see that the department continues to follow legislative
policy and direction, the second is to let you know that the
board has all the confidence in the world in Dr. Bell, he has
shown remarkable leadership in the transition period, and
thirdly how proud the board is of the employees. Adjourned
meeting. Answered questions.
Dr. Charles Bell, Executive Director
Gave a brief overview of exceptional items in proposed budget
and then answered questions concerning Tier One and Tier Two
issues.
Jack Baum, Associate Commissioner for Family Health
Spoke to the Title V exceptional item, Special Health Care
item (Tier One)
Deborah Blount, Deputy Commissioner of Finance
Spoke to exceptional items in Tier One and Tier Two programs.
Debra C. Stabeno, Deputy Commissioner, Public Health Programs
Spoke to exception item (Access for Dental Health for
Children) in proposed budget.
Registering, but not testifying:
Sharilyn Stanley, M.D., Associate Commissioner
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The Chair recognized the following witnesses to give Public Testimony:
Tim Conger, Vice President for Public Advocacy, American Heart
Association
Jim Donovan, Americaid Community Care Program
Sindi Rosales, Executive Director, Epilepsy Coalition of Texas
(Written)
Donna Stahlhut, Executive Director, Epilepsy Foundation of SE
Texas, mother of epileptic child
Ann Dunkelberg, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Public Policy
Priorities (Written)
Frank Genco, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, ARC,
Advocacy, Inc.
Diane Gillit, Deputy Executive Director, South Plains Community
Action Association, Inc. (Written)
Janet P. Realini, M.D., M.P.H., Chair, Medical Advisory Committee,
Women's Health & Family Planning (Written)
Peggy Romberg, CEO/ Executive Director, Women's Health & Family
Planning
Kelly Headrick, Vice President for Governmental Relations, American
Cancer Society
Jose E. Camacho, Executive Director, Texas Association of Community
Health & Chairman of the Board, Superior Health Plan
Stella Roland, self, spoke against TCADA
Craig Tounrget, Director, Governmental Relations, Texas PTA
Registering, but not testifying:
Tom Banning, Medicaid Access Coalition (Written)
Ed Berger, Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy, Seton
Healthcare Network (Written)
Jennifer Bilbrey, Director, Governmental Affairs, Planned
Parenthood of San Antonio & South Central Texas (Written)
Kelly Hart, Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood of N.Texas
(Written)
Jacqueline Martin, President, United Way of the Texas Gulf
Coast (Written)
Ellen Sable, Volunteer, Texas Campaign for Women's Health &
National Council of Jewish Women (Written)
Danielle Tierney, Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital
Region (Written)
Jenny Young, Health Policy Analyst, Texas Medical Association
(Written)
Andrea Chilton Greer, Legislative Director, Planned Parenthood
of Houston & SE Texas, Inc.
Julie Marsden, Volunteer, League of Women's Voters of Texas
Cyndie Schmitt, Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers, Inc.
Written testimony only:
Associated Catholic Charities
Chinese Community Center
Shari Koziol, Executive Director, Crisis Intervention of
Houston
Steve Walder, Executive Director, Understanding Disabilities,
Creating Opportunities, UCP of Greater Houston, Inc.
Texas Health Care Informational Council
Jim Loyd, Executive Director
Gave an overview of what the Texas Health Care Informational
Council does. Spoke to exceptional items in proposed budget.
Answered questions.
Center for Rural Health Initiatives
Mike Easley, MPA, Executive Director
Gave an overview of what the Center for Rural Health Initiatives
does. Spoke to exceptional items in proposed budget. Answered
questions.
Children's Trust Fund
Nancy Millard, LBB Analyst
John Chacon, Executive Director
Introduced Gigi Edwards, Vice Chair. Gave an overview of the
plan for the 2002-03 biennium and spoke to items not recommended
by LBB. Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Gig Edwards, Vice Chair
There being no further business, at 6:30 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that
the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk