MINUTES 
                                           
                   SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
                              Thursday, March 8, 2001 
                                       9 a.m. 
                                   Senate Chamber 
                                           
                                       ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, and a motion made by Senator Moncrief to suspend the  
         Senate posting rules on SB 43 by Senator Zaffirini and SB 375 by  
         Senator Zaffirini, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Health and Human Services was held on Thursday, March 8, 2001,  
         in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Mike Moncrief, Chairman         Senator David Bernsen 
         Senator John Carona, Vice Chairman 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Frank Madla 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator David Sibley 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Senator Carona, serving as the presiding officer, called the  
         meeting to order at 9:11 a.m.  The following business was  
         transacted. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 47 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         residential and nonresidential services for victims of family  
         violence, and recognized the author to explain the bill. 
          
         At 9:12 a.m. Senator Moncrief assumed presiding duties and a  
         quorum was established. 
          
         Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute for SB 47 and  
         Senator Zaffirini explained the differences between it and the  
         bill as filed. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 47.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 47 are shown on the attached list.  There being no other  
         witnesses registered or responding to the chairman's call for  
  
         public testimony relating to the committee substitute for SB 47,  
         the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         Senator Gallegos asked unanimous consent to be shown voting "aye"  
         on the committee substitute for SB 47.  There being no  
         objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that SB 47 be reported to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee  
         substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion prevailed by a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that the committee substitute for SB 47 be  
         recommended for certification on the local and uncontested  
         calendar.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 432 by Senator Carona, relating to the  
         detention and transportation of a person admitted to a county  
         mental health facility for mental health services, and  
         recognized the author to explain the bill. 
          
         Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute for SB 432 and  
         explained the differences between it and the bill as filed. 
          
         Senator Carona moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 432.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 432 are shown on the attached list.  There being no other  
         witnesses registered or responding to the chairman's call for  
         public testimony relating to the committee substitute for SB  
         432, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         Senator Gallegos asked unanimous consent to be shown voting "aye"  
         on the committee substitute for SB 432.  There being no  
         objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         Senator Carona moved that SB 432 be reported to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee  
         substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion prevailed by a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays and 3 absent.      
          
         The chairman laid out SB 616 by Senator Van de Putte, relating  
         to the establishment of a medical assistance pilot program for  
         the management of children's asthma, and recognized the author  
         to explain the bill. 
          
         Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute for SB 616 and  
         Senator Van de Putte explained the differences between it and  
         the bill as filed.  
          
         Senator Harris moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
  
         for SB 616.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 616 are shown on the attached list.  There being no other  
         witnesses registered or responding to the chairman's call for  
         public testimony relating to the committee substitute for SB  
         616, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         The chairman left the committee substitute for SB 616 pending  
         temporarily, to await the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         At 9:49 a.m. Senator Carona resumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 831 by Senator Moncrief, relating to  
         the establishment of a medical assistance buy-in pilot program  
         for certain persons with disabilities, and recognized the author  
         to explain the bill. 
          
         Senator Moncrief sent up a committee substitute for SB 831 and  
         explained the differences between it and the bill as filed. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 831.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 831 are shown on the attached list.  There being no other  
         witnesses registered or responding to the chairman's call for  
         public testimony relating to the committee substitute for SB  
         831, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         Senators Gallegos, Harris, Nelson and Sibley asked unanimous  
         consent to be shown voting "aye" on the committee substitute for  
         SB 831.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 831 be reported to the Senate  
         with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the  
         committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion prevailed by a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays and 2  
         absent. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that the committee substitute for SB 831  
         be recommended for certification on the local and uncontested  
         calendar.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 691 by Senator Moncrief, relating to  
         the creation of an assisted living facility trust fund, and  
         recognized the author to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 691 are shown on the  
         attached list.  There being no other witnesses registered or  
         responding to the chairman's call for public testimony relating  
  
         to SB 691, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         The chairman left SB 691 pending temporarily, to await the  
         arrival of a quorum. 
          
         At 10:12 a.m. Senator Moncrief assumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 812 by Senator Carona, relating to  
         expanding access to women's health care services, and recognized  
         the author to explain the bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 812 are shown on the  
         attached list.  There being no other witnesses registered or  
         responding to the chairman's call for public testimony relating  
         to SB 812, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         At the author's request, SB 812 was left pending. 
          
         The chairman laid out anew SB 616 by Senator Van de Putte,  
         relating to the establishment of a medical assistance pilot  
         program for the management of children's asthma, which had been  
         left pending to await the arrival of a quorum.  
          
         Senator Gallegos asked unanimous consent to be shown voting "aye"  
         on the committee substitute for SB 616.  There being no  
         objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that SB 616 be reported to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the committee  
         substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion prevailed by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. 
         Senator Nelson moved that the committee substitute for SB 616 be  
         recommended for certification on the local and uncontested  
         calendar.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         At 10:27 a.m. Senator Carona resumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out anew SB 691 by Senator Moncrief, relating  
         to the creation of an assisted living facility trust fund, which  
         had been left pending to await the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         Senator Gallegos asked unanimous consent to be shown voting "aye"  
         on SB 691.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 691 be reported to the Senate  
         with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion prevailed by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 691 be recommended for  
         certification on the local and uncontested calendar.  There  
         being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         The chairman laid out anew SB 834 by Senator Moncrief, relating  
  
         to electronic access to health and human services information,  
         which had been left pending, and recognized Senator Moncrief. 
          
         Senators Gallegos and Madla asked unanimous consent to be shown  
         voting "aye" on SB 834. There being no objection, the motion  
         prevailed by unanimous consent. 
           
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 834 be reported to the Senate  
         with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion prevailed by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent.  
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 834 be recommended for  
         certification on the local and uncontested calendar.  There  
         being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         At 10:33 a.m. Senator Moncrief assumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out the March 1 and March 5, 2001, minutes and  
         called for revisions.  There being none, Senator Shapleigh moved  
         their approval. There being no objection, the motion prevailed  
         by unanimous consent. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 161 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         authorizing transitional support services to former recipients  
         of TANF benefits, and recognized the author to explain the bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 161 are shown on the  
         attached list.  There being no other witnesses registered or  
         responding to the chairman's call for public testimony relating  
         to SB 161, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         Senators Gallegos and Harris asked unanimous consent to be shown  
         voting "aye" on SB 161.  There being no objection, the motion  
         prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that SB 161 be reported to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         prevailed by a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved that SB 161 be recommended for  
         certification on the local and uncontested calendar.  There  
         being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent. 
          
         By unanimous consent, the chairman recessed the committee at  
         10:38 a.m., until 30 minutes after the adjournment of the Texas  
         Senate. 
          
         The chairman reconvened the Senate Committee on Health and Human  
         Services at 1:48 p.m. 
          
         At 1:51 p.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 373 by Senator Moncrief, relating to  
         simplifying the application and eligibility determination  
         process for medical assistance provided to children, and  
  
         recognized the author to explain the bill. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 374 by Senator Moncrief, relating to  
         continuous eligibility of children for medical assistance, and  
         recognized the author to explain the bill. 
          
         At 1:59 p.m. Senator Moncrief resumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 43  by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         simplifying the certification process for medical assistance  
         provided to children, and recognized Senator Nelson, in absence  
         of the author, to explain the bill. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 375 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         application and eligibility for Medicaid, and recognized Senator  
         Nelson, in absence of the author, to explain the bill. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 376 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         consideration of assets and resources for purposes of  
         determining eligibility to children for Medicaid, and recognized  
         Senator Nelson, in absence of the author, to explain the bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 43, SB 373, SB 374,  
         SB 375 and SB 376 are shown on the attached list. Testimony on  
         SB 43, SB 373, SB 374, SB 375 and SB 376 was left open. 
          
         At 2:17 p.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties. 
          
         At 2:21 p.m. Senator Moncrief resumed presiding duties. 
          
         At 2:58 p.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties. 
          
         At 3:01 p.m. Senator Moncrief resumed presiding duties. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 297 by Senator West, relating to  
         providing supplemental financial assistance to certain  
         grandparents, and recognized the author to explain the bill. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute for SB 297 and  
         Senator West explained the differences between it and the bill  
         as filed. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 297.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 297 are shown on the attached list.  There being no other  
         witnesses registered or responding to the chairman's call for  
         public testimony relating to the committee substitute for SB  
         297, the chairman closed public testimony. 
          
         At the chairman's request, the committee substitute for SB 297  
         was left pending. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 751 by Senator Shapleigh, relating to  
         providing the services of promotoras to certain recipients of  
         medical assistance, and recognized the author to explain the  
         bill. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute for SB 751 and  
         explained the differences between it and the bill as filed. 
         Senator Shapleigh moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 751.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 751 are shown on the attached list.  Testimony on the  
         committee substitute for SB 751 was left open. 
          
         At the author's request, the committee substitute for SB 751 was  
         left pending. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 184 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         services and programs provided under and eligibility for  
         temporary assistance for needy families and for food stamps, and  
         recognized Senator Carona, in absence of the author, to explain  
         the bill. 
          
         Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute for SB 184 and  
         explained the differences between it and the bill as filed. 
          
         Senator Carona moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 184.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 1008 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         resource requirements under the temporary assistance for needy  
         families program and the food stamp program, and recognized  
         Senator Carona, in absence of the author, to explain the bill. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 34 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         providing dental services to certain recipients of medical  
         assistance, and recognized Senator Carona, in absence of the  
         author, to explain the bill. 
          
         Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute for SB 34 and  
         explained the differences between it and the bill as filed.   
          
         Senator Carona moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 34.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         The chairman laid out SB 51 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to  
         the provision of Medicaid to certain persons making the  
         transition from foster care to independent living, and  
         recognized Senator Carona, in absence of the author, to explain  
         the bill. 
          
         Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute for SB 51 and  
  
         explained the differences between it and the bill as filed. 
          
         Senator Carona moved the adoption of the committee substitute  
         for SB 51.  There being no objection, the motion prevailed by  
         unanimous consent. 
          
         At 3:34 p.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 184 are shown on the attached list.  Testimony on the  
         committee substitute for SB 184 was left open. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on SB 1008 are shown on the  
         attached list.  Testimony on SB 1008 was  left open. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 34 are shown on the attached list. Testimony on the  
         committee substitute for SB 34 was left open. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the committee substitute  
         for SB 51 are shown on the attached list.  Testimony on the  
         committee substitute for SB 51 was left open. 
          
         At the chairman's request, the committee substitute for SB 34,  
         the committee substitute for SB 51, the committee substitute for  
         SB 184 and SB 1008, were left pending. 
          
         No action was taken on the following pending bills: 
          
         SB 35 by Zaffirini, relating to authorizing the Health and Human  
         Services Commission to make grants to community-based  
         organizations to provide support for long-term care services, 
          
         SB 46 by Zaffirini, relating to minimum training regarding  
         family violence for certain state employees and other persons  
         administering the financial assistance program and to  
         identification of and services for certain victims of family  
         violence, 
          
         SB 49 by Zaffirini, relating to applying penalties to recipients  
         of financial and nutritional assistance for certain drug-and  
         alcohol-related convictions,  
          
         SB 532 by Nelson, relating to medical assistance for certain  
         persons in need of treatment for breast and cervical cancer, 
          
         SB 572 by Moncrief, relating to the reduction of the shortage of  
         registered nurses by establishing a program to increase  
         enrollments in nursing education programs, increasing nursing  
         faculty, and creating a nursing workforce data center, and 
          
         SB 595 by Harris, relating to access to certain complaints filed  
         with the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. 
          
         There being no other business to come before the committee,  
         Senator Carona recessed the committee by unanimous consent at  
         4:05 p.m., subject to the call of the chairman. 
          
         _________________________________________ 
         Senator Mike Moncrief, chairman 
          
         _________________________________________ 
         Scott Caffey, committee clerk