The House Committee on Government Reform

80th Legislature

July 16, 2008

10:00 a.m.

E2.030

 

Pursuant to a notice posted on June 20, 2008, the House Committee on Government Reform met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Callegari, at 10:10 a.m.

 

The roll was answered as follows:

 

Present:              Representatives Callegari; Pitts; Berman; Leibowitz; Smith, Wayne (5).

 

Absent:              Representatives Miles; Rodriguez (2).

 

A quorum was present.

 

(Representative Rodriguez now present.)

 

The committee considered the following Interim Study Charge of the Texas House of Representatives, 80th Legislature, as issued by Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House:

 

Review authorized offices of inspector generals and assesses the benefit of having a statewide office of inspector general for all executive branch agencies.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The committee considered the following Interim Study Charge of the Texas House of Representatives, 80th Legislature, as issued by Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House:

 

Study and review current laws regarding licensing and regulation of professionals, as well as current laws regarding practice acts, and make recommendations on creating limitations and streamlining of licensure requirements, such as the public policy implications of decriminalization of license-related violations.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative Pitts in chair.)

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative Callegari in chair.)

 

The committee considered the following Interim Study Charge of the Texas House of Representatives, 80th Legislature, as issued by Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House:

 

Review a wide variety of state agencies with an eye to streamlining state government. Recommend the amendment or repeal of unnecessary statutory requirements, the deregulation of certain industries if in the public interest, and ways to implement agency efficiency recommendations identified by the Legislative Budget Board, the State Auditor's Office, and the Sunset Advisory Commission.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The committee considered the following Interim Study Charge of the Texas House of Representatives, 80th Legislature, as issued by Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House:

 

Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The committee continued consideration of the following Interim Study Charge of the Texas House of Representatives, 80th Legislature, as issued by Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House:

 

Study and review current laws regarding licensing and regulation of professionals, as well as current laws regarding practice acts, and make recommendations on creating limitations and streamlining of licensure requirements, such as the public policy implications of decriminalization of license-related violations.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative Berman in chair.)

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative Callegari in chair.)

 

The committee continued consideration of the following Interim Study Charge of the Texas House of Representatives, 80th Legislature, as issued by Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House:

 

Review a wide variety of state agencies with an eye to streamlining state government. Recommend the amendment or repeal of unnecessary statutory requirements, the deregulation of certain industries if in the public interest, and ways to implement agency efficiency recommendations identified by the Legislative Budget Board, the State Auditor's Office, and the Sunset Advisory Commission.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

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. Callegari, Chair

 

 

________________________

Jonathan Mathers, Clerk