** REVISION **
SENATE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:    Business & Commerce 

TIME & DATE:  10:00 AM, Tuesday, April 10, 2012 

PLACE:        E1.016 (Hearing Room) 
CHAIR:        Senator John Carona 

The Senate Committee on Business & Commerce will meet at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 in Room E1.016 of the Texas Capitol Extension. The Committee will:

- receive quarterly updates from selected state agencies and entities;

- take invited and public testimony on the interim study charge "Study and make recommendations for workforce training programs in Texas to ensure that such programs meet business and worker needs. Specifically, study whether such programs target economic growth areas and future workforce needs of the health care, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, and information technology industries and help retain workers in those trades and fields;" and

- take invited and public testimony on the interim study charge "Study the state's approach to licensing and regulation of occupations to ensure protection of public welfare, trust, health, and safety and eliminate unnecessary, overly restrictive, or anti-competitive regulation. Review guidelines and other states' approaches for determining when regulation is necessary and make recommendations for improving Texas' regulatory system."

Witnesses are asked to provide testimony and exhibits in electronic format no later than Thursday before the hearing to allow time for posting online. Public witnesses are requested to limit oral remarks to three minutes and are welcome to submit written testimony of any length and content, electronic format preferred. Committee staff will live-tweet the hearing using the Twitter.com hashtag #TxLegeBC and the Committee will take feedback using that hashtag. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Committee office at bc@senate.state.tx.us and monitor the website at http://BandC.posterous.com.

** See Committee Coordinator for previous versions of the schedule **