House Committee on Business & Industry 75th Legislature February 12, 1997 2:00 pm Capitol Extension, E2.014 Pursuant to a notice posted on February 6, 1997, the House Committee on Business & Industry met in a public hearing and was called to order by the Chair, Representative Kim Brimer at 2:02 pm. The roll was answered as follows: Present: Representatives Brimer; Rhodes; Dukes; Elkins; Giddings (5). Absent: Representatives Corte; Janek; Solomons; Woolley (4). A quorum was present. Representatives Corte and Solomons now present. After brief opening statements by the Chair and other members of the committee, Chairman Brimer called recognized the invited testimony. The invited testimony testified as follows: Alan R. Bromberg, University Distinguished Professor of Law from Southern Methodist University with Texas Business Law Foundation. Brenda Arnett, the Texas Department of Commerce. Representative Janek now present. The Chair recognized invited testimony. The invited testimony as follows: Richard C. Froeschle, Texas SOICC (State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee). Gary Preuss, Senior Economist for the Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Pam Beachley, Business Insurance Consumers Association of America. Dane Harris, Texas Association of Business and Chamber of Commerce Steve Bent, Texas Association of Responsible Nonsubscribers. Representative Rhodes now in the Chair. The Chair recognized Danny Crider, the National Council on Compensation Insurance for invited testimony. Representative Brimer now in the Chair. The Chair recognized June Karp, Executive Director of the Research and Oversight Council on Workers' Compensation for invited testimony. Representative Woolley now present. The Chair recognized Pam Perkins, Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division for invited testimony. Representative Rhodes now in Chair. The Chair recognized invited testimony from the following: Gene Fondren, Chairman of the Governing Committee of the Texas Workers' Compensation Facility. Russ Oliver, Texas Workers' Compensation Fund. Representative Brimer now in Chair. The Chair recognized the following for invited testimony: Nancy Moore, Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department on Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation. Virginia May, Manager of the State Office of Risk Management. Representative Rhodes now in Chair. Representative Brimer now in Chair. The Chair recognized the following for invited testimony: Donna Snyder, Commissioner of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. Jack Abla, Commissioner of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. Bart Griffin, the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. Representative Rhodes now in Chair. Representative Brimer now in Chair. The Chair recognized the following invited testimony: Ben Delgado, the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. Linda McKee, the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. Ramon Class, former Commissioner of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. At 7:00 pm, on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m. until 2:00 pm, February 19, 1997. ______________________ ______________________