MINUTES 
          
                   SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
                            Tuesday, October 7, 1997 
                                     1 p.m. 
                                 Senate Chamber 
                                      ***** 
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a briefing for the members of the Long-Term Care  
         Legislative Oversight Committee for was held on Tuesday,  
         October 7, 1997 in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.   
                                      ***** 
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair 
         Senator Jane Nelson                      
         Dr. Ken Kramer, Public Member 
         Representative Elliott Naishtat 
         Representative Jim McReynolds 
         Pat Karrh, Public Member 
                                      ***** 
         The chair called the meeting to order at 1 p.m.  There being a  
         quorum present, the following business was transacted. 
          
         The chair made opening remarks and announced that the purpose  
         of the meeting was to consider the organization, rules,  
         procedures and proposed schedule for the Long-Term Care  
         Legislative Oversight Committee. 
          
         The chair laid out the rules for the Long-Term Care  
         Legislative Oversight Committee and called for revisions.   
         There being none, Senator Nelson moved their approval.  There  
         being no objection, the rules were adopted by unanimous  
         consent. 
          
         The chair called invited panelists to brief committee members  
         regarding significant problems in the nursing facility  
         regulatory system, the effectiveness and efficiency of the  
         nursing facility regulatory system and the continuum of care  
         of long-term care services available to Texas. 
          
         The following persons provided oral testimony: 
          
              Eric Bost, commissioner, Texas Department of Human  
              Services, 701 West 51st Street, Austin, Texas 78714-9030. 
          
              Melissa Todd, division chief, Office of the Attorney  
              General, P.O. Box 12548, Austin, Texas 78711-2548. 
          
              David Lattimer, vice president, Governmental Relations,  
              Texas Association for Homes and Services for the Aging,  
              2205 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas 78756. 
          
              Thomas Suehs, executive director, Texas Health Care  
              Association, 4214 Medical Parkway, Austin, Texas 78756. 
          
              Mark Gentle, attorney, American Association of Retired  
              Persons, P.O. Box 1026, Austin, Texas 78767. 
          
              Beth Ferris, vice president, Texas Advocates for Nursing  
              Home Residents, 500 East Anderson Lane, #234 W, Austin,  
              Texas 78752. 
          
         With no other business to come before the committee, the chair  
         recessed the Long-Term Care Legislative Oversight Committee at  
         3:30 p.m., subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         ________________________________ 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair 
          
         _________________________________   
         Pam Crowley, Committee Clerk