MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Interim Subcommittee on ERS and TRS Employee Benefit Issues
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
1:30 p.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Finance Interim
Subcommittee on ERS and TRS Employee Benefit Issues was held on
Wednesday, March 22, 2000, in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden, Chairman Senator John Carona
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Mario Gallegos
Senator Jon Lindsay
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 1:45 p.m. The
following business was transacted:
Invited Testimony
The chair recognized the following witnesses to provide
testimony on Employee Retirement System and Teacher Retirement
System benefit issues:
Craig Hudgins, representing the Legislative Council,
provided an overview of state law regarding provision of
health insurance benefits through the Employees Retirement
System, the Texas A&M University System and the University
of Texas System.
John Wielmaker, representing the Legislative Budget Board,
provided an overview of appropriations for health insurance
programs at the Texas A&M University System and the
University of Texas System and related budgeting issues.
Debbie Baisden, representing the Legislative Budget Board,
served as a resource witness.
Dan Stewart and Robert Molloy, representing the University
of Texas System, provided an overview of UTS health
insurance program and budget; funding performance and
projections; health insurance costs and trends; related
issues particular to UTS.
Steve Hassel, representing the Texas A&M University System,
provided an overview of TAMUS health insurance program and
budget; funding performance and projections; health
insurance costs and trends; related issues particular to
TAMUS.
Stephanie Coates, representing the Legislative Budget
Board, provided an overview of appropriations to the
Employees Retirement System, the Texas A&M University
System and the University of Texas System regarding health
insurance and related budgeting issues.
Sheila Beckett and Philip Dial, representing Employees
Retirement System of Texas, provided an overview of ERS
health insurance programs and budget; most recent funding
performance and projections; health care costs and trends;
funding alternatives and related costs/savings; HMO bidding
and competition; optional long-term care benefit
coordinated with the Texas A&M University System.
Other invited witness included:
Tracy Baroni, representing the Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America
Tom Kowalski, representing Texas Healthcare and Bioscience
Institute
Tim Williamson, representing ILEX Oncology Inc.
Brenda Bassett, George Bognar and Carol Nick-Kresl,
representing Merck-Medco Managed Care; and
Gary Anderson, representing Texas Public Employees
Association
Public Testimony
The chair recognized the following witness to provide testimony
on ERS and TRS benefit issues:
Ted Melina Raab, representing the Texas State Employees
Union.
There being no further business, at 5:30 p.m. Senator Lindsay
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Steve Ogden, Chair
______________________
Amber Martin, Clerk