MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Thursday, May 13, 1999
7 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Human
Services was held on Thursday, May 13, 1999, in the Senate
Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair
Senator John Carona, Vice Chair
Senator David Bernsen
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Chris Harris
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 7 a.m. There being a
quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The chair laid out the May 12, 1999, minutes and called for
revisions. There being none, Senator Carona moved their
approval. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by
unanimous consent.
The chair laid out HB 2840 by Representative Keffer, relating
to the definition of "assistance organization" for purposes of
state surplus and salvage property, and recognized the Senate
sponsor, Senator Sibley, to explain the bill.
The following person registered as a resource witness on HB
2840, but did not testify:
Sharon Zambrzycki, director of volunteer services, Texas
Department of Human Services, Austin, Texas 78752.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 2840, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Harris asked unanimous consent to be shown voting
"aye" on HB 2840. There being no objection, the motion
prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Carona moved that HB 2840 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Carona moved that HB 2840 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out anew, HB 3693 by Representative Hunter,
relating to certification under the state Medicaid program for
nursing home beds in certain nursing facilities, which had
been left pending, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator
Fraser.
Senator Gallegos sent up committee amendment 1 and moved it's
adoption. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by
unanimous consent.
Public testimony was left open on HB 3693 during the May 12,
1999, hearing, so that the public could comment on any
proposed committee amendments; however, no additional persons
registered on HB 3693, as amended.
There being on other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 3693, as
amended, the chair closed public testimony.
Senator Gallegos moved that HB 3693, as amended, be reported
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0
"nays."
The chair laid out HB 1864 by Representative Capelo, relating
to the study and development of outreach and education
programs for promotoras or community health workers under
which community residents provide health education services,
and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Shapleigh, to
explain the bill.
The following person registered as a resource witness on HB
1864, but did not testify:
Billy Millwee, division director, Texas Department of
Health, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 1864, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Harris moved that HB 1864 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Harris moved that HB 1864 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
At 7:16 a.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties.
The chair laid out HB 3470 by Representative Olivo, relating
to the creation of a Parents as Scholars pilot program for
certain persons eligible to receive TANF benefits, and
recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain
the bill.
The following persons registered as resource witnesses on HB
3470, but did not testify:
Judy Denton, director of eligibility services, Texas
Department of Human Services, 701 West 51st Street,
Austin, Texas 78714-9030.
Lela Dyson, director of program planning and development,
Workforce Development Division,
Texas Workforce Commission, 101 East 15th Street, Austin,
Texas 78778.
The following person provided oral testimony in support of HB
3470:
Patrick Bresette, associate director, Center for Public
Policy Priorities, 900 Lydia Street,
Austin, Texas 78702.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 3470, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3470 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3470 be recommended for the
local and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out HB 3606 by Representative Salinas, relating
to licensing requirements for alternative education programs
that provide chemical dependency treatment services, and
recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Zaffirini, to explain
the bill.
The following person registered as a resource witness on HB
3606, but did not testify:
Karen Pettigrew, deputy for legal affairs, Texas
Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
9001 North IH-35, Suite 105, Austin, Texas 78753.
The following person registered in support of HB 3606, but did
not testify:
David Flores, 5901 Burrough Drive, Austin, Texas 78745.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 3606, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3606 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 3606 be recommended for the
local and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
At 7:21 a.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed presiding duties.
The chair laid out HB 2563 by Representative Glenn Lewis,
relating to creation of a pilot program to establish
individual development accounts for certain low-income
individuals, and recognized Senator Harris to explain the bill
on behalf of the Senate sponsor, Senator Ellis.
The following person registered as a resource witness on HB
2653, but did not testify:
Bill Turnor, unit supervisor, Texas Workforce Commission,
Austin, Texas.
The following persons registered in support of HB 2653, but
did not testify:
Patrick Bresette, associate director, Center for Public
Policy Priorities, 900 Lydia Street, Austin, Texas 78702.
Julian Huerta, resident services director, Central Texas
Mutual Housing, 2512 South IH-35, Suite 350, Austin,
Texas 78704.
There being no other persons registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 2653, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Harris moved that HB 2653 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Harris moved that HB 2653 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out HB 494 by Representative Maxey, relating to
drug benefits available under certain health care programs
administered by the Texas Department of Health, and recognized
Senator Bernsen to explain the bill on behalf of the Senate
sponsor, Senator Moncrief.
The following persons registered as resource witnesses on HB
494, but did not testify:
Cindy Alexander, policy analyst, Comptroller of Public
Accounts, 111 East 17th Street, Austin,
Texas 78711.
Kathy Griffis-Bailey, program specialist, Texas
Department of Health, Austin, Texas 78756.
Patricia C. Gladden, director, Standards and Procedures,
Vendor Drug Program, Texas Department of Health, 1100
West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78751.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to HB 494, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Bernsen moved that HB 494 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Bernsen moved that HB 494 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair announced that proposals for interim committee
charges should be submitted to the committee office by Monday,
May 17. She explained the proposals would be compiled and
submitted to Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry for his
consideration.
There being no other business to come before the committee and
upon a motion by Senator Carona, the chair recessed the
committee by unanimous consent at 7:27 a.m., subject to the
call of the chair.
________________________________________
Judith Zaffirini, Chair
________________________________________
Scott Caffey, Committee Clerk