MINUTES 
                                            
                             SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Wednesday, February 7, 2001 
                                      8:00 a.m. 
                            Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
                                            
                                        ***** 
       
      Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a  
      public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Wednesday,  
      February 7, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin,  
      Texas. 
       
                                        ***** 
                                            
      MEMBERS PRESENT:                           MEMBERS ABSENT: 
      Senator Rodney Ellis                       None 
      Senator Chris Harris 
      Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
      Senator Robert Duncan 
      Senator Troy Fraser 
      Senator Tom Haywood 
      Senator Mike Jackson 
      Senator Jon Lindsay 
      Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
      Senator Steve Ogden 
      Senator Carlos Truan 
      Senator John Whitmire 
      Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                            
                                        ***** 
                                            
      The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.  There being a quorum  
      present, the following business was transacted:   
       
      The Chair recognized the following witnesses to give testimony on the  
      Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommendations: 
       
           Medicaid Overview 
           Federal Funding Overview 
           Kathy Eckstein, Federal Funds, LBB Analyst 
           Larry Temple, Director, Welfare Reform Office - Texas Workforce  
      Commission  
                Answered questions on TANF and other issues affecting welfare  
      recipients. 
       
           Medicaid 
           John Keel, Director, LBB 
           Kelly Furgeson, LBB Analyst 
           Paul Priest, LBB Analyst 
       
           Tobacco Settlement Proceeds - ART. XII 
           Anita D'Souza, LBB Analyst 
           Kelly Furgeson, LBB Analyst 
           John Keel, Director, LBB  
       
      At 10:29 a.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand recessed  
  
      until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it  
      was so ordered.  
       
      Reconvened at 12:32 p.m.   
            
           Health & Human Services Commission 
           Kelly Furgeson, LBB Analyst 
           Amanda Jones, LBB Analyst 
           Jason Cooke, Director, State CHIP Program 
           Don Gilbert, Commissioner 
              Mr. Gilbert referred to the HHSC Funding Priority's for Fiscal  
              Year 2002-03 handout given to members.  Answered many questions  
              from committee.  At 2:50, Mr. Gilbert started speaking to the  
              exceptional items in the budget for the Health & Human Services  
              Commission (Handout).   
           Howard Balwin, Deputy Attorney General for Child Support 
                Answered questions from Committee during Mr. Gilbert's  
      testimony. 
       
      Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair during Mr. Gilbert's testimony. 
            
      The Chair recognized the following witnesses to give Public Testimony: 
       
                Raul Acosta, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities 
                Fred Genco, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities,  the  
      ARC of Texas & Advocacy, Inc. 
                Karen Greebon, self, ADAPT 
              Colleen Horton, Texas Advocates Supporting Kids with  
              Disabilities 
                Jennifer McPhail, self, ADAPT  
                Susan Murphree, Advocacy, Inc. & Disability Advocates 
                Wayne Spahn, self, ADAPT 
                James Templeton, ADAPT 
                Stephanie Thomas, ADAPT of Texas 
                Karen R. Johnson, President, United Way of Texas, supports  
                        funding for 2 1 1 Texas     
                Jose E. Camacho, Ex. Director, Texas Assoc. of Community  
      Health Centers  
                Bob Kafka, ADAPT 
                Danny Sanze, ADAPT 
              Pam Williford, Ex. Director, Coalition for the Homeless of  
              Houston & Harris Co., supports funding for 2 1 1. 
       
           Texas  Department  of  Health 
           Paul Priest, LBB Analyst 
           Regina Martin, LBB Analyst 
       
      Senator Ellis resumed the chair at 4:13 p.m., during LBB testimony. 
            
           Larry Alwin, State Auditor 
           Dennis Bushnell, SAO 
           Ben Delgado, Texas Department of Health 
                Answered questions. 
           Sidney Shelton, State Employee 
                Answered questions. 
           J. C. Chambers, Chairman of the Board 
              Announced that since there was a quorum of board members in  
              attendance, according to the requirements of the open meeting  
              law, he was required to call a  meeting.  Chairman Chambers  
         
              called the board meeting  to order. Mr. Chambers introduced  the  
              members in attendance. Mr. Chambers stated there were three  
              things he wanted to say as Board Chair: the first was to assure   
              the committee that the board is active and involved, they  
              realize it is their responsibility and certainly their intention  
              to see that the department continues to follow legislative  
              policy and direction, the second is to let you know that the  
              board has all the confidence in the world in Dr. Bell, he has  
              shown remarkable  leadership in the transition period, and  
              thirdly how proud the board is of the employees.  Adjourned  
              meeting. Answered questions. 
            Dr. Charles Bell, Executive Director 
              Gave a brief overview of exceptional items in proposed budget  
              and then answered questions concerning Tier One and Tier Two  
              issues. 
           Jack Baum, Associate Commissioner for Family Health 
                Spoke to the Title V exceptional item, Special Health Care  
      item (Tier One) 
           Deborah Blount, Deputy Commissioner of Finance 
                Spoke to exceptional items in Tier One and Tier Two programs. 
           Debra C. Stabeno, Deputy Commissioner, Public Health Programs 
                Spoke to exception item (Access for Dental Health for  
      Children) in proposed budget. 
       
                Registering, but not testifying: 
                Sharilyn Stanley, M.D., Associate Commissioner 
                - 
            
      The Chair recognized the following  witnesses to give Public Testimony: 
          
           Tim Conger, Vice President for Public Advocacy, American Heart  
      Association 
           Jim Donovan, Americaid Community Care Program 
           Sindi Rosales, Executive Director, Epilepsy Coalition of Texas  
      (Written) 
           Donna Stahlhut, Executive Director, Epilepsy Foundation of SE  
      Texas, mother of epileptic child 
           Ann Dunkelberg, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Public Policy  
      Priorities (Written) 
           Frank Genco, Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities, ARC,  
      Advocacy, Inc. 
           Diane Gillit, Deputy Executive Director, South Plains Community  
      Action Association, Inc. (Written) 
         Janet P. Realini, M.D., M.P.H.,  Chair, Medical Advisory Committee,  
         Women's Health & Family Planning (Written)  
           Peggy Romberg, CEO/ Executive Director, Women's Health & Family  
      Planning   
           Kelly Headrick, Vice President for Governmental Relations, American  
      Cancer Society 
         Jose E. Camacho, Executive Director, Texas Association of Community  
         Health & Chairman of the Board, Superior Health Plan      
           Stella Roland, self, spoke against TCADA      
           Craig Tounrget, Director, Governmental Relations, Texas PTA 
       
           Registering, but not testifying: 
                Tom Banning, Medicaid Access Coalition (Written)                       
                Ed Berger, Vice President, Advocacy & Public Policy, Seton  
      Healthcare Network (Written) 
              Jennifer Bilbrey, Director, Governmental Affairs, Planned  
              Parenthood of San Antonio & South Central Texas     (Written) 
                Kelly Hart, Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood of N.Texas  
  
      (Written) 
                Jacqueline Martin, President, United Way of the Texas Gulf  
      Coast (Written) 
              Ellen Sable, Volunteer, Texas Campaign for Women's Health &  
              National Council of Jewish Women    (Written) 
                Danielle Tierney, Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital  
      Region (Written) 
                Jenny Young, Health Policy Analyst, Texas Medical Association  
      (Written)       
                Andrea Chilton Greer, Legislative Director, Planned Parenthood  
      of Houston & SE Texas, Inc. 
                Julie Marsden, Volunteer, League of Women's Voters of Texas 
                Cyndie Schmitt, Texas Council of Community MHMR Centers, Inc. 
            
                Written testimony only: 
                Associated Catholic Charities 
                Chinese Community Center 
                Shari Koziol, Executive Director, Crisis Intervention of  
      Houston 
              Steve Walder, Executive Director, Understanding Disabilities,  
              Creating Opportunities, UCP of     Greater Houston, Inc.  
                 
            Texas Health Care Informational Council 
            Jim Loyd, Executive Director 
              Gave an overview of what the Texas Health Care Informational  
              Council does.  Spoke to exceptional items in proposed budget.   
              Answered questions. 
            
             Center for Rural Health Initiatives 
              Mike Easley, MPA, Executive Director 
              Gave an overview of what the Center for Rural Health Initiatives  
              does.  Spoke to exceptional items in proposed budget.  Answered  
              questions. 
           Children's Trust Fund 
           Nancy Millard, LBB Analyst 
           John Chacon, Executive Director 
              Introduced Gigi Edwards, Vice Chair.  Gave an overview of the  
              plan for the 2002-03 biennium and spoke to items not recommended  
              by LBB.  Answered questions. 
       
                Registering, but not testifying: 
                Gig Edwards, Vice Chair 
                 
      There being no further business, at 6:30 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that  
      the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without  
      objection, it was so ordered.   
       
      ______________________ 
      Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
       
      ______________________ 
  
      Myra  J. Schmitt, Clerk