MINUTES 
                                           
                   SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
                             Thursday, October 11, 2001 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
                                   Senate Chamber 
                                           
                                       ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a organizational meeting and briefing of the Senate  
         Committee on Health and Human Services was held on Thursday,  
         October 11, 2001, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Mike Moncrief, Chairman         Senator David Bernsen 
         Senator John Carona, Vice Chairman      Senator Mario Gallegos,  
                                                 Jr. 
         Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Frank Madla 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator David Sibley 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chairman called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. 
          
         The chairman made opening remarks and announced that the purpose  
         of the meeting was to consider the organization, rules,  
         procedures and proposed schedule for the Senate Committee on  
         Health and Human Services and to receive briefings regarding  
         interim charges issued by Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff.  The  
         chairman recognized Jon Weizenbaum, policy director, who  
         introduced committee staff. 
          
         The chairman laid out the interim rules for the Senate Committee  
         on Health and Human Services and called for revisions.  There  
         being none, Senator Madla moved their adoption.  There being no  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The chairman stated that he had added the following issues to  
         the list of interim charges assigned to the committee:  
         evaluating and improving the effectiveness of the state's public  
         health response to bioterrorism; improving the state's organ  
         donation and allocation system; increasing Texas' rates of  
         immunization against childhood communicable diseases; and,  
         improving reporting and training regarding the use of restraints  
         and seclusions in facilities. 
          
         Senator Harris suggested the committee consider requesting a  
  
         briefing from the Comptroller's Office regarding a possible  
         budget shortfall in the area of health and human services;   
         request a briefing from the Governor's Washington D.C. staff  
         about TANF reauthorization; and to request a briefing from Jose  
         Montemayor, commissioner, Texas Department of Insurance,   
         regarding an update on nursing home closures and the status of  
         the insurance market in response to legislation passed during  
         the 77th Legislative Session. 
          
         The chairman called the following person to provide a briefing  
         regarding Texas Health and Human Services Commission issues: 
          
              Don Gilbert, commissioner, Texas Health and Human Services  
              Commission, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following person to provide a briefing  
         regarding the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental  
         Retardation and mental health issues: 
          
              Karen Hale, commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health  
              and Mental Retardation, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following persons to provide a briefing  
         regarding welfare issues: 
          
              Jim Hine, commissioner, Texas Department of Human Services,  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
              Larry Temple, director, Office of Welfare Initiatives,  
              Texas Workforce Commission, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following persons to provide a briefing  
         on social security disability issues: 
          
              Max Arrell, commissioner, Texas Rehabilitation Commission,  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
              Mary Wolfe, deputy commissioner, Texas Rehabilitation  
         Commission, Austin, Texas. 
          
              Dave Ward, deputy commissioner, Texas Rehabilitation  
         Commission, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following person to provide a briefing  
         on Texas Department of Health issues, organ allocations,  
         bioterrorism and immunizations: 
          
              Dr. Charles Bell, executive deputy commissioner, Texas  
              Department of Health, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following persons to provide a briefing  
         on bioterrorism issues: 
  
              Michael Mastrangelo, director, Bioterrorism Response  
              Support, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.   
          
              Dennis Perrotta, state epidemiologist, Texas Department of  
         Health, Austin, Texas. 
          
              Sam Wilson, director, Emergency Preparedness Division,  
              Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following person to provide a briefing  
         regarding immunization issues: 
          
              Sharilyn K. Stanley, associate commissioner, Texas  
         Department of Health, Austin, Texas. 
          
         The chairman called the following person to provide a briefing  
         regarding Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services  
         issues: 
          
              Drew Thigpen, interim executive director, Texas Department  
              of Protective and Regulatory Services, Austin, Texas.  
          
         With no other business to come before the committee and upon a  
         motion by Senator Nelson, the chairman recessed the committee at  
         1:06 p.m.  There being no objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ___________________________________ 
         Senator Mike Moncrief, chairman 
           
         ____________________________________ 
         Scott Caffey, committee clerk