Amend CSHB 2145, Senate committee printing, by adding the following SECTION, appropriately numbered, and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill accordingly: SECTION __. (a) The joint interim committee on pharmacy benefit programs is established to study state contracts on pharmacy benefit programs and to establish guidelines for the continuation of pharmacy benefit management contracts administered by the Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, The University of Texas System, and The Texas A&M University System. (b) The joint interim committee shall be composed of five senators and five members of the house of representatives, as follows: (1) the chair of the senate finance committee or that person's designee, the chair of the senate health and human services committee or that person's designee, and three senators appointed by the lieutenant governor; and (2) the chair of the appropriations committee of the house of representatives or that person's designee, the chair of the human services committee of the house of representatives or that person's designee, and three members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. (c) The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the committee members. (d) The joint interim committee shall meet initially at the joint call of the co-chairs, and the committee shall subsequently hold meetings and public hearings at the call of the co-chairs. (e) The joint interim committee has all powers and duties provided to special committees by the senate and house of representatives rules of procedure, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, and by policies of the committees on administration. (f) From the contingent expense fund of the senate and the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally, the members of the joint interim committee shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this section in accordance with the senate and house of representatives rules of procedure and the policies of the committees on administration. Other necessary expenses of operation shall be paid from the contingent expense fund of the senate and the contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally. (g) The joint interim committee shall make a complete written report, including findings and recommendations and drafts of recommended legislation, to the 80th Legislature when it convenes in January 2007.