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.