MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Thursday, May 13, 2010

10:00 a.m.

Dallas City Hall, City Council Chambers, Dallas, Tx

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Thursday, May 13, 2010, in the Dallas City Hall, City Council Chambers, Dallas, Tx.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Royce West Senator Robert Nichols Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.		Senator Dan Patrick Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #3, review the process and costs for local governments to make government information available online. Consider ways to encourage local governments to provide more transparency, including the Comptroller's experience with transparency and her offer to assist local governments, and consider penalties for entities that fail to comply with the online requirement.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited testimony on interim committee charge #3.  See attached witness list. 

 

At 12:05 p.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair. 

 

At 12:25 p.m., Senator West resumed the Chair. 

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #5, study the reasons for and the impacts of hospitals directly hiring physicians. Examine practices in other states. Make recommendations, if needed, to permit hospitals to directly hire physicians.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited testimony on interim committee charge #5.  See attached witness list. 

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #7, review the types of support state government can provide to assist local government consolidations with county governments. Evaluate budget implications for city and county government consolidations. Research the appropriateness and cost savings of eliminating duplicity between city and county governments in different regions of the state.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited testimony on interim committee charge #7.  See attached witness list. 

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #9, Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.

·         Monitor the use of the expanded funds provided by the 81st Legislature to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

 

The Chair called the following persons to provide invited testimony on interim committee charge #9.  See attached witness list. 

 

At 3:07 p.m., the Committee stood at ease.

 

At 3:15 p.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair and reconvened the committee.

 

At 3:23 p.m., Senator West resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out interim committee charge #6, review state and local policies related to development and growth in rural and unincorporated regions of the state with regard to annexation and zoning authority. Focus on impacts to private property rights. Determine the appropriateness of existing extraterritorial jurisdiction authority. Make recommendations regarding possible changes to this authority.

 

The Chair called persons who registered as public witnesses on interim committee charge #3, #5, #7, #9, and #6.  See attached witness list.

 

There being no further business, at 4:02 p.m. Senator West moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

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Senator Royce West, Chair

 

 

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Tiffany White, Clerk