MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

9:00 a.m.

Senate Chamber

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs was held on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, in the Senate Chamber.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Robert Duncan Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Troy Fraser Senator Chris Harris Senator Mike Jackson Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.		Senator Bob Deuell Senator John Carona Senator Leticia Van de Putte

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The committee heard invited and public testimony regarding Interim Charges 10 and 11:

 

Interim Charge 10:  Study the adequacy of workers’ compensation benefits in the following categories: lifetime income benefits, wage benefits for the high wage earner, and workers whose wage benefits stop before Social Security benefits begin. In order to determine the impact of increased benefits in one or more of these categories, work with the Texas Department of Insurance to develop a publicly accessible model to predict the costs related to those enhanced benefits, the effect of those costs on workers’ compensation premiums, and whether enrollment in the workers’ compensation system will be adversely impacted by increasing the benefits in one or more of the stated categories.

 

Interim Charge 11:  Study whether subrogation claims by writers of workers’ compensation policies should be limited or prohibited. Study the effect on workers’ compensation premiums, if any, if subrogation claims by writers of workers’ compensation policies are limited or prohibited. Consider the feasibility of developing a publicly accessible model to predict the impact on workers’ compensation premiums, if any, if subrogation claims by writers of workers’ compensation policies are limited or prohibited, while protecting confidentiality as required by law and study whether the impact on workers’ compensation premiums, if any, would adversely impact enrollment in the workers’ compensation system.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on both charges are shown on the attached list.

 

Senator Jackson assumed the chair.

 

Senator Duncan resumed the chair.

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 12:34 p.m. Senator Duncan moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Robert Duncan, Chair

 

 

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Erin Fry, Clerk