The House Committee on Business & Industry

84th Legislature

March 22, 2016

1:00 p.m.

E2.010

Pursuant to a notice posted on March 9, 2016, the House Committee on Business & Industry met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Oliveira, at 1:11 p.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Oliveira; Simmons; Collier; Fletcher; Rinaldi; Romero, Jr.; and Villalba.

A quorum was present.

The committee considered the following charges:

Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84^th legislature.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

Study the following aspects of the Designated Doctor process in the Texas workers’ compensation system:

a. The Division of Workers’ Compensation’s (DWC’s) processes for educating, monitoring, and evaluating designated doctors.

b. Whether the DWC requires additional authority to regulate designated doctors or entities providing services for designated doctors; and

c. Any unique issues with “traveling” designated doctors.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

Examine the adequacy of benefits for injured employees in the Texas workers’ compensation system who qualify for Lifetime Income Benefits, and for the beneficiaries of employees who receive Death Benefits. In particular, examine the application of benefit caps for those benefit types and the termination of Death Benefits to surviving spouses on remarriage.

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

At 5:33 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

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Rep. Oliveira, Chair

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Angelina Lopez, Clerk