MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Wednesday, February 6, 2002
9:30 a.m.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and
Human Services was held on Wednesday, February 6, 2002, at the
University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp
Bowie Boulevard, Everett Hall, Room 106, in Fort Worth, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chairman Senator John Carona,
Vice Chairman
Senator Chris Harris Senator David Bernsen
Senator Jane Nelson Senator Mario Gallegos,
Jr.
Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Frank Madla
ALSO PRESENT:
Representative Myra Crownover
*****
The chairman called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m. The
following business was transacted.
The chairman made opening remarks and announced that the purpose
of the hearing was to receive briefings from invited panelists
and to receive public testimony regarding the interim committee
charges.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding bioterrorism. The following persons provided oral
testimony:
Ron Blanck, President, The University of North Texas Health
Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas.
Eduardo Sanchez, Commissioner, Texas Department of Health,
Austin, Texas
Dennis Perrotta, State Epidemiologist, Texas Department of
Health, Austin, Texas.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding the health and human services budget. The following
persons provided oral testimony:
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Texas Health and Human Services
Commission, Austin, Texas.
James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, Comptroller of Public
Accounts, Austin, Texas.
Senator Nelson assumed presiding duties at 11:34 a.m.
Senator Moncrief resumed presiding duties at 11:37 a.m.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding organ allocations and donations. The following person
provided oral testimony:
Charles E. Bell, Deputy Executive Commissioner, Texas Department
of Health, Austin, Texas,
The chairman recessed the Senate Committee on Health and Human
Services at 12:32 p.m.
At 1:18 p.m., the chairman reconvened the Senate Committee on
Health and Human Services.
The chairman called anew invited panelists to present briefings
regarding organ allocations and donations. The following
persons provided oral testimony:
Phil Berry, Physician, Task Force on SB 862, Dallas, Texas.
James A. Cutler, Executive Director/CEO, Southwest Transplant
Alliance, Dallas, Texas.
Samuel Holtzman, President/CEO, LifeGift Organ Donation
Center, Houston, Texas.
Patrick J. Giordano, CEO, Texas Organ Sharing Alliance,
San Antonio, Texas.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regardings Children's Mental Health. The followings persons
provided oral testimony:
Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation, Austin, Texas.
Vicki Spriggs, Executive Director, Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission,
Austin, Texas.
Thomas Chapmond, Executive Director, Texas Department of
Protective
and Protective Services, Austin, Texas.
DeAnn Lechtenberger, Director of Children's Finance, Texas
Integrated
Funding Initiative, Texas Health and Human Services Commission,
Austin, Texas.
Senator Nelson assumed presiding duties at 3:42 p.m.
Senator Moncrief resumed presiding duties at 3:51 p.m.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding the community mental health service system. The
following persons provided oral testimony:
Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation, Austin, Texas.
Dee Kifowot, Executive Director, Texas Council on Offenders
with Mental Impairments, Austin, Texas.
Dave Wanser, Executive Director, Texas Commission on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse, Austin, Texas.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation allocation formula. The following persons provided
oral testimony:
Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental Health
and Mental Retardation, Austin, Texas.
Don Gilbert, Commissioner, Texas Health and Human Services
Commission,
Austin, Texas.
The chairman called persons who registered as public witnesses
to provide testimony on the interim committee charges. See
attached witness list.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chairman's call for public testimony relating to the interim
committee charges, the chairman closed public testimony.
With no other business to come before the committee, the
chairman recessed the committee at 9:08 p.m., subject to the
call of the chairman.
___________________________________________
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chairman
___________________________________________
Scott Caffey, Committee Clerk