MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
9:30 a.m.
Texas Tech Medical Center, El Paso
*****
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 Tuesday, March 26, 2002, at the Texas
Tech Medical Center, Misenhimer Auditorium, Health Sciences
Building, 2nd Floor, 4800 Alberta Avenue, in El Paso, Texas
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chairman Senator John Carona,
Vice Chairman
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator David Bernsen
Senator Frank Madla Senator Chris Harris
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The chairman called the meeting to order at 9:41 a.m. There
being a quorum present, 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 select interim
committee charges and border health.
The chairman recognized the following persons, who made
welcoming remarks:
Jose Manuel de la Rosa, Regional Dean, Texas Tech
Medical Center,
El Paso, Texas
Jim Manley, Deputy Chief Administrator, El Paso
County Judge
Dolores Briones, El Paso, Texas.
The chairman laid out the October 11, 2001, and the February 6,
2002, minutes and called for revisions. There being none,
Senator Shapleigh moved the adoption of both sets of minutes.
There being no objection, it was so ordered.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding border health and human services issues. The following
persons provided oral testimony:
David Luna, Director of Border Affairs, Texas Health
and Human Services
Commission, Austin, Texas
Kermit Black, Director, Center for Housing and Urban
Development,
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding border health. The following persons provided oral
testimony:
Laurance N. Nickey, M.D., Member, U.S. - Mexico Border
Health
Commission, El Paso, Texas
Joseph B. McCormick, Assistant Dean, University of
Texas - Houston,
School of Public Health, Brownsville Regional
Campus,
Brownsville, Texas
Nuria Homedes, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of
Management and
Policy Sciences, University of Texas - Houston,
School of
Public Health, El Paso, Texas
Richard Fleager, Chairman, Team El Paso Healthcare
Council,
El Paso, Texas.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding immunizations. The following persons provided oral
testimony:
Eduardo Sanchez, Commissioner, Texas Department of
Health,
Austin, Texas
Sharilyn Stanley, Associate Commissioner for Disease
Control and Prevention, Texas Department of
Health, Austin, Texas
Jorge C. Magana, Local Pediatrician, El Paso Public
Health District,
El Paso, Texas
Julie Boom, M.D., Director of the Immunizations
Project, Texas Children's Hospital and the
Children's Hospital Association of Texas,
Houston, Texas.
The chairman recessed the Senate Committee on Health and Human
Services at 12:55 p.m.
At 1:35 p.m., the chairman reconvened the Senate Committee on
Health and Human Services.
The chairman called invited panelists to present briefings
regarding border mental health. The following persons provided
oral testimony:
Rick Ybarra, Director of Multi cultural Services,
Texas Department of
Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Austin,
Texas
Karen Hale, Commissioner, Texas Department of Mental
Health
and Mental Retardation, Austin, Texas
Gerry McKimmey, Deputy Commissioner, Community
Services,
Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation, Austin, Texas
Rosemary V. Neill, Board Chair, El Paso Mental Health
and Mental
Retardation Center, El Paso, Texas
Jose Rodriguez, County Attorney, El Paso County
Attorney's Office,
El Paso, Texas.
The chairman recognized the following person who made welcoming
remarks and provided testimony regarding border health and
border mental health issues:
The Honorable Raymond C. Caballero, Mayor, City of El
Paso,
El Paso, Texas.
The chairman called persons who registered as public witnesses
to provide testimony on select interim committee charges and
border health (see attached witness list). The chairman
recognized Henry Hinds, Spanish/English interpreter, and
announced that he was available to provide interpreting
services, if needed. The following public witnesses requested
interpreting services during their oral presentations before
the committee: Maria Luisa Garcia and Marina Gardea.
Senator Shapleigh assumed presiding duties at 4:43 p.m.
Senator Moncrief resumed presiding duties at 5:42 p.m.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chairman's call for public testimony relating to the select
interim committee charges and border health, the chairman closed
public testimony.
The chairman recognized Sharon Butterworth of El Paso, Board
Member of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation.
With no other business to come before the committee, the
chairman recessed the committee at 5:55 p.m., subject to the
call of the chairman.
____________________________________
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chairman
____________________________________
Scott Caffey, Committee Clerk