MINUTES 
                                           
                    SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
                             Wednesday, August 23, 2006 
                                     9:00 a.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Health &  
         Human Services was held on Wednesday, August 23, 2006, in the  
         Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jane Nelson                     Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Bob Deuell                      Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
         Senator John Carona 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Royce West 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The Committee met in a joint committee with Senate Committee on  
         State Affairs.  Both Chairman Nelson and Chairman Duncan  
         presided over the hearing.  
          
         The Chairmen welcomed committee members and gave opening  
         remarks.  Chairman Nelson laid out joint charge 3 regarding the  
         study of current laws/policies relating to forensic patients in  
         State Hospitals and Community Mental Health Organizations.   
          
         Chairman Nelson opened the floor for invited testimony. 
          
         Invited witnesses provided testimony and answered questions. 
          
         Invited witnesses testifying on joint charge 3 are shown on the  
         attached list. 
          
         Chairman Nelson moved that invited testimony be closed;  without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Chairman Nelson opened the floor for public testimony on joint  
         charge 3. 
          
         Public witnesses testified and answered questions on joint  
         charge 3.   
          
         Public witnesses are shown on the attached list. 
          
         Chairman Nelson moved that public testimony on joint charge 3 be  
         closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:48 p.m. Senator Janek  
         moved that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services  
         stand in recess until 2:00 p.m., without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   Senator Duncan moved that the Senate Committee on  
         State Affairs stand in recess until 2:00 p.m. 
          
         Chairman Nelson reconvened the Committee at 2:00 p.m. and laid  
         out charge 1 relating to improving delivery of Texas' mental  
         health services.  Chairman Nelson opened the floor for invited  
         testimony on charge 1.   
          
         Invited witnesses testified and answered questions on charge 1.   
          
         Invited witnesses testifying on charge 1 are shown on the  
         attached list. 
          
         Chairman Nelson moved that invited testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Chairman Nelson opened the floor for public testimony on charge  
         1. 
          
         Public witnesses testified and answered questions on charge 1. 
          
         Public witnesses testifying on charge 1 are shown on the  
         attached list. 
          
         Chairman Nelson moved that public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:08 p.m. Senator Janek  
         moved that the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services  
         stand recessed subject of the call of the Chair.  Without  
         objection , it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Jane Nelson, Chair 
          
         Katherine Yoder, Clerk