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New State Auditor Already on The JobJohn Keel, former head of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), has assumed the position as State Auditor. The Legislative Audit Committee named him to the position Wednesday. Keel replaces Lawrence Alwin, who recently retired. Regarding the selection, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said: "With his CPA training and his years of service to state government, John has an excellent background for this position." Keel, a certified public accountant, retired in June as director of the LBB, a position he held for 10 years. Prior to that, Keel was special assistant for budget and projects to former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. Keel's service in state government began in 1973 at the Texas Water Quality Board as an accountant. He served two stints in the comptroller's office and was deputy comptroller for six months in 1990 before moving with Bullock to the Senate. Keel was also an internal auditor and later a budget director for the attorney general's office from 1988 until 1990. From 1981 until 1988, Keel ran his own private-sector tax, accounting and consulting practice. Keel holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's in business administration from St. Edward's University. 
Former NYC Police Commissioner to Head Department of Homeland SecurityBernard Kerik, a former New York City police commissioner, has been nominated by President Bush to head the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Kerik will replace Tom Ridge, who announced his resignation as secretary of DHS earlier this week. Kerik joined the New York Police Department in 1986. He eventually was tapped to lead the city's corrections department, and was appointed police commissioner in 2000. He was responsible for supervising the NYPD's response to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. He has served as a military police officer in Korea and has recently run efforts to build up Baghdad's police force in Iraq. Regarding Kerik, Bush said: "Bernie Kerik is one of the most accomplished and effective leaders of law enforcement in America. In every position he has demonstrated a deep commitment to justice, a heart for the innocent and a record of great success." Next State Budget May Reach $130 BillionWhen Texas lawmakers convene in January, they could potentially approve up to $130 billion for the next two-year state budget cycle, according to Senator Steve Ogden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee. The current Texas budget is approximately $118 billion. Legislators won't know exactly how much they have available to spend until late December or early January, when Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn gives her official revenue estimate. State to Get $139 Million in Homeland Security FundsTexas will get about $139 million from the federal government to prepare for and respond to potential homeland security threats. The state will get about $89 million from the Homeland Security Grant Program and around $50 million from the Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative grants program. Through the urban grants program, Houston will get $18.5 million, Dallas will get $13.8 million, San Antonio, $5.8 million, Fort Worth, $5.3 million and Arlington, $5 million. Grant money is issued through the Office of Domestic Preparedness, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, to the Texas Engineering Extension Service. 
Interim Agency Director for Office of Court Administration NamedCarrice Marcovich, director of information services for the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA), has been named interim administrative director of the state agency. Marcovich replaces Alicia Key, who resigned to lead the Texas Attorney General Office's Child Support Division. She will serve until a new OCA administrative director is hired. A search for a new director is underway. Marcovich has worked in Texas state government for more than 28 years, mainly in the information technology field at several state agencies. Before she joined OCA she was director of the Information Resources Division of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (now Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). She has been OCA's Information Services Division director for four years. She is a summa cum laude graduate of St. Edward's University. $2.2 Million Awarded to Help Fight Crime, Violence and Illegal Drug ActivityGov. Rick Perry has announced the award of $2.2 million in statewide grants to programs dedicated to treatment, prevention and reduction of illegal drug activity, violence and crime. The grants are awarded under the federal Byrne Formula Grant Program and distributed by the Governor's Criminal Justice Division (CJD). The awards include:
New Sunset Commission Staff Reports PublishedThe Sunset Advisory Commission staff has released its final staff reports for 2004. The reports are:
The Commission will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, December 14 and 15, at 9:00am in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.030. The Commission will hear public testimony regarding the agencies listed above and issue decisions on the following agencies:
Links to these reports can be found in the October 22 edition of the Texas Government Insider. To view the meeting agenda, click here. Local Law Enforcement Programs Receive Grants For Equipment, TrainingLocal law enforcement programs around the state have received a total of $81,975 in grants for the purchase of equipment and technology, according to the Governor's office. The grants are awarded under the federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program (LLEBG). The awards include:
Pre-filing Still Slow291 bills for the 79th legislative session have been pre-filed through yesterday. After the same number of pre-filing days for the prior session, 386 bills had been filed and by the same point for the 77th session, 469 bills were filed. River Road ISD Calls $16 Million Bond ElectionRiver Road Independent School District has called a $16 million bond election. If the bond passes, $12.4 million will be used to build a new high school. The rest of the bond money would be used for a variety of projects included construction of a new gymnasium and dressing rooms at River Road Middle School. The bond election will take place February 5. Four Texas Cities Recognized for Use of Digital TechnologyFour Texas cities have been recognized as some of the most technology-advanced cities in America in the 2004 Digital Cities Survey by the Center for Digital Government. The annual study examines how city governments are utilizing digital technologies to better serve their citizens and streamline operations. Corpus Christi tied for tenth place in the 250,000 or more population category. In the 75,000-124,999 population category, Denton tied for first place while Richardson came in fourth. Flower Mound was seventh in the 30,000-74,999 population category. |
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a Texas-based, ten year old research and knowledge based consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. To learn more about SPI services click here or contact Crystal Kuhs at 512-531-3900. HHSC Staff AppointmentsAlbert Hawkins, Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), has appointed Dave Balland as Associate Commissioner for Medicaid and CHIP and Stephanie Muth as Director of External Relations. State Auditor's Report on State EmployeesThe State Auditor's Office has released a Summary Report on Full-Time Equivalent State Employees for Fiscal Year 2004. The report found that during FY04, state agencies and institutions of higher education employed an annual average of 274,776 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), a 2 percent decrease from FY03's annual average of 280,542 FTEs. House Committee on Transportation Interim ReportThe House Committee on Transportation has released its interim report. Event LinksTexas State Agency Business Administrators' Association 25th Mid-Winter Conference - 12/06/04 - 12/08/04 State of the State Conference - 12/07/04 Texas Association of Regional Councils Quarterly Meeting - 12/07/04 - 12/08/04 Office of the Attorney General 2004 Open Government Conference - 12/07/04 - 12/09/04 2004 UST Management & Compliance Assistance Seminar 12/09/04 WSLCA Winter Conference 2005 - 01/09/05 - 01/13/05 Texas Computer Education Association 25th Annual Convention & Exposition 02/07/05 - 02/11/05 SPI’s GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TEAM IS DIVERSIFIED AND EXPERIENCED
SPI’s Governmental Affairs experts provide a broad range of services, including:
Please contact SPI's Crystal Kuhs at ckuhs@spartnerships.com for more details. Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott NabersGrowth of government outsourcing likely will create more opportunities - 11/12/2004 Texas ports searching for more security help - 10/29/2004 Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 2 Issue 46 - 11/18/04 Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives - 11/7/03 - 11/12/04 ResourcesAudit Report on Measuring Effectiveness of State and Federal Funding for At-Risk Students Digital Texas: 2004 Biennial Report on Geographic Information Systems Technology State Contract Management Guide Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address Diagram of Legislative Process in Texas Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle Public Hearings/MeetingsSan Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization--1:30pm, December 6, 1021 San Pedro, San Antonio Texas Workforce Commission Meeting--9:00am, December 7, 101 E. 15th St., Austin House Committee on Public Eduation--10:00am, December 8, Ballroom G at the Austin Convention Center, 500 East Cesar Chavez, Austin Sunset Advisory Commission--9:00am, December 14 and 15, Capitol Extension, Room E1.030 Texas Transportation Commission--9:00am, December 16, Dewitt C. Greer Building, 125 East 11th Street, Austin Signing Up for the Texas Government Insider™We welcome you to add your friends and co-workers to the Texas Government Insider™ distribution. Simply click the Sign up for our mailing list icon near the top of this issue. Occasionally, we learn about people who signed up, but didn’t get the Texas Government Insider™. In nearly all cases, the problem turned out to be spam filtering on the receiving end. We strongly support the elimination of undesired email and applaud the use of technology to filter it. Occasionally, however, such filters prevent email that the recipient wanted to receive. If you have been unable to receive the Texas Government Insider™ or suddenly stop receiving it, we urge you to contact your information technology department to see if this was the cause. |
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2004 Open Government ConferenceThe Office of the Attorney General will host the 2004 Open Government Conference on December 7-9 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The conference will provide attendees with information concerning the state's Open Records Act and provide them with practical tips on writing effective open records requests and briefs. For more information or to register, click here. State of the State ConferenceThe Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications (TASSCC), in conjunction with the Department of Information Resources (DIR), will be holding its seventh annual State of the State Conference on December 7. The event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Austin. This year's event will explore "New Directions" in procurement, HR trends, direction from DIR, and the future of IT in state government. Speakers include Larry Olson, Texas Department of Information Resources; James Olson, Bush School of Government, Texas A&M University; Judy Windler, Health and Human Services Commission; and Billy Hamilton, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. To register or view the conference agenda, visit the TASSCC Web site. Business World Series - 2004 Heavy Hitter DayAt the 2004 Heavy Hitter Day to be held on December 9 from 9:00am - 5:00pm at the Austin Hilton North, owners and key staff of small businesses will have the opportunity to hear business success tips and advice from prominent business leaders including CEOs of large public companies and international and Internet experts. Discussions will focus on money, marketing, management and cashing out. For more information, click here. First Annual Bid FairTexas product and service providers can gather valuable information on successfully landing private or corporate contracts by attending the First Annual Bid Fair. Corporate and government purchasing professionals will give suggestions on how to receive potential contract information, prepare and submit spot bids, and be potential contract award winners. The free forum is from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, December 9 at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), 1117 Trinity St., Room 304T, in Austin. For more information, click here. Editor's Note: Often we hear from people who signed up, but aren't receiving the Texas Government Insider™. In nearly all cases, the problem turns out to be spam filtering on the receiving end. We strongly support the elimination of undesired email and applaud the use of technology to filter it. Occasionally, however, such filters prevent email that the recipient wants to receive. If you have been unable to receive the Texas Government Insider™ or suddenly stop receiving it, we urge you to contact your information technology department to see if this was the cause. |
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