$14 Million Allocated for Central Texas Highway Projects

The U.S. House recently passed a federal transportation bill designating $14 million in funding for highway projects in Central Texas. Funding requests in the Transportation Equity Act include $6 million for the expansion of U.S. Highway 290 West in the Oak Hill area, $7 million for the northern segment of State Highway 130, the I-35 bypass from Georgetown to State Highway 45, and $1 million for the expansion of State Highway 71 in Burnet County. The bill will go to a conference committee before passing to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

San Antonio Trauma Center Receives $2.1 Million Grant

A $2.1 million grant from a congressional appropriation will be used to help create the Trauma Institute of San Antonio (TRISAT). The center will combine resources from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, University Health System, Brooke Army Medical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. TRISAT is the nation's first U.S. military/civilian trauma center, according to officials of the participating medical facilities. The creation of TRISAT is in response to the lack of funds and physician shortages affecting trauma centers nationwide.

Austin is One of Nation's Wi-Fi Hot Spots

Austin is one of the nation's most "unwired" cities, according to a recent survey by Intel Corp. The city ranks No. 4 on the second annual "Most Unwired Cities" survey. The San Francisco Bay area was first on the list. The survey is based on the number of local wireless networks, wireless email devices, public wireless access points and Internet availability. In a similar survey of the nation's most unwired college campuses, the University of Texas received a third place ranking.

Houston Community Groups Oppose $82 Billion Transportation Plan

Spokespeople for several local community groups voiced their opposition to the proposed 20-year transportation plan for the Houston-Galveston area at a recent city council meeting. Representatives asked Mayor Bill White and the City Council to either change or drop the $82 Billion 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, which calls for improvements such as a 60 percent increase in highway lines and the construction of 349 miles of commuter rail lines by 2025.

One criticism voiced was that the plan focuses too much on building more highways and not enough on promoting alternative modes of transportation such as light rail or bicycling. Critics also suggested further studies needed to be done on the potential impact the plan could have on pollution, flooding and congestion.

Comptroller Critical of State Foster Care System

State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn called for significant changes to the children's foster care system this week, claiming that the current system is inefficient and inadequate in delivering care to kids in its charge. The Comptroller's office issued a 292-page report on the matter, titled "Forgotten Children," which details the problems and gaps they identified in the current system, and makes recommendations for its improvement.

Among the 87 suggested recommendations are the following:

• Eliminate the current foster care structure which creates a conflict of interest and has the agency regulating itself
• Direct and redirect $193.9 million in savings to better care for children by replacing state caseworkers with independent oversight enforcement staff
• Move children out of all therapeutic camps that do not meet licensing standards for Permanent Therapeutic Camps
• Revoke the licenses of facilities that have ongoing problems affecting the health, safety and well being of children
• Educate foster care children about free higher education tuition eligibility

In responding to Strayhorn's recommendation that non-profit organizations take over many of the functions of independent caseworkers, Geoff Wool, a spokesperson for the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), explained that the agency had considered such an option, but found it economically unfeasible because of the $23 million pricetag attached to it.

According to the Comptroller's report, the state's foster care system was responsible for 26,133 children in 2003 - expenditures for those children ranged from $20 to $277 a day depending on the individual's level of need. Wool contradicted that assessment, however, estimating the number as 10,000 or fewer. Verified reports of abuse and neglect rose 6 percent statewide last year, with 50,208 confirmed cases total.

SAWS To Spend More on Water and Wastewater Projects, Hires Search Firm to Find New Director

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) will spend an estimated $207 million on water and wastewater projects this year. At a recent board meeting, $97 million was earmarked for the projects. $110 million had already been allocated for the projects. $95 million has been budgeted for water supply projects, $72.9 million for repair and replacement of existing pipelines and $25 million for projects to handle future growth. Earlier this year, the City Council raised water and sewer rates to help pay for replacing aging treatment plants, tanks, pumps and pipes.

An executive search firm has been hired by the SAWs to help find a new president by the end of July. SAWS is searching for a replacement for retired four-star Air Force Gen. Eugene Habiger.

Comptroller Forecasts 4.2% Economic Growth in 2004-2005

Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the State Comptroller, predicted that Texas' economy would grow 4.2 percent over the next two years, an improvement over the 2.9 percent growth rate of 2002-2003. The Comptroller also predicted a 5.6 percent increase in income for Texans for the same time period. Worker productivity is also expected to increase by 2.2 percent, while the number of jobs should grow 1.9 percent each year. Unemployment, currently 6.7 percent, will fall to 6.3 percent in 2004, and 6.1 percent in 2005, according to Strayhorn's projections.

Hiring Outlook Improves in Texas' Largest Cities

Job growth is expected to increase in Texas' five biggest metro areas, according to researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. After more than a year of little employment growth, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, Austin and El Paso should see an increase in hiring in the coming years. Job growth will be fueled by an increase in semiconductor and computer orders and venture investment, according to researchers. A spike in retail sales along the Mexican border and high oil and natural gas prices are also likely to contribute to job growth.

Texas Ranks Third in "Insourced Jobs"

Foreign companies create 428,000 jobs in Texas, the third highest number of "insourced jobs" in the nation, according to the Organization of International Investment. "Insourced jobs" are ones supported by the U.S. subsidiaries of companies that have headquarters overseas. California ranks No. 1 in terms of "insourced" jobs, followed by New York. Nationwide, 6.4 million Americans are employed by U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies.

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a Texas-based, nine year old research and knowledge based consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. To learn more about the SPI team click here or contact Crystal Kuhs at 512-531-3900.

Event Links

Accessibility: A Review of Laws and Applicable Technologies - 4/7/04

Texas Police Chiefs Association: Mid-year Conference 2004 - 4/13/04 - 4/16/04

Spring 2004 Power to Purchase Expo, DIR's Semi-Annual Technology Show - 4/13/04

2004 Texas Aviation Conference - 4/14/04 - 4/16/04

TASA's Spring Conference - 4/14/04 - 4/17/04

Texas Fire Chiefs Officers Conference and Exhibition - 4/20/04 - 4/23/04

NASCIO 2004 Midyear Conference - 4/25/04 - 4/27/04

4th Annual Internet Security Forum for Texas State Government - 4/27/04

TASSCC 3rd Annual Technology Education Conference - 4/28/04

All-Rural Texas Summitt - 4/27/04 - 4/28/04

SALSA Presents BioDefense Summit III - 4/29/04 - 4/30/04

TexMed 2004: Educational Showcase & Expo - 5/13/04 - 5/15/04

Texas State Agency Business Administrator's Association 24th Annual Conference - 6/7/04 - 6/9/04

EDA National Economic Development Conference - 6/8/04 - 6/10/04

2004 Workforce and Economic Development Conference - 6/23/04 - 6/24/04

NCSL Annual Meeting: The New Legislative Reality - 7/19/04 - 7/23/04

Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards 44th Annual Convention - 09/17/04-09/20/04

NASCIO 2004 Annual Conference - 9/19/04 - 9/22/04

WIN BUSINESS WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT

As a follow up to its successful roll out of The Guide to the Texas State Government Marketplace, and because of repeated requests, SPI is announcing a new service offerings.

SPI has a dedicated Information Services (IS) Division that researches governmental entities and analyzes data for future and current business opportunities. Our team studies and reviews strategic plans, legislative appropriations requests, appropriations bills, and budgets to identify potential business projects. IS provides these key services and products:

• Future Opportunity Analysis - email notification of new opportunities as they are discovered and updates to opportunities as new information becomes available



• Bid Monitoring - timely email notification of current procurement opportunities for over 500 state agencies, institutions of higher education, cities, counties, school districts, airports, and ports.



• Customized Research - specific intelligence on entities, opportunities, markets, trends, products, competitors, etc.



• The Guide to the Texas State Government Marketplace - This comprehensive report identifies funding allocations and projected timelines for projects as well as historical spending data in 20 key state agencies. The Guide also offers explanations and insight to potential opportunities in significant legislation from the Regular Session of the 78th Legislature.

Please contact SPI's Crystal Kuhs at ckuhs@spartnerships.com for more details.

Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott Nabers

It pays to be schooled about education projects - 3/22/2004

Health care arena filled with outsourcing deals - 2/23/2004

River authorities pumping opportunity in Texas - 2/02/2004

Millions in security funds sailing into Texas - 1/19/2004

Believe It! It Is Possible to Win Government Business Without Having to Bid For It! - 12/4/03

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 2 Issue 13 - 4/1/04

Volume 2 Issue 12 - 3/25/04

Volume 2 Issue 11 - 3/18/04

Volume 2 Issue 10 - 3/11/04

Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives 11/7/03 - 2/27/04

News from Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

As SPI prepares for next fall's Legislative Communications Conference, we invite input on what issues and speakers our readers and colleagues would like to see on the program. Please email us at editor@spartnerships.com with your ideas.

Resources

NASBO Fiscal Survey of the States

Fiscal Year 2003 Quality Assurance Team's Annual Report

New Texas Fact Book 2004

Joint Select Committee's Report on Public School Finance, March 17, 2004

Texas Public Policy Foundation's Policy Paper on Public School Finance

Center for Public Policy Priorities' Finding a School Finance Solution

Public Hearings

House Committee on Corrections-- 10:00am, April 8, 2004, Bradshaw State Jail

Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education-- 9:00am, April 8, 2004, Capitol Extension E1.012

Senate Committee on Infrastructure Development and Security-- 9:00am and 1:00pm, April 13, 2004, E1.036 - Finance Com. Rm

Senate Committee on Infrastructure Development and Security-- 9:30am, April 14, 2004, DPS Headquarters: Austin

Now hear this: Internet voice services growing

If the Texas Department of Information Resources has its way, state agencies soon might begin using data networks not only for email and Internet access but also for telephone calls. The state's interest in VoIP represents a trend that should pique the interest of hardware and software vendors...

To read the full article, visit http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/04/05/smallb2.html.

Department of Veteran Affairs Information Technology Conference and Expo

The Department of Veteran Affairs will host the Information Technology Conference and Expo at the Hilton Austin, in Austin on August 9 through 12. For more information, visit https://www.technologyforums.com/vaitc/travel.asp.

UT System and UT Austin 11th Annual HUB and Vendor Fair

The University of Texas System and the University of Texas at Austin will host its 11th Annual HUB and Vendor fair on Tuesday April 20, from 10:00am to 4:00pm at 1701 Red River, in Austin, Texas. All agencies are invited to attend. Over 200 vendors are expected to demonstrate their unique products and services. For more information, visit http://www.utexas.edu/administration/hub/vf2004.html.

2nd Annual TASSCC Vendor Advisory Group Cook-Off

The TASSCC Vendor Advisory Group will be hosting its second annual cook-off Tuesday, April 27th at the Zilker Park Clubhouse following the conclusion of the DIR Internet Security Forum. For more information visit http://www.tasscc.org.

Faulkner to Head National Internet Project

Dr. Larry Faulkner, president of the University of Texas, will soon become chairman of Internet2, a consortium of 206 universities working with government and industry entities to build the next generation Internet. He will assume this post on May 1, according to a spokeswoman of the consortium, replacing current chairwoman Molly Corbett Broad, president of the University of North Carolina. Faulkner has been involved with the project since 1998, when he was elected to the board of trustees of Internet2's parent organization, the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development. Internet2 focuses on developing advanced network applications and technologies. For more information visit the Internet2 website.

Departments of Homeland Security and State Request Extension for Biometric Passport Requirement, Propose US-VISIT Instead

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State today announced that the Administration has asked Congress to pass legislation that would extend for two years, the October 26, 2004 deadline for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to have machine readable passports which include biometric identifiers, and also for DHS to have readers for these biometric passports at all ports of entry. In the context of this request, DHS announced that it will begin processing visitors traveling under the VWP in US-VISIT beginning by September 30, 2004, at air and sea ports of entry.

According to statements made by Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary of Border and Transportation Security, most countries will not be able to meet the October 2004 deadline, requiring biometric identifiers on their passports. The delays are mainly due to technology-related reasons and costs.

An estimated 13 million visitors from Visa Waiver Countries enter the U.S. each year. Travelers from Visa Waiver Countries are allowed to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days for business or pleasure using only a passport. US-VISIT, which began on January 5, 2004, has also enjoyed success, despite creating slightly longer waits at national entry points, in improving the security of national immigration systems. Since deploying US-VISIT entry capabilities at 115 airports and 14 seaports on January 5, 2004, more than 2.5 million foreign nationals have been processed without adversely impacting wait times.

Currently, US-VISIT requires that most foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. on a visa and arriving at an air or sea port have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken to verify their identity at the port of entry. By September 30, 2004, this process will also apply to visitors traveling under the VWP at all air and sea ports of entry.

The following 27 countries are currently in the VWP: Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (for citizens with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man).