Texas Government Insider by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Perry Names Williamson as Chair of TxDOT Commission Richard F. "Ric" Williamson was appointed as chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, effective January 29, 2004. Williamson will lead the five-person commission whose main responsibility is the administration of TxDOT's $5.2 billion annual budget and the second largest transportation system in the United States. A member of the Texas Legislature from 1985-98, Williamson of Weatherford (west of Fort Worth), served as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee and a member of the Ways and Means Committee and House Select Committee on Revenue and Public Education Funding. Williamson has served on several boards, including the Texas Legislative Budget Board, Uniform Statewide Accounting System Committee, Southern Legislative Conference, and the Weatherford Little League Association. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Williamson has served on the commission since his original appointment by Perry in March of 2001, for a term to expire in February of 2004. He will now serve as chair indefinitely, at the pleasure of the governor. He replaces current Chairman and Houston businessman John Johnson, who will continue to serve on the board. Senate Parliamentarian Walter Fisher Announces Plans to Retire Walter Fisher, Senate Parliamentarian since 1996, announced his plans to retire on March 1 of this year. Fisher has served at the Capitol for almost 30 years, beginning at age 20 as a seargant at arms in the House of Representatives. A self-learned expert on parliamentary process, Fisher saw the Senate through unprecedented times, including the state's first election of an interim governor following George W. Bush's election and the heated redistricting scuffles of this past summer. Fisher intends to become a lobbyist. Casey Hoffman Named Deputy Attorney General For Families And Children Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott appointed Richard "Casey" Hoffman to the newly created position of Deputy Attorney General for Families and Children. Hoffman will oversee the Child Support Division and will spearhead efforts to develop a broad range of policies and initiatives through which the Attorney General's office can directly support families and children and cooperate with federal and other state agencies that share a similar mission. Speaking on the appointment, Abbott emphasized his desire for Hoffman to coordinate the Texas OAG's efforts with the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement. Hoffman will also lead the agency's efforts to work with leaders on family- and child-related issues in Congress. Most recently, Hoffman served as chief executive officer of Supportkids, the nation's largest private child support enforcement agency, which he founded in 1991. He also has significant public-sector experience, having directed the Attorney General's Child Support Division as Special Assistant Attorney General from 1986 to 1991. Hoffman's service includes terms as an assistant district attorney and as president of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the National Child Support Enforcement Association. He also served on President George W. Bush's Transition Advisory Committee for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to moving to Texas in 1985, he founded a law firm and practiced for many years as a trial lawyer. As Deputy Attorney General for Families and Children, Hoffman will oversee the Child Support Division. Cynthia Bryant, however, will continue as the Director of Child Support, where she will manage the day-to-day operations of the division. Hoffman will begin his new position on Jan. 12. HHSC to Hold Public Hearings on DFPS and DARS Reorganization The passage of HB 2292 by the 78th Legislative charged HHSC with the responsibility to transform health and human services in Texas. Key to this transformation is the consolidation and reorganization of twelve agencies into four: the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services (DARS), the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). HHSC has recently announced the proposed organizational structures for two of the four new Departments: DFPS and DARS. Information regarding the proposed organization for DFPS can be located at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Consolidation/News/fps_org/Structure.html. Information regarding DARS is located at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Consolidation/News/dars_org/Structure.html. HHSC is now seeking public comments on the proposed structures for DFPS and DARS. Public Hearing will be held in January to receive these comments. The schedule and locations for these hearings are at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Consolidation/News/OrgMeetings.html. Those unable to attend the public hearing but wishing to submit comments may do so via the Internet. HHSC has not yet released the proposed organizational structures for DADS and DSHS. When these proposed organizational structures are released HHSC will schedule public hearing to receive comments. TEXAS SHORTS: Texas Transportation Institute Publishes 2003 Urban Mobility Study Urban traffic problems continue to rise, according to the Texas Transportation Institute's latest report, due to the fact that traffic demands continually outpace the expansion of transportation networks. Austin unfortunately epitomizes many of the trends, ranking first among similar-sized cities and higher than some larger cities in many categories, such as Time Travel Index, congestion delays, and excess fuel consumed. Reflecting on the TTI study, The Capital Area Transportation Coalition recommends a multi-faceted approach that calls for locating alternative funding revenues, such as an increase in gas tax or tolling new lane capacity. The revenues would then support the expansion of roadways as well as the establishment of technologically advanced congestion management systems. For more information on the study, visit www.catransco.org/MIB/MIB.htm. Public School Finance Update A summer court date was set earlier this week for the historic school finance lawsuit that pits 70 school districts against the state's "Robin Hood" funding system. The 250th District Court of Travis County's Judge John K. Dietz will begin hearing the case on July 26th. Critics of the state's system charge that it is an illegal imposition of a statewide property tax, in that it results in reallocation of moneys from property rich school districts to property poor school districts. The governor is expected to call as special session on school finance this spring, and the Joint Committee on Public School Finance is scheduled to have its preliminary recommendations completed in March. For information on how Texas schools stack up to other states, visit the Education Weekly's State of the States report at http://www.edweek.org/sreports/qc04/. Also, the Texas School Finance Project maintains its own website at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/psf/capitol.htm. Texas Lags in Federal Arts Funding Despite the Lone Star State's great size and large urban centers, Texas ranks next to last in federal funding for the arts. Texans enjoy only 12 cents per capita of federal arts monies. While even the United States' overseas protectorates come out ahead of Texas, only Florida ranks behind, with 8 cents spent annually per person. The state's Commission on the Arts also suffered significantly in the budget crunching of this year's legislative session, emerging with only $3.3 million to distribute throughout the state. Those familiar with the problem cite a lack of understanding of the funding process at the community level as one of the main reasons for Texas' poor standing. In order for Texas to receive more federal funds, small organizations must have the awareness, assistance, and resources to win grants, something that the TCA intends to emphasize in the coming years. President Bush Launches Migrant Workers Initiative On Wednesday, President Bush unveiled his policy plan for far-reaching changes in national immigration laws that will especially affect border states such as Texas. Central to the plan is granting legal status to undocumented workers, a population that constitutes a valuable labor resource within the United States' economy. Under Bush's proposal, undocumented workers could apply for temporary worker status for three years, and be eligible for employee benefits, such as minimum wage and due process. At the end of the three years workers must either return home or reapply for status. Certified temporary workers could travel freely between the United States and their home countries, and apply for a green card granting permanent residency. Bush's plan would also allow workers to apply for this status from their home countries, if no Americans were willing and available to take the job in question. The program also offers incentives for workers to return to their native country by promising retirement benefits there based on their earnings in the U.S. As a corollary, Bush has proposed increasing the number of green cards granted annually (currently 140,000) but did not specify by how much. Critics of the proposal cite the issuance of green cards as the most pressing problem, for if a worker's temporary status expires before his green card is granted, he or she may have to leave the country. Unless the administration seeks and obtains a substantial increase in the number of green cards issued annually, many workers could face ten to twenty year waiting periods for permanent residency.	NEW SPI GOVERNMENT OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE 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 procurement information package comprised of: Electronic information on unannounced procurement opportunities for over 120 state agencies plus major cities, counties, and other entities (you choose 3 industries). One year of customized daily bid monitoring. Please contact SPI at 512-531-3905 for detailed information about this unique opportunity. Event Links Texas Higher Education Human Resources Association, Winter Conference - 01/11/04-01/13/04 Data Interchange XML Theory and Practice - 1/18/04 Second Annual Courts and Local Government Technology Conference - 01/28/04-01/29/04 2004 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Facilities Conference - 02/04/04-02/06/04 Fourth Annual Purchasing and HUB Connection Forum - 2/11/04 Austin Mobility Roundtable 2004: The Future is Unwired - 3/11/04 - 3/12/04 NASCIO 2004 Midyear Conference - 4/25/04 - 4/27/04 NASCIO 2004 Annual Conference - 9/19/04 - 9/22/04 Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott Nabers Believe It! It Is Possible to Win Government Business Without Having to Bid For It! - 12/4/03 Fingering opportunities in biometric technology - 11/03/2003 It's smart for vendors to watch 'smart card' deals - 10/6/2003 Watch Cap Metro, AISD for vendor opportunities - 9/22/2003 Watch state water board for flow of grant money - 9/8/2003 New state laws open up market at state agencies - 8/25/2003 Strategic Partnerships, Inc (SPI) is Texas-based, nine year old research and knowledge based consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. For details on SPI service offerings call Crystal Kuhs at 531-3900. To see biographical data on members of the SPI team click here. Texas Government Insider Archives Volume 1 Issue 7 - 12/31/03 Volume 1 Issue 6 - 12/18/03 Volume 1 Issue 5 - 12/11/03 Volume 1 Issue 4 - 12/4/03 Volume 1 Issue 3 - 11/20/03 Volume 1 Issue 2 - 11/13/03 Volume 1 Issue 1 - 11/7/03 Resources New Texas Fact Book 2004 Texas International Economic Development Fact Sheet Public Hearings HHSC: Department of Family and Protective Services-- 1:00pm, January 9, 2004, Public Hearing Room 125-E, 701 W. 51st St House Select Committee on State Health Care Expenditures-- 2:00 pm, January 29, 2004, Capitol Extension E1.010 House Select Committee on Public School Finance-- 10:00am, January 21, 2004, Capitol Extension E1.030 House Select Committee on Energy Resources-- 9:00am, January 21, 2004, Capitol Extension E1.010

Sunset Advisory Commission The Sunset Advisory Commission is always an interesting agency to watch. And, this agency is definitely watched by every other agency. The Commission is the State's review board and it evaluates, reviews and examines other state governmental entities. Simply put, the commission deals with the "big picture" aspect of an agency's existence. Agencies, boards, and commissions come up for legislative review every twelve years. The Sunset Advisory Commission holds hearings to examine an agency's overall purpose and function in the state, and makes recommendations to the Legislature. Legislators then consider leaving an agency intact, abolishing it, consolidating it or redrafting its purpose or scope. The Sunset Advisory Commission, in preparation for the 2005 legislative session, will begin holding hearings in March. Their schedule for 2004 is as follows-- March 23 & 24: public testimony on the Texas State Board of Barber Examiners, Texas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Texas Cosmetology Commission, Texas State Board of Pharmacy, and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. May 18 & 19: commission decisions on the boards reviewed on March 23 and 24; public testimony for the Texas Lottery Commission, Texas Optometry Board, Texas Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners, Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and the Texas Worker's Compensation Commission. July 13 & 14: commission decisions on the entities reviewed on May 18 and 19; public testimony for the Electric Utility Restructuring Legislative Oversight Committee, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board. September 14 & 15: commission decisions on the entities reviewed on July 13 and 14. November 16 & 17: public testimony for the Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners, Texas Alcoholic Beverages Commission, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, Texas State Board of Examiners of Dieticians, Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, Texas Midwifery Board, Texas State Board of Examiners of Perfusionsists, Texas State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners, Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, and the Licensing Reorganization Project. December 14 & 15: commission decisions on the entities reviewed on November 16 and 17; public testimony on the Texas Education Agency, the State Board of Education Certification, the Regional Education Service Centers, and the Windham School District. January 12, 2005: commission decisions on the entities reviewed on December 14 and 15; the Compliance Report detailing Sunset recommendations from the 78th Legislature.	Insights from Government Insiders: "One of the reasons I'm here is because Dr. Faulkner was willing to engage in an experiment. He was one of the few-though two years later there are many more-that believe education is a business, and it needs to be run as a business with a number of for profit concepts, etc…He brought me in here to see if we, together, could convert the way we think about running this university to a more business kind of concept." -- Kevin Heggarty (volume 1 issue 6) super-sonic aircraft. There is no in-between." -- Sil Romero (volume 1 issue 3) purchasing alternatives to the traditional competitive sealed bid purchasing method and have generated savings and other benefits for the State." -- Texas Building and Procurement Commission (volume 1 issue 5)

58th Annual Texas Association of School Business Officials Conference and Expo Sponsored by TASBO at the Brown Convention Center, Houston, on February 23-27. The conference will provide unique educational opportunities for today's school business professional while the exposition offers the newest products and services available. For more information and to register, visit http://www.tasbo.org/conference_dates.htm. Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Boards 44th Annual Convention Sponsored by TASA/TASB at the Dallas Convention Center, September 17-20, 2004. This Convention offers school board members and administrators the opportunity to earn continuing education credit, a trade show with hundreds of exhibitors, and the opportunity to network with thousands of public school officials. For more information, visit http://www.tasa.tasb.org/index.shtml.

Mike Hachtman Named as Chair of Texas Workers' Compensation Commission Gov. Perry appointed Mike Hachtman of Houston to serve as Chairman of the Texas Worker's Compensation Commission. The former Chairman, Richard Smith resigned recently. Hachtman's term will last until February 1, 2005. Perry Announces Appointment of Golden and Rose To University of Houston Board of Regents Gov. Perry announced the appointment of Dr. Dennis D. Golden of Carthage and Lynden B. Rose of Houston to the University of Houston System Board of Regents for terms to expire August 31, 2009. Golden is a doctor of optometry and owner of Golden Eye Associates. He is a past president of the TOA, which named him as optometrist of the year in 2003. He is also the past chairman of the Board of Trustees of Panola College where he served three terms. Golden graduated cum laude from the University of Houston, where he received his Bachelors of Science and Optometry degrees. Rose is an attorney in private practice in Houston. He is president of L M Rose Consulting and former president of Rose Sports Management, Inc. Rose currently serves on the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and the Harris County Sheriff's Department Civil Service Commission. He obtained his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Houston, where he also was a member of the basketball team. Perry Announces Appointment of Ertz and Pond To Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents Gov. Perry announced the appointment of Valerie E. Ertz of Dallas and Paul G. Pond of Port Neches to the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents for a term to expire January 31, 2009. Ertz is president of VEE Services, Inc., a property tax and accounting firm in Dallas. She is a member of the Women's Council of The Arboretum and The Public Affairs Luncheon Club in Dallas. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University and a master's degree in management from Troy State University. Pond is general manager of Greenlawn Memorial Park, a business his family founded and managed since 1898. He has been a member and served as chairman of the Texas Funeral Service Commission from 1986-1993. He is a member of the National Association of Cemeteries and has served as president of the Texas Cemeteries Association. He founded the Port Neches-Groves Educational Foundation. Pond is a graduate of Louisiana State University.

DHS Launches US-VISIT Program Nationwide At the beginning of this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched US-VISIT, a new program aimed at enhancing the nation's security while facilitating legitimate travel and trade through our borders. New entry procedures took effect today for most foreign visitors with non-immigrant visas at 115 airports and cruise ship terminals at 14 seaports. The system utilizes biometrics, which are physical characteristics unique to each individual, to verify identity. US-VISIT requires that most foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. on a visa have their two index fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken to verify their identity at the port of entry. The purpose of this measure is to verify the identity of visitors with visas and ensure that they are the same person who applied for the visa in their home country. The Department of Homeland Security has been testing the new entry procedures since November 17 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The test showed that the new procedures add an average of 15 seconds to the entry process at primary inspection for foreign nationals traveling with visas. More than 20,000 passengers from Central and South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa participated in the voluntary test, which confirmed the program's ability to verify identity without adding significant time to the process. The Department of Homeland Security today also began a pilot test of exit procedures for departing passengers holding visas. A departure confirmation program using automated kiosks is being tested at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and at selected Miami Seaport cruise line terminals. Foreign visitors exiting the United States from those locations will be required to confirm their departure at the kiosk. US-VISIT officials will evaluate the tests and consider alternatives to the automated kiosks for departure confirmation throughout 2004. Congress has mandated that an automated entry-exit program be implemented at the 50 busiest land ports of entry by December 31, 2004, and at all land ports by December 31, 2005. A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued in November to engage the private sector to help the US-VISIT program develop the optimum solutions for entry and exit processing. The contract will be awarded in May 2004.