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Editors 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. 
Head of TDCJ Announces RetirementGary L. Johnson, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), has announced he will retire from the agency at the end of the year. The Texas Board of Criminal Justice will meet later this month to appoint an Interim Executive Director. Johnson, a career TDCJ employee, has been at the helm of the agency since August 2001. He joined the prison system - then known as the Texas Department of Corrections - in 1973 as a correctional officer. He held numerous different jobs before becoming executive director, including sergeant, senior warden and director of TDCJ's Institutional Division. During his tenure as Executive Director, TDCJ implemented the Safe Prisons Program and other initiatives, including a focus on reentry programs that are meant to give offenders new opportunities once they rejoin the free world. Regarding Johnson, Christina Melton Crain, Chairman of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, said: "Gary Johnson has provided exceptional leadership to TDCJ and has served as a tremendous role model for his peers at other government agencies. His integrity, professionalism and willingness to try new ideas has reshaped the Agency's credibility and made TDCJ a national leader. Mr. Johnson's legacy includes the development of a tremendous leadership team that will serve the Agency, the Governor and the State well upon his departure." 
Gibson, Ogden Share Thoughts on Next Year's Legislative SessionAt yesterday's Legislative Communications for the 2005 Session conference, Bruce Gibson, Chief of Staff for Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Steve Ogden, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, shared their thoughts on next year's legislative session with over 340 executive directors, board members and other key staff from agencies around Texas. During his morning keynote address, Gibson talked about the upcoming session and advised audience members how to best interact with the Lieutenant Governor's office. Gibson spoke at-length about major issues that will be considered during the next session. He described school finance and the budget as "Tier 1 issues that will be the most difficult to be addressed."
Other important issues he discussed included:
Gibson gave audience members (most of whom were agency executives or board members) a laundry list of insightful suggestions on how to work with the Lieutenant Governor's office. In his afternoon keynote address, Senator Ogden said that although the Senate Finance Committee usually reviews agency budgets during the early days of the regular legislative sessions, it has been meeting on Mondays and Tuesdays for the past few weeks to conduct such reviews. He has been concerned for a long time that the regular session of the legislature does not allow enough time for sufficient thought to the budget process and feels these hearings will result in a better budget than in the past. He said that agencies would be wise to resolve all funding requests before a final base line budget is completed. Other key points made by Senator Ogden include:
In addition to Gibson and Ogden's keynote addresses, the day-long conference, jointly sponsored by the LBJ School of Public Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Inc., also featured six panel discussions featuring five other key legislators, 3 very experienced board members, the executive commissioner of the department of Health and Human Services, and other staff experts. Highlights from the panel discussions will be featured in future editions of the Texas Government Insider™. 
Pejovich Appointed Presiding Officer of TBPCGov. Rick Perry has appointed Brenda Pejovich as Presiding Officer of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC). She is replacing Tom Beard, who resigned from the board effective October 1. Pejovich, a certified public accountant was appointed to the TBPC board last year. She is a board member of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and previously served on the board of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company. She is former CEO of Brenda Pejovich & Associates, Inc., a project consulting and workforce solutions firm sold in 1999 to the subsidiary of a Fortune 1000 company. ACCD Considering $430 Million Bond IssueThe Alamo Community College District (ACCD) is considering an approximately $430 million bond issue that would construct a fifth campus and fund renovations and expansions at existing campuses. Members of a citizens' bond committee are scheduled to make a recommendation to ACCD's board of trustees October 19. The board could vote to set an election for Feb. 5. Voters in Bexar County last passed an ACCD bond issue in 1987, for $85 million. The bond proposal considered by the citizens' bond committee calls for all four campuses to get new academic facilities and additional parking. Two of the campuses would also get performing arts complexes. About $125 million would be earmarked for the new campus. One part of the proposed bond program is a proposal that would move the nursing and allied health programs from two of the existing campuses to a centralized medical careers campus, for a cost of about $100 million. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at ACCD schools, which offer two-year degree programs, certificates in occupational programs, continuing education and course credits that can transfer to four-year colleges. Though officials say the money is badly needed, they are unsure whether or not voters will approve the bond in light of a 2002 scandal at the community college. The scandal, involving bid rigging and bribery in the college district, San Antonio city hall and several area school districts, resulted in the indictment of three ACCD board members and the district's architect. DHS Awards More than $4.8 Million in MMRS Grants to Texas OrganizationsThirteen organizations in Texas have received awards totaling more than $4.8 million in Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) grants for Fiscal Year 2004. The awards are made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In all, DHS awarded more than 110 MMRS FY04 grants totaling $46 million to organizations around the U.S. According to Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge: "The MMRS grants provide the awardees with major funding to further enhance and maintain integrated, systematic preparedness for local response to weapons of mass destruction high-casualty events until significant external assistance arrives. This funding permits jurisdictions to focus on being prepared for terrorist events that involve radiological, nuclear, chemical, biological or explosive agents as well as epidemic disease outbreaks, large scale hazardous materials accidents and major natural disasters." Texas organizations receiving awards include:
To view a list of all grant recipients, click here. Vela Named Superintendent of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical ParkR. David Vela, a 13-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), has been named Superintendent of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park. Vela will continue to serve as Texas State Coordinator for the Intermountain Region. Vela began his career with the National Park Service in 1981 as a Cooperative Education Student at San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. In addition to working for NPS, Vela served as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Director of Texas' Child Support Program, Special Assistant for Hispanic Affairs to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland and Federal Investigator with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Vela holds a B.S. in Recreation and Parks from Texas A&M University. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a Distinguished Service Award in 1998 from the Federal Commissioner of Child Support Enforcement for "Outstanding Contributions to our Nation's Children." TBPC Publishes Contract Management GuideIn last week’s Insider it was noted that the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC) would be publishing a new State Contract Management Guide, but the link was not available at press time. According to TBPC, the purpose of the 156-page guide is “to offer state agency contract managers recommendations on improving existing contract management processes and practices.” Other agencies that helped in drafting this guide were: Office of the Attorney General, the Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Department of Information Resources, and the State Auditor's Office. According to TBPC, the guide:
The guide replaces the Request for Proposal Handbook previously issued by TBPC and is intended to complement, not replace, TBPC's Procurement Manual. CPS to Hire Additional 123 EmployeesChild Protective Services (CPS) agencies across the state will get an additional 123 employees - mostly case investigators - to ease the workload of the caseworkers who investigate child abuse, according to Thomas Chapmond, Commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Chapmond made the announcement on Thursday before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which recently reviewed the results of a three-month investigation of the agency ordered by Gov. Rick Perry in July. The report showed that caseworkers are overworked and underpaid. It also showed that these factors contributed to numerous instances where workers failed to take appropriate action in abuse and neglect cases. |
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 SPI services click here or contact Crystal Kuhs at 512-531-3900. CDC Gives UT School of Public Health $25 Million Grant ExtensionThe Prevention Research Center at the University of Texas School of Public Health has received a $25 million grant renewal from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The funds, which will be spread out over the next five years, will be used to continue programs aimed at helping children and young adults establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and to improve cancer screening among adults. With guidance from the CDC, the center will continue work on two established projects and start seven new prevention studies. The new projects include a physical activity and policy network study, which will analyze the role physical activity plays in academic performance among elementary school children. Established in 1986, the UT Prevention Research Center investigates health issues that can develop into problems for young people. Researchers also study issues that affect adult health, such as communicating about flu vaccinations and cancer screenings. The center works with about 20 local and state public health agencies, academic centers and community partners collectively known as the community advisory group. Texas Ranks Second in Federal SpendingThe federal government spent $140 billion in Texas last year - about $2 billion less than the amount Texans paid in federal taxes - according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. The state ranked second among all states in federal spending on benefits, subsidies, grants, goods and services, and salaries and wages, the census report said. Only California, with $220 billion, received more federal money than Texas. In all, the federal government spent $2.1 trillion in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and outlying areas in 2003 - a 6 percent increase over 2002. The Department of Defense spent $320 billion last year - a 12.2 percent over 2002 - on procurement contracts, payroll, military pensions and grants. Texas received the third highest amount of money for defense spending - $30.4 billion. A&M Working to Establish a High-Profile Astronomy SchoolTexas A&M University is working to establish a top-notch school dedicated to cosmology - the study of the origin, structure and fate of the universe. In the past two years, the university has received $15 million from private donors to begin building an astronomy program. The university is currently searching for renowned astronomers to fill two endowed chairs in astronomy, the core of the department the university is trying to create. A&M is also discussing with the University of Texas a possible arrangement where A&M astronomers could utilize UT's four research telescope at the McDonald Observatory. Event LinksTexas Municipal League Annual Conference - 10/27/04 - 10/29/04 Fall 2004 Biometrics Summit - 10/26/04 - 10/28/2004 Mobile & Wireless Technology Forum for Texas Government - 10/28/04 Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Fall Institute - 11/7/04 - 11/9/04 2004 UST Management & Compliance Assistance Seminar 12/09/04 WIN TEXAS GOVERNMENT BUSINESSFor a FREE TRIAL of SPI's Future Opportunity Analysis and Bid Monitoring services click here. 
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:
Please contact SPI's Crystal Kuhs at ckuhs@spartnerships.com for more details. Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott NabersTexas cities looking to rails to solve traffic woes - 9/24/2004 Biometrics growth identified as future windfall - 9/10/2004 Contractors can capitalize on military growth - 8/27/2004 Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 2 Issue 39 - 10/01/04 Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives - 11/7/03 - 9/24/04 ResourcesState Contract Management Guide Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address Financial Review of Two Cost Recovery Programs at the Department of Information Resources Diagram of Legislative Process in Texas Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle Public Hearings/MeetingsSenate Finance Committee--9:00am, October 11 and 12, Capitol Extension, E1.036 Senate Subcommitte on State Contracting Practices--3:00pm or upon recess of Finance Committee, October 11, Capitol Extension, E1.036 Senate Select Interim Committee on Workers' Compensation--9:00am, October 12, Capitol Extension, E1.028 Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Long-Term Care--10:00am, October 14, Capitol Extension, E1.014 House Subcommittee on Public School Completion and Dropout Rates--10:00am, October 15, 5800 Eastex Frwy, Houston
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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Gulf Ports Association of the Americas (GPAA) Fall ConferenceThe Gulf Ports Association of the Americas (GPAA) is hosting their fall conference November 3 - 5 at the Intercontinental-Presidente Hotel in Cozumel, Mexico. Topics to be discussed include: port security, environmental mandates, cooperation among the Mexican and US ports in the Gulf, short sea shipping and pilot issues. For more information, contact Pat Younger via email at gulfportsaa@aol.com. For more information on the GPAA, visit: http://www.gulfportsaa.com. (Please note that the conference is only open to GPAA members.) Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Fall InstituteThe Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP)will host their Fall Institute November 7 - 9 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The conference will include 3 keynote speakers, a variety of career development and skills enrichment sessions, a Leader-to-Leader round table forum, and an exhibit show. For more information or to register, click here. 2nd Annual Contract Exchange & Spot Bid FairOn Wednesday, November 12 from 11:00am - 3:30 pm at the Frank Erwin Center, Capital Metro, in conjunction with the University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas System, Texas Building and Procurement Commmission and other state agencies, will host the 2nd Annual Contract Exchange & Spot Bid Fair. Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) will meet agency purchasing and procurement representatives and have the opportunity to learn about current and upcoming procurement opportunities. For more information, click here. E-Records 2004: Compliance and Conversion SolutionsThe Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and the Department of Information Resources (DIR) will host a one-day conference on November 18 for state government officials invovled in the management of electronic records. This e-records conference seeks to improve electronic records management in Texas government through the use of statewide standards and best practices. The conference will focus on the conversion from paper records to electronic records. The conference will be held at The Commons Center on the University of Texas' J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin. For more details, click here. |
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