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Fuelberg Named Executive Director of ERSThe Employees Retirement System (ERS) Board of Trustees on Friday announced it has appointed Ann Schwartz Fuelberg to serve as the system's new executive director. She will replace Sheila Beckett, who recently accepted an international position with the U.S. Treasury Department. Fuelberg's appointment is to take effect on June 7. Fuelberg is a veteran of state government who has served as a Deputy Comptroller of Public Accounts and was named the first Executive Director of the Department of Information Resources when it was created in 1989. She left state service in 1993 to join Transactive Corporation, an Austin-based online transaction processing company. Most recently, she has operated an independent consulting business. As the new executive director of ERS, Fuelberg will administer retirement and deferred compensation benefits for more than 200,000 state employees and retirees and manage a trust valued at more than $20 billion. The director also administers the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program, which provides health coverage to more than 500,000 state and certain higher education employees, retirees and their families. Fuelberg has a business degree from the University of Texas and a juris doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law. Board Chairman Milton Hixson said he was pleased that the trustees were able to select such a capable and experienced individual to lead the system. "We were fortunate to have a solid field of candidates to choose from," Hixson said. "We are confident that Ann will not only preserve the high standards for service and efficiency we have built at ERS, but guide the system successfully into the future." 
Curry Named Deputy for Department of State Health ServicesHealth and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins announced the selection of Dr. Nick Curry as deputy commissioner for public health and regulatory programs at the new Department of State Health Services. Dr. Curry is currently executive deputy commissioner for the Texas Department of Health (TDH). At TDH, Dr. Curry oversees programs ranging from licensing and certification to disease prevention and control, health disparities, bioterrorism and emergency preparedness plans, epidemiology, and environmental health. He also oversees the TDH laboratory, which is one of the largest in the world. Dr. Curry is board certified in public health, general preventive medicine and quality assurance. Before becoming executive deputy commissioner at TDH in 2003, Dr. Curry was public health Region 1 director in Lubbock. He also has been chief of clinical services for the Houston Department of Health and Human Services and director of the Tarrant County and Fort Worth health departments. He received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The Department of State Health Services will have two deputy commissioners. In April, HHSC announced that Dr. Dave Wanser will be deputy commissioner of behavioral and community health. Ellis, Swinford, and Hawkins to Participate in Upcoming Legislative ConferenceThe sponsors of the 4th Biennial Pre-legislative Session Conference have announced that Senator Rodney Ellis, Representative David Swinford, and Albert Hawkins, Executive Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHSC), will participate in a panel on Government Organization and Reform. The conference, which is jointly sponsored by SPI and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, will be held on October 7th at the JJ Pickle Center in Austin. The panel will be moderated by Len Riley, who served as the Executive Director of the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission prior to joining SPI. In recent years, consolidation of agencies has received substantial legislative attention. As a result, a major reorganization of health and human services agencies was mandated last session through passage of HB 2292. Commissioner Hawkins worked closely with the Legislature as the bill was making its way through the process and subsequently has managed the largest agency reorganization in Texas history. The 78th session also dealt with other organizational issues such as limiting the number of employees an agency's human resources department could hire, consolidating responsibility for building maintenance, and establishing a new square foot per person guideline. During the interim, both the Senate Government Organization Committee (Chaired by Sen. Ellis) and the House Government Reform Committee (Chaired by Rep. Swinford) have been given charges related to organizational matters (see right sidebar) and both Chairs will undoubtedly have insight into organizational issues that the Legislature is likely to consider in the 79th session.
Next week the sponsors will announce another panel. Executive Directors, board members, and senior agency managers should reserve October 7th. Because the conference is expected to fill up quickly, early registration is advised. U.S. House, Senate Disagree on BRAC ProgressOn May 12, the House Armed Services Committee approved a measure that would result in a two-year delay in the 2005 round of military base closings, officially referred to as Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The U.S. Senate however, reacting to insinuations from the Pentagon that President Bush would veto any defense funding bill that mandated a delay, voted to continue the base review and closure process as scheduled. The Senate was evenly divided on the issue, which was decided by a close 49-47 vote. Texas Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn came down on opposing sides of the base closures: Hutchison advocated a close review of overseas bases before continuing the process of closing domestic ones, while Cornyn believed that a delay would not alter the final outcome for Texas bases--his main concern with regard to the legislation. Texas has seventeen military installations in total. In December of last year Governor Perry announced that the Texas Military Preparedness Commission would visit all the military facilities in Texas and assist communities as they moved through the BRAC process. In an effort to make Texas competitive during the BRAC process, the state has mandated discounted electrical utility rates for military bases, improved educational benefits and opportunities for members of the military and their families, and created a $250 million low-interest revolving loan fund that defense communities can borrow from to make needed infrastructure improvements. Report Shows Serious Breakdown in Elder Care SystemA preliminary review by the Health and Human Services Department (HHSC) has found that Texas' elder care system administered by the Adult Protective Services division of the Department of Family and Protective Services is in need of a complete overhaul. The review addresses the state's inadequate response to elder abuse, exploitation and neglect in El Paso. The review of more than 1,200 cases involving 200 clients showed that more than a third of investigations were insufficient, and that needs of mentally ill clients were not addressed in 44 percent of all such cases. The report recommends increasing the training standards and oversight of new caseworkers and providing workers with training in particular aspects of abuse, neglect and exploitation. About 90 percent of the problems discovered in El Paso are systemic and more than likely statewide in scope. The review will be extended statewide and will next go to Tarrant County and then Harris County. The complete report is available on the HHSC website at http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/pubs/051904_PR_RP33.html. Speaker and Lt. Governor Name School Finance Working GroupsLt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick appointed 12 senators and 12 representatives to two separate joint working groups school finance related working groups this week. The Education Excellence Working Group and the Finance Reform Working Group will consist of six representatives and six senators each. Rep. Talmadge Heflin, House Appropriations Committee chairman, and Sen. Steve Ogden, Bryan, will head the working group on revenue reforms. The revenue panel will also include Reps. Fred Hill, Richardson, Jim Keffer, Eastland, Vilma Luna, Corpus Christi, Jim Pitts, Waxahachie, and Allan Ritter, Nederland; and Sens. Ken L. Armbrister, Victoria, Kyle Janek, Houston, Kim Brimer, Fort Worth, Tommy Williams, The Woodlands, and Gonzalo Barrientos, Austin. The Educational Excellence Working Group will be under the leadership of Sen. Florence Shapiro, Plano, and Rep. Kent Grusendorf, Arlington and consist of Reps. Dianne White Delisi, Temple, Helen Giddings, Dallas, Bob E. Griggs, North Richland Hills, Carl Isett, Lubbock, and Rene Oliveira, Brownsville; and Sens. Robert L. Duncan, Lubbock, Todd Staples, Palestine, Royce West, Dallas, Jane Nelson, Lewisville, and Frank L. Madla, San Antonio. New Federal Procurement Rule Allows State and Local Governments to Make IT Purchases Off Federal ContractA new federal procurement rule, which has just been implemented, makes it possible for state and local governments to buy information technology products and service off the General Services Administration (GSA) schedules. Section 211 of the E-Government Act of 2002 authorized state and local governments to use GSA's Federal Supply Schedules to buy IT equipment, software, supplies, and services. The final rule only differs slightly from the interim rule GSA published in May 2003. Changes from the interim rule include a provision allowing contractors the option of offering services or supplies overseas and a clarification that contractors can decide whether or not to accept orders from outside the executive branch of the federal government. Readers are reminded that irrespective of this new federal rule, the state's TXMAS program already provides a flexible vehicle for using federal GSA contracts in state and local procurements. In addition, unlike the federal rule which is limited to IT conracts, the TXMAS program covers a broad spectrum of products and services. Houston Mayor Presents His First Budget to City CouncilHouston Mayor Bill White presented his first budget, which proposes laying off almost 350 civilian employees in the city's police department for a $10.1 million savings, before City Council. The layoffs are needed to help offset an expected $150 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year. The only cuts known to be in the budget are the planned layoffs of the 240 civilian jailers and 105 other employees of the Police Department. The plan also calls for a $64 million increase in the police and fire department budgets from this year and $22.5 million devoted to performance-based raises. Mayor White's budget anticipates a 5 percent increase in sales tax revenue and 3 percent increase in property tax revenue for the fiscal year that begins July 1. These increases would generate nearly $40 million, according to city officials. City Council members will vote on the budget in late June. Presidential Initiative Wins Congressional ApprovalThe U.S. Senate voted 99-0 to approve legislation to support the presidential initiative known as "Project Bioshield". Project Bioshield allows the Federal Government to pre-purchase critically needed vaccines and medications for biodefense once they are tested and deemed safe and effective enough to be added to the Strategic National Stockpile. The program seeks to encourage the development of necessary medical countermeasures against a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack. Project Bioshield will make available modern, effective drugs and vaccines to protect against attack by biological and chemical weapons or other dangerous pathogens. High on the list of purchases are next-generation vaccines for both smallpox and anthrax, as well as countermeasures to protect against other dangerous pathogens, such as Ebola and plague. The Senate bill funds the program with nearly $6 billion over the next 10 years. The House had previously approved the measure, which lawmakers expected to soon have on the President's desk for his signature. Seven Join Texas Human Rights Commission, Banks Named as ChairGov. Rick Perry has appointed seven individuals to the Texas Human Rights Commission. The commission, which now is a part of the Civil Rights Division of the Texas Workforce Commission, investigates statewide employment and housing discrimination. Mary Banks of Houston is the national director of employee relations at Bank One. She is a member and past president of the Houston Human Resources Management Association and Leadership Houston. Banks is a board member for Spaulding for Children and the Holocaust Museum where she also serves on the executive committee. She is the author of The Multi-Faceted Woman and is a frequent speaker on women's issues. She received a bachelor's degree from Oral Roberts University and a master's degree from Houston Baptist University. Banks will serve as chair and her term will expire Feb. 1, 2005. C. Robert Keeney Jr. of Houston is an attorney and certified mediator. He has served on the board of directors for Houston Advocates for Mental Health in Children, the Texas Commission for the Blind and is a former mayor of Spring Valley. He received a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He has trained at the Attorney Mediator's Institute for basic and family law mediation. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2005. Thomas Anderson of Richmond is the human resources director for Fort Bend County. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the president-elect of HR Houston, a chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Anderson is certified as a senior professional in Human Resources. He received a bachelor's degree from Purdue University, a master's from DePauw University and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2007. Nila Wipf of Harlingen is president of JNW Property Holdings. She is a member of the American and Texas Nurses Associations, the Texas Chiropractic Association Auxiliary Division and the Philippine Nurses Association of America. She is also a member of the Nature Conservatory and is a century member of the American Birding Association. Wipf is a board member of Saint Anthony School and is special projects chairman for Saint Anthony Catholic Church. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and a master's degree from the University of the Philippines. Her term will expire Feb. 1, 2007. Patricia Asip of Plano is the president of and private consultant for Mares Inter- Americas. She was formerly on the Governor's Women's Commission and was named by President George H.W. Bush to the Federal Glass Ceiling Commission. She is a member of the American Management Association's International Council and serves on the national board of directors for the Humane Society. She has served on the board of Defense Advisory Committee of Women in the Services, the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce and as former League of United Latin American Citizens vice president for the Northeast. Asip is the co-founder of Hispanic 50 and a founding board member for the National Hispanic Corporate Council. She received a bachelor's degree from the University de La Plata in Argentina. Her term will expire Feb. 1, 2009. Jose de Santiago Sr. of Houston, a former Texas Human Rights commissioner, is the president of Desco Steel Erector and Concrete International. His company was named as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the nation by Hispanic Business Magazine. Jose has served as a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Aldine Optimist Club, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and was a founding members of the Houston Northeast Chamber of Commerce. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2009. Anwar Khalifa of Tyler is president of Pyramid Homes. He is a member of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, East Texas Islamic Society and the Tyler Ministerial Alliance. Khalifa is also a member of the National Association of Home Builders and is a Graduate Master Builder. He received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and a master's degree from the University of South Carolina. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2009. |
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. SAO Releases Report on Traffic Analysis and Reporting SystemsThe State Auditor's Office (SAO) released a report highly critical of the Texas Department of Transportation's(TxDOT) efforts to create a statewide traffic reporting system. Furthermore, SAO found that TxDOT may not be able to complete or rely on the system, despite the $9.1 million expended on the project. The SAO found delays, cost increases, and questionable functionality to be the main causes for concern. For the entire report, click here. VIA Recognized as Best Transit System in TexasThe Texas Transit Authority has selected VIA Metropolitan Transit, which provides public transportation in the San Antonio metropolitan area, as the winner of the Outstanding Metropolitan Transit Agency award. The Texas Department of Transportation nominated VIA for the award because of VIA's efforts to improve community relations, invest in new innovations in public transportation, promote economic development and provide transit services. VIA operates a fleet of 479 buses and has 1,670 employees. 544 Texas Jurisdictions to Receive $58.3 million in Homeland Security FundsGov. Rick Perry has announced that 544 Texas jurisdictions will receive more than $58 million in federal homeland security funds for equipment, security planning and training. The 2004 First Responder Equipment Grants will help communities purchase items such as decontamination equipment and hazmat suits and update homeland security strategies. Funds are distributed by the state to local councils of governments (COGs). The amount of funding a community receives is determined in part by area risk and vulnerability assessments. To see a list of grant recipients, click here. Selected Interim ChargesSenate Government Organization Committee (Chaired by Sen. Rodney Ellis) Charge 1: Study consolidation of those agencies related to the arts, cultural, and library services; consolidation of certain agricultural-related agencies; and consolidation of certain licensing agencies or their administrative functions. House Committee on Government Reform (Chaired by Rep. David Swinford) Charge 1: Study the duplication of services across state agencies, including a study of statuatory authority, and evaluation of possible cost savings associated with combining small agencies by function or type. Also consider the costs, risks and benefits of co-locating adn sharing of services of small agencies. Charge 2: Study and evaluate the efficiency of hiring practices by state agencies. Include a revie of agency rulemaking and policies in regards to human resources, as well as the procedures for termination of employment. Compare agency procedures with statutory requirements and evaluate the costs and efficacy of addtitional procedures that agencies impose above statutory requirements. Charge 3: Evaluate the efficiency of logistical operations at major state agencies. Include an analysis of operations, logistics and major information systems. Sharp Increase in State's Sales Tax RevenueThe State's sales tax revenue topped $1.46 billion in April, up 17.2 percent from last month and up 26.4 percent compared to April, 2003, according to the Texas Comptroller's Office. Local governments will receive $420.2 million in May sales tax allocations, up 10.3 percent compared to this time last year. Sales tax allocations to local governments are up 8.7 percent since the beginning of this year. The tax amnesty period in March permitting businesses to pay delinquent taxes without facing penalty and interest brought in about $379 million in state taxes (including $256.5 million in sales tax) and about $59 million in unpaid local taxes. The tax amnesty could impact sales tax revenues for many more months, as the Comptroller's office continues to examine amnesty filings and decide how the tax dollars should be distributed. Event LinksTexas State Agency Business Administrator's Association 24th Annual Conference - 6/7/04 - 6/9/04 Identity Crime Regional TrainingVarious Dates EDA National Economic Development Conference - 6/8/04 - 6/10/04 TASA 56th Annual Summer Conference - 6/13/04 - 6/15/04 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 TASSCC 2004 Conference: IT Olympics--Go For the Gold - 8/9/04 - 8/11/04 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
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 NabersOpportunities taking off at airports around Texas - 4/19/2004 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 Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 2 Issue 19 - 5/14/04 Volume 2 Issue 18 - 5/7/04 Volume 2 Issue 17 - 4/30/04 Volume 2 Issue 16 - 4/23/04 Volume 2 Issue 15 - 4/16/04 Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives 11/7/03 - 4/1/04 News from Strategic Partnerships, Inc.Legislative Communications ConferenceInvitations have been extended to speakers for this important conference that will be held on October 7th at UT's JJ Pickle Center in Austin. The conference is sponsored jointly by SPI and UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs. As the agenda becomes firm and speakers confirmed, details will be available at SPI's website. ResourcesNASBO Fiscal Survey of the States Fiscal Year 2003 Quality Assurance Team's Annual Report 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/MeetingsSenate Veteran Affairs & Military Installations Committee-- 10:00am, May 24, Betty King Conference Room, 2E.20 Senate Finance Committee-- 1:00pm, May 24, E1.030 and 8:00am, May 25, E1.036 Senate Health and Human Services Committee-- 1:00pm, May 24, E1.030 and 1:00pm, May 25, 2E.8 |
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Workforce Center Offers AssistanceAn interactive session on how to formalize and integrate a corporate culture into your business is being offered by the Workforce Center. The event begins at 9 a.m. in the Lone Star Room of the new WorkSource Conference Center, located at 6505 Airport Boulevard. Seating is limited so please RSVP to (512) 485-3750 or to leanne.james@twc.state.tx.us. This seminar is being offered as part of WorkSource's grand opening. Chamber Luncheon: Lt. Gov. Dewhurst Discusses Public School Finance ReformThe San Antonio Chamber will host a luncheon for Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, San Antonio. Considered one of the most influential politicians in the State Government, the Lt. Gov. will discuss the Special Session on public school finance reform. He will also talk about some of the proposed changes that would significantly affect the state's tax structure - changes that could impact many businesses. For more information or to register, click here. |
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