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HHSC Invites Comment on Integrated Eligibility RFP; Bidding on Call Centers Set to BeginThe Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced the release of the draft Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment Services RFP for public comment this week, signaling the start of a private bidding process which will create call centers for the purpose of conducting eligibility interviews for social services. The state is in the process of determining whether it would be more cost-effective to operate the call centers in-house or contract a private company to do so. The state estimates they will save $389 million over five years if they operate the call centers. The savings potential of outsourcing call center management will be determined through the bidding process. If it runs the call centers, the state plans to close about half of the community centers where potential clients apply for services and eliminate the jobs of 4,487 eligibility workers. Health and Human Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Gregg Phillips stated that a formal request will be issued once the agency receives and reviews comments from the public. A contract with a private company could be in place as early as September, he said. The state hopes to have the call centers fully operational by January. The plan to shift the process of interviewing potential health and human services clients from community centers to call centers has come under attack by advocates for the needy. They argue that face-to-face interviews are more beneficial for some people. With the closure of so many eligibility offices, it will become increasingly difficult for people to apply for aid in person. Under House Bill 2292, clients would still be able to apply for benefits face-to-face at the remaining community centers, over the Internet or by mail. The draft RFP provides an opportunity to review and comment on the RFP before final release in June 2004. HHSC will only accept comments that are submitted through the agency's website, where a full draft of the RFP is available: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Consolidation/Contracting/52904334/comments.asp. HHSC will consider all comments in developing the final RFP but will not respond to any comments or questions during the draft RFP review period. The comment period for the draft RFP will be from June 8, 2004 through June 18, 2004. All comments are due by close of business (5pm) on June 18, 2004. No comments will be accepted after this date. 
Susan Johnson Will Be New OmbudsmanHealth and Human Services Commissioner Albert Hawkins has announced that Susan McClure Johnson will lead the consolidated Office of the Ombudsman. Johnson's duties will include consumer relations, consumer rights, mediation, dispute resolution services and alternate dispute resolution. Her office will be the primary point of contact for the many questions, complaints and concerns of clients, stakeholders and the public. Johnson has experience at the Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Department of Transportation, Office of the Governor and the Texas Department of Community Affairs. Johnson has many professional and volunteer affiliations and is an alumna of Leadership Austin, Leadership Texas and Leadership America programs. She has a bachelor's degree from Fisk University in Nashville and a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She also completed the Governor's Executive Management Program. She will begin her new role at HHSC on July 1. St. David's Announces $100 Million ExpansionThe St. David's HeathCare Partnership, which operates four hospitals in Central Texas, announced it will spend $100 million to expand three of its hospitals. The system has earmarked $58 million to almost double the size of the 127-bed Round Rock Medical Center. Expansion plans for this project include the construction of a three-story patient tower, a new intensive care unit and a new surgery department. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and continue for two years. About $30 million will be used to expand St. David's Medical Center in Central Austin. The bulk of the money will be spent to expand the Women's Center, where close to 5,000 babies are delivered each year. Plans call for expansion of the neonatal intensive care unit, two additional labor and delivery rooms and seven post-partum beds. Some of the money will also be used to build a helipad at the center. Construction on both the Women's Center and helipad in expected to be completed in December 2005. The remainder of the money, $12 million, will be used to create a 16,000-square-foot outpatient surgery center at North Austin Medical Center. The center will be housed within an existing building and will include three operating rooms, plus additional space for future needs. The surgery center should be open by the end of this year. To prepare for future growth, St. David's has bought 17 acres adjacent to the Round Rock Medical Center and 26 acres next to the North Austin Medical Center. Since 1997, St. David's has spent about $460 million on hospital expansions and improvements. The director of economic development for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Susan Davenport, says St. David's expansion announcement helps the city's economic development efforts. The strength of a city's health care system is a factor in an employer's decision to relocate or expand, she says. 
TYC Veteran to Participate in Fall Legislative ConferenceThe sponsors of the 4th Biennial Pre-session Legislative Conference are pleased to announce that Dr. Leonard Lawrence, former chair of the Texas Youth Commission for over 8 years, will join Colleen McHugh, Tom Beard and Cyndi Krier on the panel entitled "The Role of Boards in the Legislative Process." The conference will be held on October 7th at the JJ Pickle Center. Information about the other participants on this panel was included in last week's edition of the Insider. To learn more about these panelists and the conference, please visit the SPI Web site. Dr. Lawrence is currently Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Family and Community Medicine at the medical school of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He also serves as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the medical school. He has been a faculty member since 1972. Dr. Lawrence is involved in many professional organizations. He recently completed twelve (12) years as a member of the Board of the Texas Youth Commission. He served as Chairman of that Board for over 8 years. He served as president of the National Medical Association (NMA) and president of the C. A. Whittier Medical Society, the San Antonio component of NMA. He is also a member of the NMA constituent society, the Lone Star State Medical Association. He is a member of the Group on Student Affairs (GSA) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and he is a past chairperson of the GSA Minority Affairs Section of AAMC. He has served on the Council of Children, Adolescents and their Families of the American Psychiatric Association of which he is a Distinguished Life Fellow. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of which he is a past Membership Chairperson. Additionally, he holds membership in the Association for Academic Minority Physicians, Black Psychiatrists of America, Texas Psychiatric Association, Bexar County Psychiatric Society, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and the Bexar County Medical Society. Dr. Lawrence has also served a four-year term on the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. As a community leader, Dr. Lawrence has held a number of positions of esteem. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County and has chaired that organization's Board of Trustees. He has chaired the Management Board of San Antonio Fighting Back, a major Substance Abuse Intervention Project funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is a past president of the San Antonio Area Foundation and a past chairman of the Alamo Public Telecommunications Council. He has also served an eight-year term as a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Mary's University. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Health System Foundation (San Antonio, Texas) and the South Texas Tissue and Blood Center. Dr. Lawrence is board certified in both Psychiatry and Child Psychiatry. He holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University and a medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. Texas Ranks Near Top in Biotech StudyBioscience education is thriving in Texas, according to a recent study by the Battelle Memorial Institute and the State Science and Technology Institute. In a study examining the scope and impact of bioscience employment in 50 states, Texas ranked No. 2 for higher education degrees in bioscience and No. 3 for university expenditures in bioscience. The study described Texas "as a leading source of qualified, educated bioscience workers." There are more than 32,000 biological scientists employed in Texas. Business Groups Wants A Chance to Draft School Finance PlanAccording to an interview published in the online news source, The Quorum Report, Greater Houston Partnerships Chairman Rob Mosbacher spoke out on school finance reform progress this week, maintaining that, because 2004-2005 school budgets are already in place, there is no rush to push through a hasty solution. Instead he'd like to have a chance for the state's business community to construct a plan and tax proposal that will enjoy broad support from Texas businesses. Texas businesses, according to Mosbacher, will support a "fair, simple, predictable tax system in which they all participate and nobody is asked to pay too much." The chairman also noted that none of the special session bills supplied sufficient funds to Texas schools, but tied all the money to standard-based education and matching funds from school districts, measures that make the funds virtually untouchable for a great number of school districts. Furthermore, he stated that it was reasonable to assume that the public school system needs an additional $1.5 billion to $2 billion. TMA Board Elects Vice-Chair and SecretaryThe Texas Medical Association (TMA) board of trustees has elected San Antonio pathologist William W. Hinchey vice-chair and Houston neonatologist Michael. E. Speer secretary. Dr. Hinchey has served on the board since 1998, and has been a member of its executive committee since 2001. His election as vice-chair follows his re-election to the board during the association's annual meeting, TexMed, held in Austin last month. Dr. Hinchey received his medical degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Speer has served in TMA leadership roles for over a decade, including a three-year stint as chair of the Council on Scientific Affairs. He is one of three TMA representatives to the Texas Patient Safety Alliance and also serves as the group's vice-chair. Since 1988, Dr. Speer has represented the Harris County Medical Society on TMA's House of Delegates, and served as the chair of the society's delegation for two years. He received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. Representing more than 39,500 physicians and medical students, TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation. Fast-growing School Districts Low on BooksBecause of rapid growth, some Texas school districts may have a shortage of materials when students arrive in the fall. Because of a shortage of funds at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), an estimated 70,000 students might not have the necessary school books. TEA spokeswoman Debbie Graves Radcliffe explained that the agency needs $110 million worth of school books but only has $39 million with which to buy the books. The agency expected to have an additional $75 million due to a new law that changed the way motor fuel taxes are collected; the increased tax revenue failed to materialize, however, thus creating the current shortage. Crowley, Keller, and Mansfield ISDs, which expect to add 800-2,500 new students next year, will take the brunt of the shortfall. Houston, Others Woo Lucrative NASA FacilityHouston hopes to best five competitors to become the home to NASA's newest facility. The NASA Shared Services Center, which is scheduled to open late next year, will bring 500 to 800 new workers to the chosen city, with an average salary of $60,000 per person. The center will act as a consolidation point for many of NASA's administrative functions, including procurement, finance, information technology and personnel. While Newport News boasted their business district and low cost of living, and Orlando hyped its creative capacity, Houston focused on its temperate climate, diverse workforce, and low taxes in its efforts to win the contract. In total six cities offered pitches last week at a bidders' forum in Fairfax, Virginia. The deadline for bids is September, with a decision following shortly thereafter. Texas to Provide Free Internet Access at Rest AreasTravelers on Texas' highways will soon be able to send e-mails for free at the state's 84 rest areas and 12 travel information centers, according to The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). TxDOT is currently accepting bids from companies willing to provide free wireless Internet access at the state's rest areas and travel information centers. Bids will be accepted until June 25, and a provider will be chosen in July. Andy Keith, manager of TxDOT's maintenance division, says the motivation behind the plan to offer free Wi-Fi was driver safety. Keith says TxDOT hopes access to free Wi-Fi will encourage drivers to stop more frequently, thereby reducing the number of fatigue-related accidents. About 1,500 people die annually and another 77,000 are injured in fatigue-related crashes in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. TxDOT is also exploring the possibility of installing special kiosks where motorists without laptops can use a credit card to access an Internet-enabled computer in 15-minute increments. Edwards Aquifer Receives $1.5 Million Challenge GrantHouston geologist and developer George Mitchell gave the Great Edwards Aquifer Alliance a challenge grant that will supply $500,000 annually over three years. The grant aims to elicit matching funds from individuals and organizations. Mitchell has created a flexible arrangement in that the first half of the funds can be spent before matching funds have been donated. The Edwards Aquifer Alliance includes the following organizations: Save Our Springs, Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas, Smart Growth San Antonio, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association, the San Marcos River Foundation, the San Antonio and Austin Chapters of the Sierra Club, and the Hays Community Action Network. Trucks from Mexico Can Roll Northward Following Supreme Court O.K.The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the President could open the Southern border to trucks from Mexico without waiting for a study detailing the effects of such an action on America's environment. Environmental, consumer, and labor groups brought the suit, arguing that, due to Mexico's lower emissions standards, the foreign truck traffic will result in increased pollution in American cities. President Bush, on the other hand, was pushing to open the Southern Border in order to comply with the requirements of the ten year-old North America Free Trade Agreement, which eliminated most trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The Supreme Court ruling, citing the president's authority in deciding when and for whom to open borders, overturns a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that held that an environmental study was necessary to abide by the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Clean Air Act. No date has been set for opening the roads. Laredo city leaders don't forecast any major impact as a result of the decision. Many in the town, including the Mayor, saw the decision as a foregone conclusion and have been preparing for cross-border truck traffic for years. Laredo Development Foundation executive John Adams stated that Laredo has reinforced its infrastructure and strengthened its law enforcement in preparation for the cross-border traffic. PUC Staff Recommends Slashing CenterPoint RequestStaff at the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) recommends cutting CenterPoint Energy's, the second largest power-delivery company in Texas, request to recover $4.43 billion from customers as the state completes the transition to a competitive electric market by 56 percent to $2.48 billion. The Houston-based company filed the request in what is referred to as a "true-up filing," under a Texas law that opened the state's $20 billion electric market in 2002. The case will be heard by Texas' three-member commission beginning June 21. Sen. Hutchison Calls for More Airport Security FundingSen. Kay Bailey Hutchison pressed lawmakers to honor commitments to shoulder some of the economic burden of homeland security in the nations airports. Sen. Hutchison noted that Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and seven other airports in the country had been promised that the federal government would pay for 90 percent of the costs of new luggage screening systems. Because the Transportation Security Administration has yet to fully reimburse the airports for the expensive projects, Sen. Hutchison asked that lawmakers on the Senate Homeland Security include this in their 2005 budget. D/FW Airport, one of the nation's largest, has already begun construction on an explosive-screening luggage conveyor system-a project that will cost approximately $142 million in total. The federal government owes the airport almost $20 million. |
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. HHSC Invites Vendor Input Via WebsiteHHSC continues to seek public input to help streamline the administrative requirements associated with health and human services contracts and programs. HHSC has developed an Internet site that allows the public to review contracting documents and requirements as well as state and federal laws and regulations that establish the contracting policies of health and human services agencies. For more information or to comment on the process, visit the Improving Contracting Practices Web site. Governor Projects Another Special Session for School FinanceGov. Rick Perry stated that he is considering calling the Legislature back to the Capitol again this summer to take another swipe at school finance reform. The Governor further commented to reporters that the two legislative panels working to construct a plan have made significant headway towards a solution. Despite some of the Legislature's support of business taxes to pay for school funding, Gov. Perry opposes the idea on the grounds that it will slow business growth in Texas. Furthermore, Gov. Perry still advocates for legalizing video slot machines at racetracks and Indian reservations, despite significant opposition from the state's Republican Party base. U.S. House Members Propose Sales Tax Deduction on Federal Income TaxMembers of the U.S. House proposed a bill last week that would allow residents of Texas and six other states that do not impose a state income tax to deduct state and local sales taxes on their federal income tax returns. Majority Leader Tom Delay led the charge for this measure, which is slated to come up for a vote on the House floor in two weeks. According to estimates produced by the Texas Comptroller's Office in 2002, the average family of four would save approximately $300 dollars a year, meaning that the state would withhold a total of $1 billion from the federal government annually. The proposed plan would allow people to deduct either state and local sales tax or state and local income tax, whichever is higher, from their federal returns. Reports Critical of Dallas Police DepartmentThe Dallas Police Department suffers from weak leadership and low employee morale, according to over 100 reports from officers and civilian managers. Incoming Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle asked some civilian supervisors and officers ranked lieutenant or higher to pretend they were named police chief and submit a three page report outlining the first items they would tackle during the first month and first year on the job. Kunkle, who will take over leadership of the department on June 21, says the reports confirm many of his own observations and those he's heard about the department. Spring Residents Voice Opposition to Proposed TollwaySpring residents have threatened to take legal action if state transportation officials go ahead with plans to build a 13-mile, four-lane tollway through Spring. Close to 500 people gathered to protest the proposed tollway, which would connect Texas 249 and Interstate 45. It is one segment of the Grand Parkway project, which is divided into 10 segments and circles the Houston area outside of the Sam Houston Tollway. So far, only one segment has been built, a 19-mile stretch between the Southwest and Katy freeways. Plans for several of the other segments are in the works. Event LinksIdentity Crime Regional TrainingVarious Dates TASA 56th Annual Summer Conference - 6/13/04 - 6/15/04 Texas Department Insurance, Secretary of State, et al. Business Opportunity Forum - 6/17/04 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 22 - 6/4/04 Volume 2 Issue 21 - 5/27/04 Volume 2 Issue 20 - 5/21/04 Volume 2 Issue 19 - 5/14/04 Volume 2 Issue 18 - 5/7/04 Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives 11/7/03 - 4/23/04 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. Registration will open in mid July after all of the panels have been announced. At that time, a link to the registration page will appear here. ResourcesReport on Contract Administration for the Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System. NASBO 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 Papers on Public School Finance Center for Public Policy Priorities' Finding a School Finance Solution Public Hearings/MeetingsTexas Building and Procurement Commision-- 10:00am, June 14 and 15, 1711 San Jacinto Blvd. Conference Room 402 Telecommunications Planning and Oversight Council-- 9:00am, June 15, 300 W. 15t St., 1st Floor Rm 103 |
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Western States Land Commissioners Association Summer ConferenceThe 2004 Summer Conference of the Western States Land Commissioners Association will be held at the Salishan Lodge & Golf Resort in Gleneden Beach, Oregon on July 18-22. The conference will include seminars on ocean issues, relationships with tribal lands, legal challenges, etc. For more information, visit: http://statelands.dsl.state.or.us/wslca/. ALEC's 31st Annual MeetingThe American Legislative Exchange Council will host their Annual Meeting in Washington State on July 28th through August 1st. This summer more than 3,000 state legislators business leaders, and public policy experts will gather in Seattle, Washington to participate in an "exchange of ideas" about how we can improve public policy and further our common goals of a limited government that promotes free markets and individual liberties. For more information, visit http://www.alec.org/.. |
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