Edmonds To Serve Third Term as Chairman of Port of Houston Authority Commission

By a unanimous vote, the Harris County Commissioners Court and Houston City Council have reappointed Jim Edmonds as chairman of the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) Commission. Edmonds, a prominent Houston businessman, was initially appointed to the port commission in 1996 as a representative for Harris County. He was first appointed chairman in 2000.

Under Edmonds' leadership, the PHA has begun construction on the Bayport Container and Cruise Terminal, a project that will create an estimated 39,000 jobs and contribute about $1.6 billion to the Texas economy, implemented its Small Business Development Program and secured approximately $14 million in federal security grants.

In addition to his duties with PHA, Edmonds also serves on the board of the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System and is on the board of commissioners for the Houston Pilots Association. He serves on the board of visitors at the Texas A&M University at Galveston, the board of Space Center Houston and is on the board and executive committee of the Greater Houston Partnership, where he serves as chairman of the organization's world trade division.

Ellis Appointed to Texas Public Finance Authority

Mark Ellis, a Houston City Council member, has been appointed to the Texas Public Finance Authority, which provides financing for the construction or acquisition of office buildings for state agencies. Ellis, a certified financial planner, is co-owner and a founding partner with the Ellis-Reisbord Financial Group, LLC. He is a board member of the Greater Houston Southwest Chamber of Commerce, Sharpstown Civic Association and the Houston Galveston Area Council.

DSHS Announces Assistant Commissioners and Center Directors

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, currently the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Health (TDH) and slated to be the Commissioner of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), announced various members of the executive team of the new state agency, which will begin operations in September 2004. DSHS, which will take over the duties of TDH, the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR), and Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA), is one of the four main state agencies born of the state's consolidation of Health and Human Services.

Evelyn Delgado will be the Assistant Commissioner for Family and Community Health Services. She comes to DSHS after having served in several roles at the Texas Department of Human Services as assistant deputy commissioner for long term care regulatory, interim assistant deputy commissioner for regional operations, assistant regional administrator, and regional director for long term care regulatory. Ms. Delgado holds a bachelor's degree from Trinity University.

Alecia Hathaway, M.D., M.P.H. will be the Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Preparedness Services. Most recently, she served as the public health authority for Tarrant County. She has served in other roles such as assistant director for public health at the City of Fort Worth Health Department and chief for outpatient services in the department of emergency medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center. Dr. Hathaway holds a medical degree from Uniformed Services University, a master of public health degree from Tulane University, and a bachelor's from Colorado State University.

Joseph Vesowate, M.B.A. will be the Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. He comes to DSHS with experience including serving as chief executive officer for Texas Community Solutions, Inc., and interim executive director for Texana Community MHMR Center. Mr. Vesowate holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Iowa and a bachelor's from the University of Texas at Austin.

Richard Bays will be the Assistant Commissioner for the Regulatory Services Division. He joins DSHS after having served in various roles at the Texas Department of Health, including associate commissioner for consumer health protection, associate commissioner for health care quality and standards, and bureau chief of vital statistics. Mr. Bays holds a bachelor's degree from Baylor University.

Jayne Nussbaum, M.P.Aff. will be Director of the Center for Consumer & External Affairs. She has served in several roles at TDH including external relations director, governmental relations director and in the associateship for environmental and consumer health as a legislative liaison and policy analyst. She has also served in various other capacities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ms. Nussbaum holds a master of public affairs degree from the UT LBJ School of Public Affairs and a bachelor's degree in geology.

Debra Stabeno, M.P.H. has been chosen Director of the Center for Program Coordination. She has served in several roles at TDH including director of DSHS program management office, deputy commissioner, deputy commissioner for programs, deputy commissioner for public health sciences and quality, and associate commissioner for health care delivery. Ms. Stabeno holds a master of public health degree from Tulane University, and a bachelor's degree in marketing.

Rick Danko, Ph.D. will be director of the Center for Policy & Innovation. He served in several roles at TDH including strategic health planning director, and adult health program director. Dr. Danko holds a doctorate and master of public health degree in community health from the UT School of Public Health in Houston, and a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from UT-San Antonio.

Austin to Host 2006 National Convention of NACW

The National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW) has selected the City of Austin Commission for Women (ACW) to host the 2006 National Convention of NACW. About 500 women are expected to attend the convention which will include workshops, seminars and networking opportunities. More than 270 commissions for women across the country are members of NACW. NACW member associations focus on issues that effect women in their community. The ACW explores the needs and problems of Austin women and recommends programs to the City Council and City Manager to alleviate inequities that confront women socially, economically, politically and professionally.

ACW Commissioners include Maria C. Hernandez, Chair, Jodi Park, Vice-Chair, Shannon Phillips, Secretary/Treasurer, Dazzie McKelvy, Parliamentarian, Beverley Larkam, Emeritus Member, Perla Cavazos, Judith Lewis and Valerie Malone. To find out more about this association, visit http://www.austinwomen.org/.

Health Clinics to Benefit From $2.7 Million in FQHC Grants

The Texas Department of Health (TDH) has awarded a total of $2.7 million in incubator grants to more than twenty Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across Texas. The grant money will be used to develop and expand health care services to uninsured and low-income Texans. The funds are part of Senate Bill 610, passed during the 2003 regular legislative session. The legislation created an incubator program in order to draw additional federal funds to increase the number of FQHCs in Texas. Currently, there are 181 FQHCs in 58 counties providing health care to almost 500,000 patients. Incubator grants awarded so far total more than $7.6 million. Recipients include Round Rock Health Clinic, which was awarded $81,500 and Georgetown Community Clinic, Inc., which will receive around $106,000.

Murfee Named to TCEQ Committee

George Murfee has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Study Committee of the Processing of Permits at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The committee was created to streamline the process of reviewing environmental permits. Murfee is president of Murfee Engineering Company, Inc. and vice president of Capital Surveying Company, Inc. He is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Groundwater Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Water Environment Federation and the Texas Water Conservation Association. Murfee is also a member of the Consulting Engineers Council, Austin Contractors and Engineers Association and the Boy Scouts of America. He holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Saenz to Coordinate Border Commerce

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Assistant Secretary of State Luis Saenz as Border Commerce Coordinator. The coordinator is responsible for examining trade issues with Mexico and Canada and addressing border crossing and transportation issues, water and wastewater concerns and electric power sales from Texas to Mexico. Saenz was appointed Assistant Secretary of State in August, 2003. Previously, he served as the Governor's senior adviser for community affairs and worked for the Governor's appointment and press staffs. He is a graduate of St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

Gibson To Serve on TSU Board of Regents

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Earnest Gibson III to the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents. Gibson received both his bachelor's degree and master's degree from the university. He is an administrator and CEO of Riverside General Hospital in Houston. He serves on the board of the Third Ward Redevelopment Council and is a member of the American Association for Respiratory Therapy, American Cardiology Technologists Association and the National Society of Cardiopulmonary Technologists. Gibson is also a member of Toastmaster International, the Southeast YMCA, and 100 Black Men Professional and Business Organization. His term will expire Feb. 1, 2005.

Governor Says Second Special Session on School Finance "Not Likely"

Gov. Rick Perry has said that unless state leaders outline an agreement to pay for public schools within the next few weeks, it would be futile to call another special session on education this summer. After the special session, which started April 20, ended in failure, Perry hinted he would call lawmakers back to Austin to try again. Several school-related proposals being considered, such as a plan to legalize slot-machines, would require constitutional changes. In order to put any constitutional amendments on the November ballot, lawmakers would need to complete work on them by the end of August. If no special session is called this summer there is still the possibility that Perry could call one in early fall to tackle less comprehensive educational issues.

Travis County Offers More Than $6 Million in Incentives to Home Depot

Travis County, following in the footsteps of the City of Austin, has offered Home Depot a lucrative incentive package in the hopes of enticing the company to build a data center in Northeast Austin, which would generate hundreds of high-paying jobs for local tech workers and house about $250 million in equipment. The Travis County Commissioners Court approved approximately $6.2 million in incentives. Under the plan, the county will refund all the taxes on business equipment over 10 years and half the incremental property taxes generated from land and improvement. Last week, the Austin City Council approved a 10-year property tax exemption worth $7.2 million to help persuade Home Depot to build a data center which would employ around 500 people here, instead of near the Home Depot's headquarters in Atlanta. The commissioners said they approved the incentives because they were impressed with Home Depot's plan to earmark 35% of jobs for people from economically disadvantaged areas of the city and county. A contract that lays out how the county would hold Home Depot accountable for meeting agreed-to standards such as the amount of money invested in the data center and the number of jobs created will come before the commissioners later this month.

CHIP Enrollment Continues to Slip

As of June, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) had an enrollment of 358,230 Texas kids, showing a decline of 7,501 from May enrollment numbers. Late payments on premiums continue to be an issue, putting families at risk of being cut from the program. The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which oversees CHIP, sent out over 70,000 notices on overdue payments earlier this month, implying that the grace period for two-three month late payments will soon come to an end. Typically, families would be dropped from the program if they miss two payments. Once a family falls off the rolls, they must re-enroll and wait an additional three months before their coverage takes effect again.

Some argue that the new CHIP enrollment system, which requires that persons re-apply and re-submit income information every six months, and higher premiums discourage enrollment. HHSC points to the confusion created during the transition to new CHIP rules, when some families thought that they were no longer covered or eligible. The agency is currently engaged in outreach efforts to correct people's misperceptions about eligibility and payment responsibilities.

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.

Nation Adopts Program Pioneered in Texas

As of this week, when two California counties finally retired paper food-stamp coupons, the nation made a complete shift to an electronic system for food stamps that had its beginnings in Texas a decade ago. The Lone Star Card-type programs are a great improvement over paper systems in that electronic systems reduce fraud, waste, and confusion over duplicate names, dead recipients, or those no longer in need of food assistance. When the Lone Star Card was first rolled out in Texas, public assistance rolls declined due to the elimination of duplicates, and taxpayers saw an average annual savings of $85.5 million once the system was operating statewide. Now, electronic systems are at work all over the country, providing people and states with a dignified, efficient, and reliable method of delivering food assistance.

Event Links

7th Annual Texas Transportation Summit - 08/10/04 - 08/13/04

EXPERIENCE IT 2004 Conference7/29/04 - 7/30/04

Identity Crime Regional TrainingVarious Dates

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

EXPERIENCE IT 2004 Conference7/29/04 - 7/30/04

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:

• 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

Tracking water projects keeps revenue flowing - 6/25/2004

Regional councils doling out dough - 5/16/2004

Opportunities 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 Archives

Volume 2 Issue 25 - 6/25/04

Volume 2 Issue 24 - 6/18/04

Volume 2 Issue 23 - 6/10/04

Volume 2 Issue 22 - 6/4/04

Volume 2 Issue 21 - 5/27/04

Volume 2 Issue 20 - 5/21/04

Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives 11/7/03 - 5/14/04

News from Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Invitations 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.

Resources

An Audit Report on the Department of Health's Implementation of Its Bioterrorism Preparedness Plans, SAO Report No. 04-036

Report 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

New Texas Fact Book 2004

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/Meetings

Senate International Relations and Trade Committee-- 10:00am, July 7, San Antonio City Council Chamber Municipal Plaza Building

Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee-- 10:00am, July 12, E1.028; July 27, E1.028

7th Annual Texas Transportation Summit: Setting the Pace

This year's summit boasts a number of discussions exploring highways, mass transit, rail, high-speed rail, air and sea, as well as security, safety and financing issues. Additionally, the summit will include a number of "special general sessions" to gain insight to the means for continually improving transportation within the state of Texas. At the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas, Irving, TX on August 10-13. For more information, visit http://www.texastransportationsummit.com/index.html.

Central Texas Compensation and Benefits Association: Educational Luncheon

CTCBA, the source for education and information in the Human Resources profession in Central Texas, is hosting an Educational Luncheon on July 15 at the Red Lion Hotel in Austin. The topic will be "Through the Looking Glass, Under the Microscope: Compensation and the HR Profession" with speaker Anne C. Ruddy, CEO, WorldatWork. For more information, visit http://www.ctcba.org/.