Traylor Selected as New HHSC Chief of Staff

Chris Traylor, who currently serves as director of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's (HHSC) Transformation Program Management Office, has been named the agency's new chief of staff. He will replace Rose Hayden, who announced she will leave HHSC Sept. 3 to return to her private consulting practice. In his new role, Traylor will help coordinate HHSC activities and oversee the agency's Border Affairs unit and special projects.

Traylor has 11 years of state government experience. Prior to joining the HHSC earlier this year, he served as deputy commissioner for government relations at the Texas Department of Human Services. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University. He will assume the role of chief of staff on Sept. 7.

Former FBI Official Named Texas' New Director of Homeland Security

Steven McCraw, the just-retired assistant director of the FBI's Inspection Division, has been tapped to coordinate day-to-day homeland security efforts among local, state and federal agencies in Texas. McCraw replaces Jay Kimbrough, who has served as director of homeland security since the position was created following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Kimbrough will continue his oversight of the state's homeland security activities as a senior adviser to Gov. Perry.

As the assistant director of the FBI's Inspection Division, he oversaw evaluation of FBI operations, strategic planning and execution and internal investigations. During his career with the agency, McCraw was appointed assistant director of the FBI's Office of Intelligence and special agent in charge of the San Antonio office. In October 2001, he was selected by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to serve as director of the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force. McCraw, a native of El Paso, began his law enforcement career as a Lone Star highway patrol trooper more than two decades ago.

Bexar County Awarded $72,000 to Create Regional Homeland Security Program

Bexar County has been awarded a $72,000 federal grant to establish a regional Citizen Corps program to support local and national Homeland Security efforts. The one-year grant, which may be renewed, will support services across the 12-county Alamo Area Council of Governments territory. The grant money will be used to develop and implement a volunteer mobilization strategy in the event of a disaster, according to Carl Mixon, Bexar County Emergency Management Coordinator. Plans call for multiple citizen instruction programs, including the creation of teams of volunteers in neighborhoods, businesses, schools and local agencies. The grant will be coordinated through the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management and the Alamo Area Regional Citizen Corps Council.

Del Rio Mayor Appointed to TSUS Board

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Dora Alcala, mayor of Del Rio, to the Texas State University System (TSUS) Board of Regents. Alcala became the first woman mayor of Del Rio in 2000. Previously, she served 37 years for the United States Air Force (USAF), where she attained the rank of senior executive. During her years of service with the USAF, she worked in the areas of Human Resources Management, Financial Management, Education and Equal Employment Opportunity.

Alcala serves on the board of the Texas Military Planning Commission and the International Good Neighbor Council. She is chair of the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition Transportation Committee. She is active in the Del Rio community, serving as chair of the International Bridge Board and the Del Rio Utilities Commission. Alcala holds a bachelor's degree from Sul Ross State University and a master's degree in management from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. She is also a graduate of the Air University's Academic Instructor's School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Her term will expire Feb. 1, 2009.

UTSA Announces $500 Million Expansion Plan

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has announced a $500 million expansion plan designed to catapult the school into the elite group comprised of the nation's premier research universities during the next decade. Construction projects included in the "Roadmap to Excellence" plan include the building of new laboratory and classroom space, as well as additional student housing and support facilities.

Texas Awarded $1.4 Million in Homeland Security Funds

Fifty-seven local governments and regional organizations will receive approximately $1.4 million in federal 2004 Citizen Corps funds to help teach volunteers how to make their communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to emergencies, according to the Governor's Office. The funds will be used to provide local communities with the resources needed to engage citizens in homeland security awareness, community preparedness and family safety; implement Citizen Corps programs such as Volunteers in Police Service, Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT); and form and sustain a citizen corps council. For more information on the Texas Citizen Corps program, visit: www.texascitizencorps.org. For a list of grant recipients, click here.

Lightsey to Head Travis County Nonprofit Center

SafePlace has named Rebecca Lightsey as the new Executive Director for the Travis County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survival Center located in Austin. Lightsey has extensive non-profit and public policy experience in the housing, health care and low-income arenas. She previously served as Texas Insurance Commissioner, Electronic Benefits Director for the State Comptroller of Public Accounts, Assistant General Counsel to the Governor's Office, and Executive Director at the Texas Insurance Purchasing Alliance. Lightsey will join SafePlace in early September.

Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation Announces 2004 Inductees

Five prominent Texas business leaders will be honored as the 2004 inductees into the Texas Business Hall of Fame (TBHF) this fall. The TBHF Foundation, a non-profit organization of 100 directors who are business leaders from cities throughout the state, recognizes the state's business leaders who have made outstanding contributions in their field and in communities in which they live. Previous honorees include former President George Bush and former Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr.

The 2004 inductees are: Tilman J. Fertitta, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Landry's Restaurants, Inc., a Houston-based restaurant enterprise; Matt F. Gorges, Rio Grande Valley food processor; Peter M. Holt, chief executive officer of San Antonio-based HOLT CAT, and chairman and chief executive officer of Spurs Sports & Entertainment; Rosemary E. Kowalski, founder and chairman emeritus of The RK Group, a San Antonio-based catering business; and, Lowell H. Lebermann, Jr., chairman of Centex Beverage Inc. in Austin.

Austin Attorney Elected Chairman of Travis County Hospital District

Clarke Heidrick, an attorney at Austin law firm Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody PC, was elected chairman of the Travis County Hospital District newly appointed board of managers. Another Austin lawyer, Carl Richie, was selected as vice chairman. The nine-member board met for the first time earlier this week to begin work on 48 agenda items, including the appointment of a hospital district administrator and the adoption of the district's first annual budget. The district is expected to have an annual operating budget of about $78 million to run the public health system which includes Brackenridge Hospital, Austin Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Austin (until it is replaced by a private hospital in 2007) and a dozen community clinics.

Lt. Governor Issues Additional Interim Charge on Workers’ Compensation

The Insider has previously reported on the activities of the Senate Select Interim Committee on Workers’ Compensation, chaired by Sen. Todd Staples of Palestine. The Committee held hearings on Feb 26th, Mar 25th, and Apr 29th to receive testimony on its 6 charges and has planned to meet again on Aug 26th to pull together its recommendations and report. Yesterday, Lieutenant. Governor David Dewhurst issued an additional charge. Noting that recent data from the Texas Department of Insurance showed insurance carriers are charging higher premiums even though claim costs are decreasing, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst tasked the Committee to study the pricing of WC insurance premiums. No word yet on whether this will be taken up at the Aug 26th meeting.

Update on 2005 Legislative Communications Conference

Nine legislators are scheduled to participate in this conference to be held on October 7th at UT-Austin’s J.J. Pickle Center. The agenda also includes agency executives, key legislative staffers, and agency board leaders. Questions on the program contents can be addressed to Len Riley at lriley@spartnerships.com.

Nearly 50 people have already registered online and the sponsors just began mailing marketing materials yesterday. In addition to online registration, agencies that prefer to register with hard copy can either email their paperwork to nlm@mail.utexas.edu or snail mail it to: the Office of Conferences and Training at The University of Texas at Austin, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, P.O. Box Y, Austin, TX 78713-8925. Questions about registration or payment can be addressed to nlm@mail.utexas.edu or 512-471-0820.

Texas Counties Ordered to Switch To e-Voting System

All Texas counties must have an e-voting system in place in the next 18 months. Starting Jan. 1, 2006, federal law requires every voting precinct in Texas to electronically record votes instead of using punch-card voting systems or paper ballots. The equipment upgrade is expected to cost counties millions of dollars. The federal government is only providing grant funds that cover about a third of the upgrade costs.

Currently, only 13 counties have upgraded to electronic voting machines. Nine still use punch-card voting systems, 87 count paper ballots and about 145 use optical scanners to read a completed ballot.

Wilson Resigns House Seat

State Representative Ron Wilson, who was unseated in last spring's Democratic primary, has resigned from the Texas House five months before his final term ends. Wilson, a 27-year leglisative veteran, has not publicly discussed his plans for the future. Gov. Perry has not made a decision on whether or not to call a special election to fill Wilson's seat until the next regular legislative session begins in January.

Governor Pushes for Texas Desalination Plant

In an effort to propel Texas into the spotlight as the national leader in water desalination, Gov. Rick Perry wants to develop the first large-scale coastal desalination project in the country. He launched his campaign for a plant that makes seawater drinkable two years ago. Desalinating a portion of the limitless supply of coastal water would meet the needs of a Texas population expected to double in the next 50 years. Last year, the state provided $500,000 grants for three seawater desalination projects in Brownsville, Corpus Christi and Freeport, each designed to produce 25 million gallons a day. However, in order to meet the demands of Texas' growing population a larger plant is needed, according to Perry.

Perry has called on Congress to exempt water infrastructure projects from the cap on private activity bonds, which could free up further financing for desalination projects, which are costly. In addition to looking for new water sources, Perry has also emphasized the need for better conservation and efficiency in current water uses such as projects already underway involving reusing water, replacing old water pipelines, and increasing conservation education.

Pharmacy School to Open on Schedule Thanks to Texas A&M System

The Irma Rangel School of Pharmacy at Texas A&M-Kingsville will open in September 2005 as planned thanks to Texas A&M University System's announcement that it will cover operating expenses, expected to be $3 million, next summer. The university said it would borrow money to help pay for the start-up costs for the pharmacy school. But, by using funds earmarked for operating expenses next year, Kingsville would put itself in jeopardy of running out of money next summer unless the Legislature made an emergency appropriation to the university by next spring. Upon hearing the plan, Gov. Rick Perry, a Texas A&M University alumnus, appealed to the Texas A&M board of regents to find the money. The system will move its funds around to cover Kingsville's expenses. The system expects to be reimbursed by the Legislature in the next two-year budget cycle. While state lawmakers support the pharmacy school, they have been hesitant to give the university funds during the interim session because of the state's health care budget woes.

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.

Upcoming Event: Strategic Partnerships, Inc. and the Councils of Governments of Texas To Host Homeland Security Procurement Seminar For Vendors

So far, the federal government has sent more than $1 billion to Texas to fight terrorism. With the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expected to dole out around $32 billion for homeland security initiatives and programs in FY2005, opportunities abound for vendors offering defense solutions and services. Strategic Partnerships, Inc., in partnership with councils of governments (COGs) from across the state, is co-sponsoring "Accessing Texas Homeland Security Markets," a procurement seminar designed to provide vendors with practical information on federal, state, regional and local procurement opportunities. Procurement officers from key federal, state, regional and local agencies will tell vendors how homeland security funds are being spent in Texas and walk them through the necessary steps for participating in established purchasing programs.

The seminar is being held September 21st at the Omni Hotel in San Antonio in conjunction with the Texas Conference on Regionalism, sponsored by the Texas Association of Regional Councils which will be held from September 22 - 24. For more information, visit http://www.txregionalcouncil.org or to view the seminar information packet, click here.

Event Links

TASSCC 2004 Conference: IT Olympics--Go For the Gold - 8/9/04 - 8/11/04

Emergency Readiness Conference and Expo - 8/9/04 - 8/12/04

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

Texas Association of Counties Annual Legislative Meeting and Trade Show - 8/11/04 - 8/13/04

itsGov: Technology Buying at Year End - 8/25/2004

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

Texas Conference on Regionalism - 9/22/04 - 9/24/04

WIN TEXAS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

For 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:

• 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

Health care problems create opportunities - 7/23/2004

Texas roads paved with opportunity - 7/9/2004

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

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 2 Issue 30 - 07/30/04

Volume 1 and Volume 2 Archives 11/7/03 - 7/9/04

News from Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

2005 Legislative Communications Conference

Registration is now open for Legislative Communications for the 2005 Session, a conference jointly sponsored by SPI and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. The conference will be held October 7th at U.T.'s J.J. Pickle Center. For more information on the conference or to register, visit SPI's website.

Upcoming Event: Mary Scott Nabers, SPI's CEO and President, will be a keynote speaker at the Executive Women in Texas Government (EWTG)18th Annual Professional Development Conference.

The conference will be held on Monday, November 22 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. The 2004 conference theme is "Leadership in a Changing Texas."

EWTG is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to developing and encouraging women in Texas government and higher education by offering educational, interactive and professional growth opportunities. EWTG has over 400 members representing more than 100 state agencies and institutions of higher learning throughout Texas.

For more information, visit http://www.ewtg.org/conference.

Resources

Information for Small and Minority Owned Businesses

Audit Report on HHSC's Administration of CHIP Exclusive Provider Organization Contract

Audit Report on the Department of Health's Implementation of Its Bioterrorism Preparedness Plans

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

Public Hearings/Meetings

House Committee on State Affairs-- 2:00pm, August 9, E1.010

Senate Committee on Education-- 9:00am, August 9, Capitol Extension E1.012

Signing Up for the Insider

We welcome you to add your friends and co-workers to the 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 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 Insider or suddenly stop receiving it, we urge you to contact your information technology department to see if this was the cause.

NASCIO 2004 Annual Conference: "The Road to Recovery: Leading Effectively, Investing Wisely"

The National Association of State Chief Information Officer's (NASCIO) Annual Conference will be held September 19 - 22 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana. Session topics include workforce training initiatives, privacy, procurement, governance, enterprise architecture and the CIO's role in economic development. For more information on the conference, visit www.nascio.org/events/2004AnnualConference/

2004 Texas Conference on Regionalism

The Texas Association of Regional Councils is sponsoring the 2004 Texas Conference on Regionalism September 22 - 24 at the Omni Hotel in San Antonio. The Alamo Area Concil of Governments is hosting the event, which will feature a series of dialogues and consensus building sessions on regional solutions to issues raised by economic, population, social, and political trends in Texas. Over 600 representatives from key state and federal agencies, decision-makers from regional councils of governments, civic leaders, executives and vendors are expected to attend. For more information on the conference, visit www.txregionalcouncil.org/.

Managing Performance '04: The Annual Management Conference for State and Local Leaders

Presented by Governing Magazine in cooperation with UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs and Texas A&M's George Bush School of Government and Public Service, the conference will be held September 29 - October 1 at the Hyatt Regency Austin. This national conference is designed to provide elected executives, legislators, policy advisors, budget offices and others in high-profile, managerial positions with the skills and strategies that get results. Scheduled presenters include Billy Hamilton, Deputy Comptroller of Texas, and Albert Hawkins, Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. For more information on the conference, visit www.governing.com/govconf.htm (note: you will need to scroll down to view the conference announcement).

LBJ School Offers Professional Development Courses

The Office of Professional Development at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs offers a number of excellent courses aimed at senior agency managers. Some of the upcoming courses are: Specification Writing, August 10; Negotiations, August 11; Managing Organizational Change, August 19-20; Systems Thinking, August 23-24; Working it Out, August 30-31; Strategic Planning & Performance Measures, September 7-8; and, Management Development Program (New Braunfels), September 21-24.

Further information is available on their Web site, including a schedule going through 2005.