Former Texas PUC Chairman Won't Seek Another Term at FERC

Pat Wood, III, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has announced he won't seek another term when his current one expires June 30. Wood served on the Public Utility Commission of Texas from February 1995 until joining the FERC in June 2001. At the conclusion of his term at FERC, Wood will return to Texas. For more information, click here.

Former Leader of Arlington's Chamber Nominated For Key Federal Job

President Bush has nominated former Arlington Chamber of Commerce President David Sampson to be deputy commerce secretary. As deputy secretary, Sampson would be the Commerce Department's chief operating officer with responsibility for the day-to-day management of a $6.5 billion budget, 13 units and 38,000 employees. Sampson is currently assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, a position he has held since 2001. His nomination is subject to Senate confirmation.

SAWS Hires New CFO

The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has hired Doug Evanson as Chief Financial Officer for the utility. Evanson comes to SAWS with extensive utility finance experience and will be joining the utility in mid-April. Most recently, Evanson was the Assistant Treasurer at Black and Veatch in Kansas.

SAWS is a public utility owned by the city of San Antonio. It supplies service to 1 million people living in San Antonio, suburban municipalities and portions of unincorporated Bexar County. It also provides water wholesale to several smaller utility systems.

A&M Names New Executive Vice Chancellor

The Board of Regents of the Texas A&M University System has appointed James G. Hooton to the new position of executive vice chancellor for finance. Hooton's position is an expansion of the responsibilities now held by the vice chancellor for business services, Tom Kale, who has announced plans to retire Aug. 31 following a 30-year career in higher education in Texas. Hooton previously worked for Arthur Andersen for 35 years. He has served as a member of the Governor's Special Commission on 21st Century Colleges and Universities and has been active in numerous organizations at Texas A&M.

Flood Reappointed Inspector General for Health and Human Services

Gov. Rick Perry has reappointed Brian G. Flood as Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. His term will expire February 1, 2006. Flood was first appointed to the position in October 2003. He previously served as the Chief of the Specialized Crime Division of the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. Flood is an instructor for the National College of District Attorneys, National Insurance Crime Bureau, and the National White Collar Crime Center.

OAG Names New IT Deputy Director

Ginger Salone has been named Deputy Director of Information Technology for the Child Support division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). She will begin her new job April 25. Salone is currently the manager of the Information Technology Division of the Comptroller of Public Accounts. She started her career in state government as a mainframe telecommunications programmer for the Comptroller's office in August 1986 and advanced through the ranks of management to her current position in 2001. She previously worked in the private sector IT industry for 7 years.

Salone has been the Comptroller's representative on the Electronic Government Task Force, the TexasOnline Authority and has been the chair of the Telecommunications Planning and Oversight Council for several years. She has also served as a board member of the Texas Association of State Systems of Computing and Communications (TASSCC) since 1997 and is the current President.

House Approves $137.5 Billion Budget

The Texas House has approved a $137.5 billion state budget that increases spending on public education and health and human services while making cuts to other government agencies. HB10, approved by a 105-41 vote, proposes $42 billion for education, including $3 billion in new spending for schools. $19 billion would go to health and human services. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Austin Identifies $769 Million in Needs For 2006 Bond Vote

The City of Austin has identified $769 million in needs for a 2006 bond election. However, it does not want to borrow that much money and will ask the 21-member citizens advisory committee to make recommendations on ways to reduce the amount.

Proposed projects include:

• $199 million for drainage improvements
• $150 million for street reconstruction
• $107 million for a central library
• $50 million for open space
• $25 million for affordable housing

For more information, click here.

Trans-Texas Corridor Committee Selected

The Texas Transportation Commission has appointed 21 citizens to the Trans-Texas Corridor citizen's advisory committee.

The Trans-Texas Corridor is a proposed multi-use, statewide network of transportation routes in Texas that will incorporate existing and new highways, railways and utility zone. Specific routes for the TTC have not been determined. As envisioned, each route will include: separate lanes for passenger vehicles and large trucks, freight railways, high-speed commuter railways and infrastructure for utilities. For more information, click here.

UT System Shows Renewed Interest in Los Alamos Bid

The University of Texas System is showing a renewed interest in playing a part in the management of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. System officials are discussing with Lockheed Martin Corp. a possible role on the company's bid to operate the nuclear weapons lab. The regents decided against a bid in February, but revisions in the proposed contract by the U.S. Department of Energy have caused the System to rethink its decision. UT Chancellor Mark Yudof will brief regents April 28.

Lens on the Legislature: Onward to the Governor

Previous Lens on the Legislature columns have discussed the process for a bill to become engrossed in its originating chamber, acted on in the second chamber and perhaps in a conference committee, and if successful, enrolled and signed by the presiding officers of both chambers. This week, a bill authored by Sen. Kip Averitt and sponsored by Rep. Larry Taylor was the first to make it through that process. SB88 was signed by the president of the Senate (the lieutenant governor) on Monday and the speaker of the House on Tuesday. It was then sent to the governor on Tuesday.

Article 4, Section 14 of the Texas Constitution allows the governor ten days (excluding Sundays) in which to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature. If the governor elects to veto the bill while the legislature will remain in session for many more weeks, the bill would be returned to the originating chamber (in this case, the Senate) with an explanation of his objections. A two-thirds majority in each house would be required to override the veto. If the governor neither vetoes nor signs the bill within the allotted time, the bill will become law automatically. As we approach the end of the session, if a bill is sent to the governor within 10 days (excluding Sundays) of final adjournment (known as "adjournment sine die"), the governor will have until 20 days (counting Sundays) after final adjournment to sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

Adjournment sine die (the 140th day of the session) is scheduled for May 30th; the 20th day following final adjournment is Sunday, June 19th.

The online list of actions for SB88 shows 37 recorded events that have occurred so far. There are also links to the votes that were recorded.

Lists of bills that are signed by the governor or vetoed by the governor are also available online.

Last week's Lens on the Legislature mentioned two key procedural methods to improve a bill's chances of success. Both were used in this case, which may be why it was the first bill to succeed. The first method was that it was sponsored by a member of the committee of jurisdiction in the second chamber. In this case, Rep. Taylor is a member of the House Insurance Committee. The second was the filing of a companion bill - in this case HB935. In fact, the technique mentioned in last week's article - bringing up a companion bill in lieu of one that is already scheduled - was used in this case.

Finally, if the governor signs a bill, when does it become effective?

Article 3, Section 39 of the Texas Constitution states that no law, except the general appropriation act, shall take effect until ninety days after the adjournment of the session, unless the Legislature, by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House, directs otherwise. A list of bills that are effective immediately is available online.

Because legislative sessions can begin as late as January 14th, this constitutional requirement would mean that in those years no bill (without the required two-thirds vote) could be effective prior to September 1st. It has therefore become common practice to state September 1st as the effective date for most bills. Since the 79th Regular Session began on January 11th, bills without specific effective dates (and that could not be made effective immediately) become law on Monday, August 29th.

USDA Awards Leary $2 Million to Update Wastewater System

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Agency has awarded the City of Leary in Northeast Texas more than $2 million to make some needed improvements to their sewerage system. The rural development agency's water and wastewater program is designed to bring fresh, clean, drinking water as well as sanitary, environmentally sound sewerage systems to America's 53 million rural residentst.

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. Founded in 1994, SPI has offices in Texas and California. To learn more about SPI services click here or contact Crystal Kuhs at 512-531-3900.

Focus on SPI Research Staff

Susan Tennison has over 30 years of experience in information resource planning and quality assurance. At SPI, Susan specializes in analyzing governmental planning documents, legislative requests and approved budgets for information on future initiatives and uses her extensive experience working at various state agencies such as the Legislative Budget Board and Department of Information Resources to glean opportunities for SPI clients. To read Susan's full bio, click here.

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SPI has a dedicated Information Services 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. For a FREE TRIAL of SPI's Future Opportunity Analysis and Bid Monitoring services click here.

UTSA Institute Awarded $6.3 Million Research Grant

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $6.3 million research grant to the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Cajal Neuroscience Institute. The university will use the money to fund research in neuroscience, cell and molecular biology, to hire faculty, to purchase equipment and to add administrative support.

FEMA Awards Baylor $4.2 Million to Prevent Flood Damage

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Baylor College of Medicine in Houston a $4.2 million grant for work to prevent flood damage at the school. The money will help finance installation of flood barriers, shields and floodgates and raise the elevations of entrances.

Bill Calls for New Technology Funding For Schools

House Bill 4 would provide at least $200 million a year in new technology funding for schools to buy laptop computers and educational software. The bill would rewrite state law to shift the focus from traditional textbooks to electronic materials such as Web sites and CD-ROMs.

NASCIO Release New Report

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has released a new publication on the subject of information sharing: Government Information Sharing: Calls to Action - PERSPECTIVES.

Event Links

5th Annual Internet Security Forum for Texas State Government - 4/13/05

Texas Public Health Association's 80th Annual Education Conference - 04/24/05 - 04/26/05

15th Annual Texas GIS Forum - 4/25/05 - 4/29/05

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Summer Workshop - 6/8/05 - 6/10/05

Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association 36th Annual Summer Conference - 6/12/05 - 6/15/05

TASB Summer Leadership Institute - 06/23/05 - 06/24/05

Government Finance Officers Association 99th Annual Conference - 6/26/05 - 6/29/05

8th Annual Texas Transportation Summit - 8/9/05 - 8/12/05

Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott Nabers

Transportation, teacher retirement system among Texas' biggest spenders - 3/11/2005

Tiny radio tags could create plenty of big contract chances - 2/25/2005

State, local agencies seeking companies with GIS offerings - 3/25/2005

Texas Government Insider Archives

Last Issue - 3/31/05

Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 3/24/05

Resources

Budget and Performance Assessments: State Agencies and Institutions, Fiscal Year 2004

Legislative Budget Board's Contracts Reported by Texas State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education in 2004

Legislative Workforce Summaries

TxDOT's 2006 Project Selection Process

Resources for Electronic Government

Diagram of Legislative Process

HUB Forms Library

State Contract Management Guide

State Procurement Manual

TBPC Facilities Master Plan

Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address

Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle

Texas Fact Book 2004

Public Hearings/Meetings

Upcoming Senate Committee Meetings

Upcoming House Committee Meetings

Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization-6:00pm, April 11, 2313 Red River, LBJ Auditorium, Austin

Subscribe to the Texas Government Insider™

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OAG Hub Forum

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will hold a Hub Forum on April 26 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Participants will find out what information technology, service related and other procurement opportunities will be coming up for FY05-06 at the Attorney General's Office. They will also meet the purchasers and new purchasing director and learn about planned projects. The forum will be held at the William Clements Building, 300 W. 15th Street, Austin. For more information, contact Mindy Sue Cohen at 512-475-4411 or mindy.cohen@oag.state.tx.us.

Texas Round-Up

The Texas Round-Up is a statewide effort to encourage Texans of all fitness levels to incorporate daily physical activity and healthy choices into their lives. On Saturday, April 30th, a 10-K Run/Walk and Health & Fitness Expo will be held in downtown Austin. For more information, visit: www.texasroundup.org.

Texas Citizen Corps Conference

The Harris County Citizen Corps is hosting the Texas Citizen Corps Conference May 31 - June 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Houston. The conference is open to anyone interested in the Citizen Corps Program, including regional councils of governments, local, state and federal agencies, volunteers, emergency management professionals, and any other interested parties. For more information or to register, click here.

Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Summer Conference

The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Summer Conference will take place June 8 - 10 in Austin. Topics to be discussed include: Tools for the Instructional Leader: Managing Data and Leading People and Effective Documentation and Conferencing Skills: What it Takes to Be Successful. For more information, click here.