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Texas to Gain 6,000 Jobs under BRACThe Pentagon today recommended closing about 180 U.S. military installations – 15 of which are in Texas. The Texas installations Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recommends closing are:
The Pentagon’s plan calls for seven military posts in Texas to gain jobs, which would result in Texas seeing a gain of nearly 10,000 military jobs. Combined with a loss of civilian jobs, the net gain in Texas is over 6,000 jobs. Most of the growth is recommended to occur at Fort Bliss in El Paso and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Details of the Pentagon’s plan are available online. The Base Realignment and Closure Commission will review the Pentagon’s list and send its recommendations to President Bush. More information about the base-closure process can be found in the Lens on the Legislature article below. Stay tuned to the Insider for further breaking news on this subject as it becomes available. Governor appoints two to Parks and Wildlife CommissionGovernor Rick Perry appointed Dan Friedkin of Houston and reappointed Peter M. Holt of Blanco to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2011. 
Holt is CEO of HOLT CAT, the largest Caterpillar distributor in the United States. He also is principal owner and chairman of Spurs Sports and Entertainment. Holt is a member of the World President’s Association and trustee of the Palmer Drug Abuse Program in Corpus Christi. He serves on the board of J.P. Morgan Chase Bank; San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Inc.; the Free Trade Alliance of San Antonio and St. Mary’s Hall. Holt also serves on the development board of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and is a board member of The Trust Company, the Texas State Aquarium and Trinity University. He is a Vietnam veteran, who was awarded a Purple Heart, Silver Star and three Bronze Stars for Valor. Friedkin is president and CEO of Friedkin Companies, with responsibility for companies and investments principally in the automotive industry. These include Gulf States Toyota, one of the world’s largest privately held Toyota distributorships. He is an avid outdoorsman who is active in wildlife conservation initiatives in the U.S. and abroad. He is a trustee of the Kinkaid School Board, advisory director with J.P. Morgan Chase in Houston and member of the Young President’s Organization. Friedkin serves on the advisory board of the Texas A&M Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. A graduate of Georgetown University, he received a master’s degree from Rice University. Jim Muse Appointed to Key OAG PostJim Muse was appointed as the Director of Administration for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) effective May 9, 2005. In this position Jim will oversee the Accounting, Budget and Purchasing, Human Resources, Information Technical Support and Support Services divisions. Jim joined the OAG earlier this year to serve as the interim Deputy Director for Information Technology in the Child Support Division. Immediately prior to joining the OAG, Muse served at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality where he was the director for Policy and Regulations Development in the Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis and Assessment. His prior state experience includes stints as the Executive Director of the General Services Commission (the predecessor to the Building and Procurement Commission), as the Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and as the Chief of Operations for the Texas Department of Agriculture for then-Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry. Hooks named IT Director at Texas TreasuryRuth Hooks, Information Resource Manager (IRM) for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), has been named Director of Information Technology at the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Co., a quasi state agency that keeps several billion dollars in securities owned by state agencies and the treasury. In that position, she will be responsible for planning and implementing IT initiatives for the agency. Ms. Hooks assumes her new position on May 16. Ruth has more than 20 years of experience in the full range of information technology disciplines. Her state experience at DIR began in January 1991. She served as a consultant for several other agencies performing planning and project management work before being named as IRM at DIR in 1994. Prior to DIR, she served for 12 years at the American Cancer Society (ACS) National Data Center as Director of Applications Development and Director of Information Resources. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) Capital of Texas Chapter. 
Jane Hackley RetiresJane Hackley, director of conferences and training at the LBJ School of Public Affairs since 2001, is retiring. Jane has been at the School since 1997 and has assisted or directed conferences such as the Pre-Session Legislative Conference for newly elected legislators, the biennial Governing Texas Counties conference for newly elected county judges and commissioners, conference on Civil Rights, the US-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program, and, together with SPI staff, the biennial conference on Legislative Communications. The LBJ School will miss her, but wish she and her husband a happy retirement at their lake house in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Additional $1 Million of Railroad Commission Grant Money AvailableTexas’ three Railroad Commissioners announced this week that the agency’s highly successful Clean Air Forklift Initiative has been granted an additional $1 million for the current fiscal year. The program is funded by grants from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to the Railroad Commission (RRC) under the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP). It enables forklift operators to replace their older propane, gasoline, Compressed Natural Gas and diesel lifts with 2004-compliant propane lifts. It also provides forklift owners with financial assistance to install certified retrofit systems on their older lifts. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of Texas’ estimated 36,000-45,000 propane forklifts operate in counties with air-quality challenges. To qualify for the incentive program, forklift owners and operators must replace or retrofit existing equipment in any of 41 “non-attainment” or “near non-attainments” counties eligible for TERP funding. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit the RRC’s Alternative Fuels Research and Education Division web site. Bill Requires Training on Open GovernmentSB286, which has been passed by both chambers, would require each elected or appointed government official in Texas to complete a training course on open records and open meetings laws. The training course, up to two hours in length, would emphasize the responsibilities government officials have to the public in complying with these laws. The Office of Attorney General would conduct the training on site, provide a videotaped course at no cost, or approve training provided by a government office or other qualified instructor. If signed by Gov. Rick Perry, the law would take effect on Jan. 1, 2006 and current government officials would be expected to enroll as soon as possible. Future officials would be required to take the course no later than 90 days after they assume responsibilities of their office. The open records training would also be required for public information officers employed by a government office. New NASCIO PublicationsThe National Association of State Chief Information Officers has come out with three recent publications that may interest our readers:
Information about all of these publications is available on their Web site. UT Approves three new Degree ProgramsThe University of Texas Board of Regents has approved three new degree programs. A doctor of nursing practice degree will be offered at The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. The program is designed to prepare advanced practice nurses for hospital staff privileges and allow them to demonstrate high-level clinical skills. The board also approved a doctor of philosophy in educational leadership and policy studies at UT Arlington, and a Ph.D. in applied statistics/demography at UT San Antonio. The UT System has 15 campuses, including nine academic and six health institutions, and an annual operating budget of $8.5 billion in fiscal year 2005. Student enrollment exceeded 182,000 in 2004. Rep. Joe Moreno’s LegacyAs reported in last week’s Texas Government Insider, State Representative Joe Moreno was killed in a tragic accident last week. The Insider takes a look at some of the legislation the fourth-term Representative worked on during his tenure with the House, focusing on bills that became Texas laws. In Rep. Moreno’s first session (76th), he filed 15 bills, three of which were signed into law by then Governor George W. Bush. HB 1217 was his first to pass the House as well as his first to be sent to the governor. It removed a rule specifying that the enrollment period for large employer health benefit plans must consist of an entire calendar month. HB 2760 allowed for special license plates to be issued to retirees of the U.S. Merchant Marines. His final bill to be signed into law during his first session was HB 3191, a bill that aimed at making Texas county parks safer by creating a Class C misdemeanor for those who violated park rules. During the 77th Legislative Session, Rep. Moreno filed 16 bills, also having three become law. HB 1388 was a local bill that added fire arson investigators to the definition of a firefighter under the provisions for municipal civil service, which gave them certain additional employment benefits. HB 2058 extended to municipal police officers the authority to inspect commercial vehicles for compliance with commercial motor vehicle safety standards. The bill was credited with making municipal police officers safer by eliminating the necessity that they inspect vehicles in traffic. During the 78th Regular Legislative Session, Rep. Joe Moreno authored 10 bills, once again with three of those bills becoming law. HB 1114 dealt with penalties for selling alcoholic beverages to a habitual drunkard or an intoxicated or insane person. HB 2005 required that the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission or county judges who issue original or renewal permits for alcoholic beverage licenses deny permits to those convicted of a felony. H.B. 3028 amended the Water Code to allow ports to use the design-build method of contracting. Rep. Moreno authored six bills this Session. Two of those bills are making their way through the legislative process and may become law. HB 1928 would add detention officers and county jailers to the definition of "public safety employee" in the Government Code so that these employees would be covered by the contagious disease provisions of this statute. Also, HB 2451 would provide a specific criminal charge for mixed beverage permit holders or private club permit holders which serve, sell, or allow the consumption of distilled spirits, beer, or wine after hours. Lens on the Legislature: Busy Month of MayToday is Legislative Day 123 and here is a box score of bills (exclusive of resolutions) through yesterday. Of the 3592 bills filed in the House, 35 have now passed in both chambers and 5 of those have been signed by the governor. Of the 1891 bills filed in the Senate, 82 have now passed in both chambers and 37 of those have been signed by the governor. Of the bills already signed by the governor, 28 were effectively immediately. Last week's Lens on the Legislature suggested that, based on previous legislative sessions, 1500 would be a reasonable estimate for the number of bills that would become laws. That would mean we are less than 10% of the way there! The next few weeks will be busy times at the state capitol. The April 8th Lens on the Legislature explained the actions the governor could take on any individual bill and had a number of links where the interested reader could follow matters like bills signed, bills vetoed and bills that would be effective immediately. Another matter that will likely get a lot of attention in the next few weeks is the fifth round of the (federal) Base Realignment and Closure Project (BRAC). Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is forwarding DOD's recommendations to the BRAC Commission today. The nine member commission, which was sworn in last week, must send to the President by September 8th its "findings and conclusions based on a review and analysis of the Secretary's recommendations." The President then has until September 23rd to accept or reject the commission's recommendations in their entirety. Editors Note: An article elsewhere in this Insider summarizes this morning's announcement. The four previous BRAC rounds -- in 1988, 1991, 1993 and 1995 -- brought about 97 major closures, 55 major realignments and 235 minor actions, according to DoD figures. The major closings have included Naval Station Galveston, Bergstrom AFB (Austin), Carswell AFB (Ft. Worth), Naval Air Station Chase Field (Beeville), Naval Air Station Dallas, Kelly AFB (San Antonio), and Reese AFB (Lubbock). The military and defense industry have a $77 billion economic impact on our state according to the governor. 230,000 Texans are on defense payrolls. Needless to say, the BRAC project will be very important to our state. Here are some handy links for understanding the BRAC process:
Finally, the appropriations bill (SB1) must be passed in the next 18 days. Several sunset bills must also be passed. There is a strong desire to pass major legislation dealing with schools, taxes, water and workers' compensation. Therefore, whether you look at major legislation or at the bill statistics generally, the inescapable conclusion is that it will be a very busy rest of May. Editor's note: An archive of the Lens on the Legislature series is available online http://www.spartnerships.com/resources/LOL_index.asp . |
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 our sales department at 512-531-3900. Focus on SPI Consulting Staff
Tom Schuette is a member of SPI's Information Services team. Prior to joining SPI, Tom worked as an urban policy analyst for the St. Louis, Missouri council of governments where he analyzed local government finances, economic development strategies, and program consolidation opportunities. In this position, he recommended policy strategies to both agency executives and elected officials, and helped local leaders craft legislation for local and state consideration. To read Tom's full bio, click here. State Auditor ReportAdministration of Nursing Facility Contracts at the Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Health and Human Services Commission, SAO Report No. 05-033 Texas Yes!The Texas Department of Agriculture recently announced the launch of a new Web site called Texas Yes! The site promotes “rural Texas communities and everything they have to offer.” California Government InsiderThe California Government Insider™ is SPI's bi-monthly publication detailing the important happenings in the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to those doing business with the California government. To read the latest issue or sign-up for the newsletter, click here. Recent Gubernatorial Appointments
The Honorable Cheryl Lee Shannon- Free Credit Reports available on June 1.The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide consumers with a free copies of their credit reports, at their request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the FCRA with respect to consumer reporting companies. This program is being phased in and it becomes effective for Texans on June 1st. It has been reported that misinformation has been put out directing consumers to bogus sites in attempts to steal personal information. Information on the correct site and procedure is available directly from the FTC. Event LinksTexas Hurricane Conference -- 5/17/2005 - 5/19/2005 in Beaumont Computer Security for the Small Organization - 5/26/05 Texas Citizen Corps Conference - 5/31/2005 - 6/2/2005 Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Summer Workshop - 6/8/05 - 6/10/05 Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Summer Conference - 6/8/2005 - 6/10/2005 Western Governors' Annual Meeting - 6/12/2005 - 6/14/2005 Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association 36th Annual Summer Conference - 6/12/05 - 6/15/05 DIR / TASSCC Government Portals seminar - 6/17/05 TASB Summer Leadership Institute - 06/23/05 - 06/24/05 Government Finance Officers Association 99th Annual Conference - 6/26/05 - 6/29/05 Western States Land Commissioners Association Summer Conference- 7/24/2005-7/28/2005 8th Annual Texas Transportation Summit - 8/9/05 - 8/12/05 Texas Association of Counties 2005 Post Legislative Session Conference - 8/10/05 - 8/12/05 4th Annual San Antonio Transportation Leadership Forum - 9/7/05 - 9/8/05 Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott NabersMillions to be spent on connecting Texas' first responders - 4/22/2005 Population growth leaves local, state governments dealing with water issues - 4/8/2005 Texas Government Insider ArchivesLast Issue - 5/6/05 Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 4/22/05 ResourcesDiagram of Legislative Process State Contract Management Guide Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle Public Hearings/MeetingsUpcoming Senate Committee Meetings Upcoming House Committee Meetings Texas Workforce Commission Texas Building and Procurement Commission
Commission on State Emergency Communications Texas Bond Review Board
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Juvenile Probation Commission Texas Department of Transportation Subscribe to the Texas Government Insider™We welcome you to add your friends and co-workers to the Texas Government 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 Texas Government 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 Texas Government Insider™ or suddenly stop receiving it, we urge you to contact your information technology department to see if this was the cause. |
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Texas Hurricane Conference, May 17-19 in BeaumontHurricanes represent the greatest natural threat to Texas. Spawning tornadoes and severe floods, these killer storms can damage crops, farms and homes hundreds of miles away. This annual conference, sponsored by the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, provides information to local officials on evacuation, sheltering and other key issues. Details and registration are available online. Statewide Education Summit on May 17-18The Texas Public Education Reform Foundation is hosting a statewide education summit in Austin on May 17-18. The impressive list of speakers includes the governor, lieutenant governor, and Texas Education Secretary as well as former US Education Secretary Rod Paige and the chief of staff to the current US Education Secretary. Further information is available online. TAGITM Conference on May 17-20The Texas Association of Governmental Information Technology Managers (TAGITM) will be holding its 2005 conference in Corpus Christi , TX. May 17 - 20. The agenda includes speakers, case studies, and HIPAA training. More information is available online TASSCC 2005 Annual ConferenceThe annual conference of the Texas Association for State Systems for Computing and Communications (TASSCC) will be held at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas. It will begin with a 6:00 P.M. reception on Sunday evening, August 7, 2005, and will conclude at noon on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. The award nominations deadline is June 10th. Further information about the conference is available online. Coming Together to Make a DifferenceThe Southern Women in Public Service: Coming Together to Make a Difference conference is coming to Texas for the first time. The conference, now in its 15th year, will be May 15-17, 2005, at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio. The sponsor expects approximately 200 women political leaders – legislators, statewide elected officials, mayors, judges, state cabinet officers, civil servants and others – from 13 Southern states. The conference is sponsored by the Stennis Center for Public Service. For more information, visit their web site at www.stennis.gov or call (662) 325-8409. Texas State Agency Business Administrator's Association ConferenceThe Texas State Agency Business Administrators’ Association is holding their 36th annual summer conference on June 12 to 15 at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi. The agenda and registration information are on their website http://www.tsabaa.com/ The deadline for vendor sponsorships and booth reservations is May 20th. Vendor questions may be addressed to: Lori.Trank@hhsc.state.tx.us. |
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