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9 Document(s) [ Subject: Federal government ]
| Committee: | Senate State Affairs | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Consumer credit and debt | Eminent domain | Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 | Employees Retirement System of Texas | Federal government | Firefighters | Forest Service, Texas A&M | Health insurance | Health insurance exchanges | Liability | Medicaid | Military personnel | Municipalities | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | Peace officers | Primary elections | Property rights | Public retirement systems | Public Safety, Texas Department of | State employee benefits | State employee turnover | States' rights | Statutes of limitation | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | Voting by mail | Voting systems | Wildfires | Workers' compensation | Zoning | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.82 St29a | |
| Session: | 82nd R.S. (2011) | |
| Online version: | View report [177 pages] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Study the policies and actions the State can pursue to preserve state authority and protect Texas citizens from federal overreach in the form of conditional federal grants, conditional federal preemption, and excessive legislation and regulation interfering with states' enumerated powers by Congress. | |
| 2. | Examine the Texas Workers' Compensation system and make recommendations for changes to meet the needs of Texas employers and employees. Specifically, review the following:
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| 3. | Study the feasibility and fiscal impact to consumers of altering the insurance code to allow for the purchase of health insurance across state lines. | |
| 4. | Monitor the potential impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on insurance regulations, Medicaid and CHIP, health care outcomes and overall health of all Texans, and the state budget in Texas. Additionally, monitor the current constitutional challenges to PPACA and other court cases associated with PPACA, and ensure that the state does not expend any resources until judicial direction is clear. (Joint charge with Senate Health & Human Services Committee) | |
| 5. | Study and make recommendations on statutory provisions and judicial decisions relating to the statute of limitations on a cause of action relating to consumer debt. | |
| 6. | Examine establishing a workforce retention program or deferred retirement option plan (DROP) for Texas Department of Public Safety commissioned peace officers and whether any plan can be built with actuarially sustainable factors while meeting the needs of officers. | |
| 7. | Examine the feasibility of implementing Health Reimbursement Accounts and Medicare exchanges for Medicare eligible participants currently covered by and receiving health coverage through the Employees Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System, the University of Texas, and Texas A&M University. Identify any cost savings to the state and to retirees that would occur under such a plan. | |
| 8. | Consider the costs and benefits of the creation of liability protection for private companies and individuals when commissioned by the Texas Forest Service to assist in fighting a fire that is not on the company's or individual's own land. Examine whether state policy should prohibit an employer from terminating an employee who is a volunteer firefighter on the grounds that the employee missed work because the employee was responding to an emergency. Identify any appropriate limitations that should apply to such a policy. | |
| 9. | Examine the effectiveness of the Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act (Chapter 2007, Government Code), and whether it should apply to municipalities. | |
| 10. | Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on State Affairs, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
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| Committee: | House Federal Legislation, Select | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Subjects: | Children's Health Insurance Program | Federal government | Health insurance | Medicaid | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.81 F318 | |
| Session: | 81st R.S. (2009) | |
| Online version: | View report [20 pages File size: 860 kb] | |
| Charge: | This report should address the charge below. | |
| 1. | Review and monitor significant pending federal legislation to the extent such legislation preempts state authority. In addition, the committee shall monitor the implementation of unfunded mandates, including those that could violate the federal Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. The committee's work should include monitoring Congress's health care reform efforts and their potential impact on the state's health care system, health insurance regulation statutes and policies, Medicaid and children's health insurance programs, eligibility system, workforce recruitment and retention, and health care financing mechanisms. | |
| Committee: | Senate Health and Human Services | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Library Catalog Title: | Interim report to the 82nd Legislature | |
| Subjects: | Adult Protective Services | Aging and Disability Services, Texas Department of | At-risk youth | Child abuse | Children's Health Insurance Program | Cloning | Crime prevention | Diet and nutrition | Emergency management | Families | Family and Protective Services, Texas Department of | Family violence | Federal government | Foster care | H1N1 virus | Health care | Health care providers | Health insurance | Human services | Long-term care | Medicaid | Medicaid eligibility | Medical Board, Texas | Medical errors | Medical research | Mental health services | Mentally ill persons | Nurses | Obesity | Physicians | Quality of care | Senior citizens | Services for persons with disabilities | State budgets | Stem cell research | Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.81 H349 | |
| Session: | 81st R.S. (2009) | |
| Online version: | View report [272 pages File size: 6,511 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Upon passage of federal legislation relating to reform of the health care industry and health insurance industry that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission estimates will costs the State of Texas $2 to 2.5 billion per year in General Revenue beginning as early as 2013, study the implications of such legislation on Texas, the health care industry, and public and private insurance. Study and monitor the implementation of the insurance regulatory changes, changes to high risk pool, and any other insurance mandates. Study the health care policy changes and the impact to the Medicaid and CHIP programs and the state budget. Assess the impact to all state uninsured and uncompensated care programs and county programs for the uninsured, including county property tax programs to pay for the uninsured. Make recommendations for the efficient implementation of programs. (Joint charge with Senate State Affairs Committee) | |
| 2. | Study the benefits, efficiencies and costs, and effectiveness of the social service related prevention and early intervention programs at the health and human services agencies, the juvenile and adult criminal justice agencies and other government agencies that have programs that address mental illness, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, single-parent families, absentee fathers, early pregnancy, and unemployment. Study other states' prevention programs and efforts to administer these programs through a merged prevention department. Make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these programs. | |
| 3. | Review the timeliness and efficiency of the Health and Human Service Commission's eligibility system. Include a review of staffing levels and staffing distribution; implementation of Rider 61; and the increased demand on the system. Make recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the system, focusing on policy changes that will not create a large financial burden for the state. | |
| 4. | Study and make recommendations on the state's role for facilitating the exchange of health care information in the future, including using the Medicaid exchange as a framework for the statewide exchange of health information between health care providers to improve quality of care; what information the state should provide; how to use this information to improve care management, prevent medical errors, and reduce unnecessary services; and policies and statutory changes needed to ensure that privacy is protected. Study the feasibility of developing multiple regional health information technology exchanges in Texas. | |
| 5. | Study the state's current and long-range need for physicians, nurses, dentists and other allied health and long-term care professionals. Provide recommendations for ensuring sufficient numbers of health care professionals, focusing on medically underserved and rural areas of the state as well as the Border region. Consider health care delivered by Advanced Practice Nurses in terms of access, cost and patient safety and include an assessment of independent prescriptive authority with those states in which prescriptive authority is delegated by a physician. Make recommendations to enhance the efficient use of Advanced Practice Nurses in Texas. | |
| 6. | Explore strategies to support the needs of aging Texans, including best practices in nursing home diversion, expediting access to community services, and programs to assist seniors and their families in navigating the long-term care system with the goal of helping seniors remain in the community. Study the guardianship program implemented by the Department of Aging and Disabilities and the Department of Adult Protective Services, including the efficiency and effectiveness of the program, the relationship between the two agencies, the appropriate rights for parents, and whether clients and their assets are adequately protected to ensure the state is appropriately identifying seniors in need of protection. | |
| 7. | Examine how the state could enact policies to improve the overall health of Texans, focusing on programs that compliment individually-based prevention with communitybased prevention to reduce obesity rates by increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and improving self-management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Examine obesity-related health disparities between different ethnic groups and ways to narrow these gaps. Consider the fiscal and health impact of second-hand smoke on businesses and service sector employees. Study state-level initiatives to incorporate these individual and community-based prevention strategies, including initiatives pursued in other states. | |
| 8. | Study the state's ability to appropriately respond to the H1N1 influenza pandemic by examining issues related to vaccine distribution and capacity. Consider the benefit of providing the state's independent school districts and various health authorities with standardized protocols for issues including, but not limited to, vaccine administration, absenteeism and the cancellation of school and other school-related events. Assess the state's ability to track and record H1N1 vaccinations through the ImmTrac registry, and review statutes governing ImmTrac to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization information systems. | |
| 9. | Study current state health care quality improvement initiatives in Texas, including statewide health care-associated infection and adverse event reporting, reimbursement reductions in the Texas Medicaid program for preventable adverse events, potentially preventable readmissions identification, health information technology implementation, pay-far-performance programs, and other initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency, safety, and quality of health care in Texas. Identify statutory changes that may build upon efforts to improve quality of care and contain health care costs in Texas. Study policies that encourage and facilitate the use of best practices by health care providers including the best way to report and distribute information on quality of care and the use of best practices to the public and to promote health care provider and payment incentives that will encourage the use of best practices. The study/recommendations could also include assessing the best way to bring provider groups together to increase quality of care, the use of best practices, and reduce unnecessary services. | |
| 10. | Study current practices of the Texas Medical Board relating to disclosure of complaints. | |
| 11. | Review the types of human stem cell and human cloning research being conducted, funded, or supported by state agencies, including institutions of higher education. Make recommendations for appropriate data collection and funding protocols. | |
| 12. | Review the Medicaid HCBS waivers (CBA, STAR Plus, CLASS, MDCP, DBMT, TxHmL) and develop recommendations to assure that people with significant disabilities, regardless of disability label or age, receive needed services to remain in or transition to the community. Review should look at the delivery system, eligibility, service packages, rate structures, workforce issues and funding caps. Examine options for the provision of services for children aging out of the Medicaid system. Make recommendations for streamlining/combining these waivers, ensuring that these waivers are cost effective or create cost savings, and developing policies that contain costs in an effort to increase access to these services. The review should examine other states' community care waivers and provide recommendations relating to efforts that have been successful in other states. | |
| 13. | Study the type, duration, frequency and effectiveness of mental health services available to and accessed by abused and neglected Texas children. Recommend strategies to address the impact of the trauma, and enhance therapeutic services available to this population in an effort to eliminate the cycle of abuse and neglect. | |
| 14. | Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.
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| Committee: | Senate State Affairs | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Library Catalog Title: | Report to the 78th Legislature / Senate Committee on State Affairs. | |
| Subjects: | Federal funds | Federal government | Highway finance | Highway planning | Rights of way | Semi-trailer trucks | Transportation | Transportation Commission, Texas | Transportation infrastructure | Transportation, Texas Department of | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.77 st29a | |
| Session: | 77th R.S. (2001) | |
| Online version: | View report [197 pages File size: 4,128 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Actively monitor the Texas Department of Transportation's update of the Texas Transportation Plan. The Committee shall assess the plan in terms of how it addresses relevant issues such as transportation funding, traffic congestion, multimodal transportation, rural transportation planning, NAFTA-related traffic, and establishment of acceptable levels of service for mobility. The Committee may make recommendations to improve upon planning procedures used by the Texas Department of Transportation as well as statutory changes necessary to facilitate implementation of the Texas Transportation Plan. The Committee may also recommend solutions to the state's transportation funding shortfall. | |
| 2. | Monitor developments at the federal level relating to the re-authorization of TEA-21 and the creation of new innovative transportation financing techniques. | |
| 3. | Evaluate developments related to the commercial trucking industry. This study should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: an evaluation of the state's ongoing efforts to enforce truck safety regulations efficiently and fairly; developments at the state and federal levels related to opening our highways to Mexican truck traffic; and the effect of heavy truck traffic on our state and local roadways. | |
| 4. | Review the recently proposed TxDOT [Texas Department of Transportation] Access Management Rules and the associated draft Access Management Manual. | |
| Committee: | Senate State Affairs | |
| Title: | Charge 2 Devolution in the state | |
| Library Catalog Title: | Senate Committee on State Affairs report to the 77th Legislature : charge 2, studying the impact of devolution on the state. | |
| Subjects: | Aging and Disability Services, Texas Department of | Federal funds | Federal government | Health, Texas Department of | Housing and Community Affairs, Texas Department of | Human Services, Texas Department of | Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Texas | State agencies | State Auditor's Office, Texas | Workforce Commission, Texas | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.76 st29a 2 | |
| Session: | 76th R.S. (1999) | |
| Online version: | View report [93 pages File size: 3,705 kb] | |
| Charge: | This report should address the charge below. | |
| 1. | Study the impact of devolution and other federal streamlining and efficiency efforts on major state agencies, including full-time equivalent employee (FTE) increases, major programmatic changes, and administrative costs to the state. The Committee shall also study conflicts and overlaps among agencies resulting from federally devolved functions and responsibilities. The Committee shall coordinate study of this issue with the Committee on Finance. The final preparation of the report will be the responsibility of the State Affairs Committee. | |
| Committee: | House Financial Institutions | |
| Title: | Interim report | |
| Library Catalog Title: | House Committee on Financial Institutions, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1998 : a report to the House of Representatives, 76th Texas Legislature. | |
| Subjects: | Automated teller machines | Banks and banking | Federal government | Home equity loans | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.76 F49H | |
| Session: | 75th R.S. (1997) | |
| Online version: | View report [28 pages File size: 972 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Conduct active oversight of the agencies under the committee's jurisdiction. | |
| 2. | Review the fees charged and availability of automated teller machines (ATM's). | |
| 3. | Study the effects of the state opting into, or remaining out of, the federal interstate banking system under the Riegle-Neal Act. Include a detailed review of the potential franchise tax impact, if interstate branch banking is permitted in Texas. | |
| 4. | Monitor federal banking reform initiatives to see that state interests in the regulation of financial institutions and insurance companies are protected. (Joint with the House Committee on Insurance) | |
| 5. | Subject to passage of the constitutional amendment, monitor actions of the lending industry, the Finance Commission, and the Office of Consumer Credit to implement home equity lending. | |
| Committee: | Senate Finance | |
| Title: | Interim report | |
| Library Catalog Title: | Interim committee report of the Senate Finance Committee to the 75th Legislature. | |
| Subjects: | Child care | Computer networks | Data management | Federal funds | Federal government | Higher education | Higher education affordability | Information Resources, Texas Department of | Medicaid | State budgets | Telecommunications infrastructure | Tuition | University budgets | University finance | Welfare | Welfare reform | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.74 f49f | |
| Session: | 74th R.S. (1995) | |
| Online version: | View report [272 pages] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | To evaluate the impact on Texas government finance resulting from proposed changes in federal funding mechanisms and to make recommendations to implement changed funding mechanisms. | |
| 2. | To monitor implementation of tuition and student use fee increases, HB 815, 74th R.S. and HB 1792, 74th R.S., by higher education institutions. The Committee shall issue a report identifying the impacts and uses of tuition and student use fee increases. | |
| 3. | To evaluate use of emerging telecommunication infrastructure for efficiencies in collection and disbursement of state funds and to evaluate the impact of technology and its effect on the demand for state appropriations. | |
| Committee: | House Transportation | |
| Title: | Interim report | |
| Library Catalog Title: | Committee on Transportation, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1992 : a report to the House of Representatives, 73rd Texas Legislature. | |
| Subjects: | Eminent domain | Federal funds | Federal government | Hazardous spills | Hazardous substances | Highway finance | Property rights | Public Safety, Texas Department of | Railroad Commission of Texas | Rights of way | Transportation, Texas Department of | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.72 t687 | |
| Session: | 72nd R.S. (1991) | |
| Online version: | View report [106 pages File size: 4,305 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Monitor and oversee legislation enacted during the 72nd Regular and Special Called Sessions that was considered by the Committee on Transportation; Performance Audit Review Recommendations; and any agency-initiated changes. | |
| 2. | Monitor activities of the Traffic Law Enforcement section of the Department of Public Safety and the Transportation Division of the Texas Railroad Commission. | |
| 3. | Examine the transportation of hazardous materials in the state, with an emphasis on federal directives to the state. | |
| 4. | Consider the effects on Texas of the federal transportation legislation, including the Federal Highway Reauthorization Act. | |
| 5. | Examine the issues of condemnation as it affects transportation. | |
| Committee: | House Intergovernmental Affairs | |
| Title: | Interim Report | |
| Library Catalog Title: | To the speaker and members of the Texas House of Representatives, 68th Legislature : report of the / Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs, Texas House of Representatives, 67th Legislature. | |
| Subjects: | Border economy | County budgets | County government | Federal government | Firefighters | International trade | Maquiladoras | Police officers | State employees | State Property Tax Board | Tax Assessor Examiners, Board of | | |
| Library Call Number: | L1836.67 in8 | |
| Session: | 67th R.S. (1981) | |
| Online version: | View report [107 pages File size: 2,913 kb] | |
| Charges: | This report should address the charges below. | |
| 1. | Oversight functions shall be conducted for all appropriations-related actions of those agencies assigned to this committee for appropriative purposes during the 67th Regular Session of the Legislature. In addition, a study should be made of the impact of any federal cuts, and the differences in the operational aspect of the agencies under block vs. categorical grants. Close scrutiny should be given to each agency to ascertain if legislative intent is being carried out in the rules promulgated by the agency and if the rules are feasible and practical in their application. These agencies include: Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations Tax Assessor Examiners State Property Tax Board | |
| 2. | Examine the concepts and practices of the "twin cities" programs along the border with Mexico to determine the benefit and impact of such programs. | |
| 3. | Examine the creation and operation of foreign trade zones, their functions, and their effects upon the community. Determine whether their roles should be expanded, and if so, in what manner. | |
| 4. | Determine the role the state should seek in the "new" systems of Intergovernmental Relations with concentration on block grants, pass throughs, the decline of federal influence and money, and impacts upon local governments. | |
| 5. | Investigate the current status of civil service in Texas and its impact on public employees. | |
| 6. | Study the role of county government, its importance, and its financial problems; consider a possible recodification of state laws relating to counties. | |
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