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Committee:	House Business and Industry
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Business & Industry, Texas House of Representatives interim report, December 2010 : a report to the House of Representatives, 82nd Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Employment | Homeowners' associations | Liability | Manufacturing | Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund | Unemployment taxes | Workers' compensation | Workplace safety |
Library Call Number:	L1836.81 B964
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View report [83 pages  File size: 10,965 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine Title 11 of the Texas Property Code to determine if the various independent statutes are sufficient to protect the interest of homeowners and homeowners associations. Consider whether Title 11 should be consolidated with other laws.
2.	Study and report on third-party liability issues involving workers' compensation, including the frequency and success rates of third party litigation, the relationship, if any, between third-party litigation and jobsite safety, the adequacy of compensation and reimbursement to workers, and the economic costs of third-party litigation and equitable and contractual subrogation in construction activities. Joint Interim Charge with House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
3.	Review the Unemployment Compensation Fund and its impact on business taxpayers to determine whether changes may be made to stabilize the fund in times of economic contraction without imposing an undue economic burden on businesses. Determine whether modernizations should be implemented to make the fund more efficient and effective. Joint Interim Charge with House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, and Workforce
4.	Examine ways to increase the creation of jobs in the Texas manufacturing industry.
5.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	Senate Veteran Affairs and Military Installations
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations report and recommendations to the 82nd Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Base realignment and closure | Call centers | Employment | Job training programs | Mental health services | Military bases | Military personnel | Texas State Guard | Veterans | Veterans educational benefits | Women |
Library Call Number:	L1836.81 V641
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View report [151 pages  File size: 16,493 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study veteran employment and veteran-owned small business issues, including the usefulness of creating a veteran-specific employment database to target job openings tailored to the skill sets of Texas' returning veterans. Include an assessment and recommendations to best implement the veteran employment database.
2.	Examine the potential risk factors for returning service members, which may contribute to an increase in domestic violence and child abuse cases. Additionally, determine best practices, including funding options, to ensure that specific counseling related to these risk factors is available to and provided for returning service members and their family members during the initial reunion phase.
3.	Examine the use of the new GI Bill by veterans and their families in conjunction with the changes made to the Hazlewood Act during the 81 st Legislature, Regular Session, as the number of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan continues to rise. Include an assessment and recommendations on how the programs can be maximized to better serve veterans and their families.
4.	Study the specific needs of female veterans and service members and whether they are met. Make recommendations for improving services.
5.	Study the value of enhancing training requirements for Veterans County Service Officers (VCSO) to improve veterans service at the local level, especially in rural areas. Make recommendations on how to best use technology for training purposes and expanding accreditation of VCSO.
6.	Study the advantages of centralizing call center activities for referral to benefits providers (e.g., TVC, TVLB, VA, DSHS, Suicide Prevention Call Centers, etc.), including the costs associated with maintaining multiple call centers, the potential savings of consolidating reporting systems, and any options for obtaining federal funds. Make suggestions to streamline the process for veterans to obtain resources and benefits.
7.	Inventory and assess veteran workforce programs offered by state agencies (i.e., TVC, TWC, TAG), and include the usefulness of creating a veteran-specific employment database, which would target job openings tailored to the skill set of Texas' returning veterans as well as job training for spouses. Make recommendations to allow agencies to work more effectively and for efficient implementation of a veteran employment database.
8.	Consider the mission of the State Guard and the numbers of volunteers within the State Guard. Make recommendations to incentivize recruitment and retention of volunteers to the State Guard.
9.	Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, review the following: Monitor implementation of constitutional amendments relating to veterans issues; Monitor the implementation of $5 million for mental health services programs for veterans, the military and their dependents, following the Ft. Hood tragedy; Monitor and analyze the closure process for the following installations and communicate with district Senators and communities: Naval Station Ingleside; Brooks City-Base, San Antonio; and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant. Monitor and analyze the realignment of the various installations across the state, including but not limited to, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Fort Bliss in El Paso, and Red River Army Depot in Texarkana.
Committee:	Senate State Affairs
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 80th Legislature
Subjects:	Child Protective Services | Election fraud | Emergency medical services | Eminent domain | Employees | Employees Retirement System of Texas | Employers | Employment | Health care costs | Health maintenance organizations | Liability | Lobbyists | Medical bill balance billing | Privatization | Public retirement systems | State mandated health insurance | Teacher Retirement System of Texas | Voter identification | Voting by mail | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 St29a
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [211 pages  File size: 6,521 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the Employees Retirement System of Texas ("ERS") including the actuarial soundness of the ERS pension fund; the implementation of cost-saving measures in the ERS group health insurance plan; the suggestion of further cost-saving measures such as the implementation of a 3-tiered provider network; the effectiveness of the third party administrator of the ERS group health insurance plan in managing inflation; and the feasibility of consolidating the administration of all state group health plans under a single state agency.
2.	Study the Teachers Retirement System of Texas ("TRS") including the actuarial soundness of the TRS pension fund; the implementation of cost-saving measures in the TRS group health insurance plan; the suggestion of further cost-saving measures such as the implementation of a 3-tiered provider network; the implementation of SB 1370, 79th R.S.; the effectiveness of the third party administrator of the TRS group health insurance plan in managing inflation; and the feasibility of consolidating the administration of all state group health plans under a single state agency
3.	Study and make recommendations on how election officials could verify the identity of a voter without hindering a person's right to vote. Include an analysis of the extent to which individuals are casting multiple votes because of any lack of voter identification verification. Make recommendations on how the state could improve its vote-by-mail system to ensure the authenticity of those ballots.
4.	Monitor the implementation of HB 7, 79th R.S., relating to the workers compensation system of this state.
5.	Study the regulation and management of health care plans, including the following: Study the reimbursement methodology of health care plans for out-of-network claims, the adequacy of health plan networks to provide appropriate coverage, the impact of out-of-network balance billing by physicians and health care providers and the accurate disclosure of patients' out-of-pocket costs. Study the discounting and/or waiving of co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance by physicians and health care providers. Specifically, how this practice can impact the cost to private and public health plans and the impact to acute, multi-service hospitals, including safety net hospitals. Evaluate health care cost transparency by health care providers and access to that information by patients. Review data reported to the Texas Department of Insurance by health care plans, investigate possible expansion of health plans' reportable data, including, but not limited to, administrative costs, and what, if any, is the appropriate release and publication of that information.
6.	Study and review current law on the doctrine of eminent domain, including the U.S. Supreme Court case in Kelo v. City of New London. Monitor the implementation of SB 7, 79th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, and make any necessary recommendations as to the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes and the issue of what constitutes adequate compensation for property taken through the use of eminent domain. Determine whether a constitutional amendment is prudent and/or necessary to protect private property owners from condemnations for economic development purposes. Determine which state, regional, and local governmental entities have eminent domain powers and how those powers may be used. Make recommendations regarding their necessity, fairness, and effectiveness. Study the public policy implications relating to Chapter 2007, Government Code, Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act, its effectiveness in protecting private property rights, and the current impact of regulatory takings on private property owners.
7.	Study the costs associated with mandates to insurance companies for increased coverage for specific illnesses, medical conditions, or diseases, including obesity. Provide a cost assessment of the impact of such mandates to the state and local units of government. Include data and analysis of the costs and medical impact associated with insurance mandates which have been enacted in other states, as well as any short- and long-term cost-savings. Develop recommendations on how to provide increased cost-effective coverage, especially to populations with impairments and diseases, as well as the underinsured/uninsured.
8.	Study the prevalence, legality and ethics of entities that actively lobby the Legislature to impact the lawmaking process while that entity is in any way a recipient of state funds.
9.	Study and make recommendations regarding the cost drivers of emergency medical services. Make recommendations on how to improve and sustain EMS services for Texas, as well as reduce costs to health care plans, businesses, and individuals.
10.	Study and review current Texas law on the doctrine of statutory employer, including the 2004 First District Court of Appeals' decision in Etie v. Walsh & Albert Co. and make recommendations of changes in state laws, if necessary, regarding the doctrine of statutory employer and indemnification in construction contracts. Study the current use of Consolidated Insurance Programs and make legislative recommendations, if appropriate.
11.	Assess the benefit of limiting the civil liability for noneconomic damages against non-profit organizations involved in the privatization of child welfare services.
Committee:	House Business and Industry
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Business and Industry, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1998 : a report to the House of Representatives, 76th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Consumer protection | e-commerce | Employees | Employers | Employment | Internet | Mergers and acquisitions | Telemarketers | Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance Fund | Workers Compensation Commission, Texas | Workers' compensation |
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 b964
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Online version:	View report [67 pages  File size: 3,139 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the development of commerce on the internet to determine whether existing consumer protection laws are adequate to deal with the present and future issues that may arise.
2.	Review consumer protection issues as they pertain to telemarketing. Determine whether the registration of telemarketers may be necessary to provide adequate protection of the public.
3.	Study the issues surrounding "truth-in-hiring" legislation. Investigate the possibility of protecting both employees and employers when prospective employers request job references.
4.	Review the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act of 1983. Assess its adequacy in protecting the public interest when mergers and acquisitions occur.
5.	Review workers' compensation insurance carriers' payments and denials of medical benefits and supplemental income benefits. Determine whether carries' actions are reasonable and consistent with the overall design of the law.
Committee:	Senate North American Free Trade Agreement, Interim
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	A report to the 76th Legislature.
Subjects:	Affordable housing | Border counties | Border economy | Border health | Border issues | Border transit corridors | Border transportation | Colonias | Employment | Environment | Environmental protection | Interstate Highway 35 | Job training programs | Literacy | Local Workforce Development Boards | North American Free Trade Agreement | Railroads | Traffic | Transportation | Transportation infrastructure | Unemployment | Water quality management | Water supplies | Workforce | Workforce Commission, Texas |
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 n811
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Online version:	View report [163 pages  File size: 12,556 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Evaluate the impact of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on the Texas economy and determine how different segments of the economy are affected.
2.	Determine how NAFTA has affected employment and identify any employment losses or gains. Assess how the state's workforce programs have responded to any employment changes and make any necessary recommendations to improve that response.
3.	Assess the impact NAFTA is having on the state's infrastructure, including but not limited to transportation, education, housing, the environment and health and human services.
4.	Develop a statewide strategic response plan to the effects of NAFTA in Texas which identifies available and needed resources at the local, state and federal level and provides for a coordinated response.

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