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Interim Hearings - Week of October 20, 2014

Oct 13

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of October 20th
Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

October 20th Top

Topic: Speaker's Strategic Fiscal Review Charge testimony regarding:

  • Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor
  • Department of Information Resources
  • State Law Library
  • Juvenile Justice Department
  • Department of Public Safety

House Committee on County Affairs 

Charge: Population growth and impact on housing, available land resources, businesses, and the state's economy

 

Charge: Health advisory panel from HB 3793, 83rd Legislature, R.S.

Charge: Oversight of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, jail issues including mental health

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction, including counties' emergency response preparedness

 

October 22nd Top

Joint Legislative Committee on Human Trafficking

Prosecution of human trafficking, resources for victims of human trafficking, labor trafficking, and combating human trafficking.

 

October 23rd Top

Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations

 

Senate Committee on Jurisprudence

Charge: Failure to attend school (Section 25.094, Texas Education Code), adjudicating juvenile truancy as a civil offense

 

Charge: Deferred adjudication, orders for non-disclosure, and expunctions,  extending the use of expunction of criminal records history and non-disclosures

October 24th Top

House Committees on Agriculture & Livestock and Culture, Recreation & Tourism (Joint Hearing) 

Charge: Eradication of feral hogs

 

House Committees on Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Charge: Long-term plan to incorporate land donated or sold to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department into state park system

 

Charge: Texas Film Commission and the Texas Music Office and effectiveness in economic development

 

Charge: Economic impact of cultural, recreation, or tourism grants provided by the state, including any economic development grants related to cultural, recreational, or tourism industries, heritage tourism, courthouse restoration, and historic district revitalization 

 

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction

 

This entry was posted on October 13, 2014 at 8:17 AM and has received 2133 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of October 13, 2014

Oct 6

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of October 13th
Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

October 13th Top

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Alignment between high school and freshman level college coursework, specifically mathematics (including Algebra II) and science courses

 

Charge: Use of dual credit coursework and other secondary school programs for college credit

 

Charge: Implementation of legislation, specifically, the following:

  • SB 414, 83rd Legislature, R.S. (2013), relating to a study and report regarding authorizing certain public junior colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs to address regional workforce needs

  • SB 62, 83rd Legislature, R.S. (2013), relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of entering students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education

               

  • SB 28, 82nd Legislature, R.S. (2011), relating to eligibility for a TEXAS grant and to administration of the TEXAS grant program

  • HB 1244, 82nd Legislature, R.S. (2011), relating to developmental education and the assessment of student readiness under the Texas Success Initiative and to students enrolled in developmental education at public institutions of higher education

 

October 14th Top

Joint Interim Committee on Education Policy for a Skilled Workforce

Charge: Career and technical education's impact on high school graduation, transitions to postsecondary education, industry-based certification, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree

Charge: High school career and technical education, career exploration, and curricula that align with postsecondary programs and employer-based training

 

October 15th Top

House Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives

Topics: Financial tools, permitting process, key tax incentives, and needs for small businesses

House Committees on Land & Resource Management  and Urban Affairs (Joint Hearing, 10:30 A.M.)

Examine population growth in Texas and evaluate Texas' preparedness to respond to future growth and ensure economic stability

 

House Committee on Urban Affairs, 1:00 P.M.

Charge: Strategies to address chronic graffiti problem

 

Charge: Recommendations in report by Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services (TCCVS), homeless veterans

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction

 

October 16th Top

House Committee on Public Education

Charge: School district governance, effective relationship between board and superintendent

Charge: Role of the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) in serving school districts
History of HCDE, Harris County Department of Education

 

 House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures

 Charge: Evaluate and consider cost-saving technologies and programs used by the Department of Licensing and Regulation to increase efficiencies and access to those with licensing occupations.

 Charge: Expand the right of individuals to challenge occupational licensing rules and regulations; identify occupational licenses that may not be necessary for public safety or health.

 Charge: Effect of HB 3038, 83rd Legislature, R.S. on multi-state auction companies, as well as business-to-business auctions.

 Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature.

 

This entry was posted on October 6, 2014 at 8:28 AM and has received 2081 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of October 6, 2014

Sep 29

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of October 6th

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

October 6th Top

Topic: Speaker's Strategic Fiscal Review Charge testimony regarding:

  • General Revenue-funded Programs at the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services

 

Topic: Speaker's Strategic Fiscal Review Charge testimony regarding:

  • Public Utility Commission
  • Texas Emissions Reduction Plan at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  • Texas Department of Transportation

 

House Select Committee on Health Care Education & Training

Topics: Innovative educational models, state workforce programs and policy recommendations to strengthen the health care workforce in Texas; dental health care workforce; veterans employment opportunities in health care careers

 

October 7th Top

Topic: Speaker's Strategic Fiscal Review Charge testimony regarding:

  • Higher Education Coordinating Board
  • University System Offices
  • Available University Fund
  • Texas Education Agency

 

House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

Charge: Impact of SB 1289, 83rd Legislature, R.S., sale of criminal histories and arrest records 

 

Charge: Non-traditional criminal offenses outside of the Penal Code, use of the Rule of Lenity and Mens Rea requirements in Texas

 

Charge: Deferred adjudication and orders for non-disclosure, use of expunction of criminal records history

 

Charge: Current pecuniary loss thresholds associated with graffiti offenses, existing Graffiti Abatement Programs in Texas

 

Charge: Community supervision in state jail felonies and effectiveness of the state jail

 

Charge: Emergency preparedness

 

Topic: Border operations update

 

Topic: Driver Responsibility Program

 

Topic: Ammonium nitrate storage

House Committee on Insurance   

Charge: Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA)

House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock

Topic: Agricultural commodity import traffic delays

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

Topic: State's public health preparedness and response to infectious disease threats; overview of the ongoing local, state, and federal response to the confirmed Ebola case in Dallas

 

October 8th Top

House Committees on Corrections and Public Education (Joint Hearing)

Charge: Impact of SB 393, 83rd Legislature, R.S. and SB 1114, 83rd Legislature R.S.; School discipline and school-based policing

 

House Committee on Corrections

Charge: Review of correctional facilities and processes within Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Texas Juvenile Justice Department with emphasis on efficiencies, effectiveness, and recidivism

 

House Committee on Public Education

Charge: Implementation of HB 5, 83rd Legislature, R.S., and recommendations for improvement; creation of additional rigorous mathematics and science courses needed to address the current and projected needs of the state's workforce

Joint Legislative Committee on Texas Lottery

Topic: Charitable bingo

 

Topic: Elimination of the state lottery

 
House Committee on Ways & Means

Topic: Implementation of recent amendments to the property tax; frequency of reappraisals

 

Topic: Marketplace Fairness Act

Topic: Original purpose of the economic stabilization fund, appropriateness of using the net amount of oil and gas production taxes received in the 1987 state fiscal year as the basis for making general revenue transfers to the economic stabilization fund

 

Topic: Additional funding made available to Texas Department of Transportation not originally identified in the 2014-15 General Appropriations Act

 

Topic: New and previously discussed future funding options

Topic: Structure and functions of regional mobility authorities

 

 

Charge: Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services (TCCVS) report recommendations; new methods to help homeless Veterans using state, regional, and local resources

Charge: Strategies for effectively supporting military veteran students in their academic and workforce goals

 

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Interim Hearings - Week of September 29, 2014

Sep 22

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings - Week of September 29th     

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

September 29th Top

House Committee on Environmental Regulation

Charge: Environmental Protection Agency's newly proposed Clean Power Plan and potential impact on Texas

 

September 30th Top

House Select Committee on Child Protection

Topics: Review of abuse and neglect fatalities; Coordination and collaboration among local agencies, faith-based organizations, the private sector, non-profits, and law enforcement; Efficacy of ongoing prevention efforts

 

House Committee on Environmental Regulation

Charge: Environmental Protection Agency's newly proposed Clean Power Plan and potential impact on Texas

(see September 29th above)

 

This entry was posted on September 22, 2014 at 8:22 AM and has received 1214 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of September 22, 2014

Sep 15

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of September 22nd

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

September 22nd Top

Senate Committee on Economic Development

Charge: Legislative and regulatory barriers to capital investment, growth, and expansion of Texas businesses; reducing regulatory barriers to professions regulated by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

 Charge: Biennial state review process for economic development programs

 Charge: Implementation of SB 21, 83rd Legislature R.S., which requires drug testing for unemployment insurance claimants

September 23rd Top

House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock

Charge: Transparency, accountability, and efficiency in state agencies under the committee's jurisdiction; cost-saving technologies such as the route optimization system used by the Texas Department of Agriculture to save funds in inspection activities

 Charge: Texas Right to Farm Act

 Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction

 

House Committee on Special Purpose Districts

Charge: Comprehensive review of existing special purpose districts in the state

September 24th Top

House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock CANCELLED

Continuation of any unfinished business from the previous day

 

House Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives

Topics: Energy and private space incentives, freeports, and the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT)

Senate Committee on Finance

Topic: Legislative Budget Board (LBB) presentations about major cost drivers for the state budget in:

  • Public Education

  • Higher Education

  • Medicaid

  • Mental Health

  • Transportation

  • Water

  • Employee Retirement Systems

  • Teacher Retirement System

Charge: Commercial oyster industry in the Commercial Fishing License Buyback Program at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Charge: Implementation of HB 3279, 83rd Legislature, R.S., regarding the protection of seagrass plants

Charge: Economic impact of cultural, recreation, or tourism grants provided by the state, including any economic development grants related to cultural, recreational, or tourism industries, heritage tourism, courthouse restoration, and historic district revitalization 

Topic: Update on Battleship Texas

House Committee on Public Health

Charge: Efficient exchange of electronic health information with Texas Health and Human Services enterprise agencies

 Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs, including implementation of HB 15, 83rd Legislature, R.S.

 

September 25th Top

Joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking

Topics: Services and resources available to victims of human trafficking; current efforts in North Texas region to combat human trafficking

September 26th Top

House Committees on Energy Resources and International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs  (Joint Hearing)

Charge: Impact on Texas' economy and businesses of the recent expansion of oil and gas production in Northern Mexico, Mexico's efforts to recover shale gas from Eagle Ford Shale

This entry was posted on September 15, 2014 at 10:01 AM and has received 2574 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of September 15, 2014

Sep 8

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of September 15th    

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

September 15th Top

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs)

 Charge: Emerging negative impacts of Affordable Care Act, including navigators, rising health insurance premiums, lack of access to healthcare, etc.

 Charge: Medical price transparency, including impact of SB 1731, 80th Legislature, R.S.

 Charge: Texas Mutual Insurance Company and residual market for workers' compensation insurance

Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Edwards Aquifer

Topic: Update on the Edwards Aquifer Authority

September 16th Top

House Select Committee on Health Care Education & Training

Topic: Mental health care workforce in Texas

Senate Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Personal privacy of Texas residents from governmental and commercial surveillance

 Charge: Personal data collected by governmental and commercial entities

  • DNA collection and databases

  • Gun owner privacy

  • Protection of private health care information

  • Anonymous data handling

  • Data Disposal Laws, National Conference of State Legislatures, last updated December 26, 2013

 Charge: Citizens' ability to know what data is being collected, including analysis of consumer informed consent

 Charge: Online legislative resources from Texas Senate Committee websites

Topic: Future reliability of all current state transportation funding sources

 Topic: Alternatives that may increase available state funding for transportation

 Topic: Alternative transportation funding options used nationally and internationally

Charge: Access to services provided by non-profit organizations to veterans, their families, and survivors, including 2-1-1 system

 Charge: Veterans'  mental health

House Committee on Ways & Means

Charge: Implementation of recent amendments to the franchise tax

Topic: Texas Economic Outlook

Topic: Dynamic Scoring and Analysis use in tax policy

September 17th Top

Senate Committee on Transportation

Charge: Impact of increased oil and gas production on roadways and bridges

 Charge: Implementation of SB 1792, 83rd Legislature, R.S., toll nonpayment

 Charge: Uninsured motorists

September 19th Top

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Studying Impacts of Mexico's Energy Reforms on Texas  

Charge: Impact on Texas' economy and businesses of the recent expansion of oil and gas production in Northern Mexico, Mexico's efforts to recover shale gas from Eagle Ford Shale

 

This entry was posted on September 8, 2014 at 8:04 AM and has received 2164 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of September 8, 2014

Sep 2

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings - Week of September 8th

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

September 9th Top

House Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Strategies and business models for funding General Academic institutions.

 

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce

Charge: Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) business practices, litigation, exposure reduction, qualifications for building inspectors conducting inspections

Charge: Texas FAIR Plan's organizational and financial structure as the state's insurer of last resort for residential homeowner's insurance coverage

Topic: Updates from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas

 

House Committees on Insurance and Land & Resource Management (Joint Hearing)

Charge: Examine opportunities to improve the resiliency of the Texas coast to withstand tropical storms. Study hazard mitigation, building codes, and insurance. Coordinate as necessary with the joint interim committee created by HB3459 (83R).

 

September 10th Top

House Select Committee on Child Protection

Border Support Operations, Sunset staff recommendations, Child Protective Services workforce, use of data to improve outcomes

House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism  CANCELLED

Topic: Efforts to preserve and promote the Alamo building and history, and redevelopment of HemisFair Park

September 11th Top

House Committee on Energy Resources

Study the implementation of SB 1747 (83R) to ensure effective implementation in keeping with legislative intent.

 

Joint Committee on Border Wait Times

Topic: Opportunities and efficiencies in border crossings

 

This entry was posted on September 2, 2014 at 8:27 AM and has received 2100 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of September 1, 2014

Aug 25

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of September 1st

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

September 3rd Top

House Committee on Human Services

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction, including implementation of the Balancing Incentives Program and legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature

 

September 4th Top

House Committee on Appropriations

Topic: Strategic Fiscal Review directive by the Speaker of the House

 

House Committees on Higher Education and Human Services (Joint Hearing)

Charge: Foster youth in higher education

 

Topics: Potential revenue sources, Identified savings and efficiencies (per HB 1, 83rd 3rd C.S.), Surplus property report, Debt reduction possibilities, Funding formula presentation

House Committee on State Affairs

Charge: Methods state agencies use for planning for investment in future infrastructure

 

Charge: State agency contracting

 

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs

 

September 5th Top

Joint Interim Committee on Education Policy for a Skilled Workforce

Charge:  Linking postsecondary education with the needs of the labor market, high school and postsecondary curricula requirements, opportunities for new education-workforce partnerships, and the impact of emerging industrial sectors on the Texas workforce

 

Charge:  Career and technical education's impact on high school graduation, transitions to postsecondary education, industry-based certification, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree

 

This entry was posted on August 25, 2014 at 8:27 AM and has received 1424 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 25, 2014

Aug 18

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of August 25th

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.
 

August 25th Top

House Committee on Energy Resources

 

 

August 26th Top

Senate Committee on Education

Charge 1: Examine STAAR writing scores and review types of writing required.  Explore need for targeted professional development in writing

 

Charge #2: Monitor implementation of legislation and make recommendations needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation:

  • HB 5, update from previous hearing on the passing rates of STAAR End-of-Course assessments for the graduating class of 2015

 

  • HB 1926, relating to the operation of the state virtual school network and courses provided through other distance learning arrangements

 

  • SB 376, relating to breakfast for certain public school students

 

  • HB 617, relating to transition and employment services for public school students enrolled in special education programs.

 

House Committee on Energy Resources

Charge 1: Study the impact of the expanding oil and gas exploration and production occurring across the state. The study should review of the following issues:

 

  • The effect on the state budget and the Economic Stabilization Fund;

  • The overall impact on the state economy;

  • The impact on property values and local taxes;

  • The effect on roads;

  • The impact on local school districts;

  • The complex relationship between land owners, royalty owners, and operators;

  • The impact on the environment, including emissions and injection wells;

  • Projected water needs and how those fit with our state water plan; and

  • The housing issues created by the number of workers needed in areas of shale plays.

 

Charge 2: Study the efficiency and effectiveness of the P5 permitting process at the Railroad Commission

 

Charge 3: Study and review the appropriation of general revenue dollars allocated to the Railroad Commission for improvements in IT systems to ensure those funds are being utilized to streamline the permitting process and to allow access to information for all parties that conduct business at the Commission.

 

Charge 4: Review the application of Texas Business & Commerce Code, Section 9.343, to determine the legal rights of unperfected security interests of oil and gas producers with respect to subsequent purchasers, specifically in the context of a bankruptcy proceeding such as Arrow Oil & Gas, Inc. v. SemCrude, L.P. and subsequent cases.

 

Charge 5: Monitor the implementation of HB 2982 (83R) to ensure that the required rulemaking is completed efficiently and in a timely manner.

 

House Committee on Transportation

Charge: Usage of state funds by the Texas Department of Transportation for improving road quality in areas impacted by Energy Sector activities

 

Charge: Implementation of "Turn-Back Program" by the Texas Department of Transportation, specifically fiscal impact to municipalities and taxpayers

 

Charge: County authority to utilize tax increment financing and transportation reinvestment zones to fund transportation projects

 

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction

 

August 27th Top

House Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives

Testimony from various state incentive programs, including the moving image industry, special events funds, and local programs, and coordination between state and local economic development entities

 

Charge: Current restrictions on state and local government relating to construction of critical infrastructure, including transportation and water projects

 

Charge: Application of Public Information Act to requests for large amounts of electronic data

August 28th Top

Topic: Current state of the health care workforce in Texas

 

 

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Interim Hearings – Week of August 11, 2014

Aug 4

posted by TexasLRL in 83rd Session, Interim hearings

Interim Hearings – Week of August 11th

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

August 12th Top

House Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives

Topic: Texas Enterprise Fund, Emerging Technology Fund, and incentives which help to stimulate innovation and creativity

 

Senate Committee on Finance   

Topics: Budget process, General revenue outlook, Texas economy, Constitutional spending limits, Economic Stabilization Fund, Methods of finance, Border related issues impacting state budget

 

August 13th Top

Topic: Commission decisions

House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Topic: Effectiveness and responsibilities of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC), Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Task Force (SB 1200, 83rd R.S.)

 

August 14th Top

Senate Committee on Government Organization

Charge: State agency training, policies, and procedures for monitoring and reporting performance of state contracts

 

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

Charge 7: Implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, including Medicaid long-term care; reducing fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas Medicaid and other programs; Dental Board reforms; and Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

 

Charge 4: Cost-effective alternatives to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to better connect low income individuals to health care services through private market-based solutions, including Medicaid block grants and waivers

 House Committee on House Administration

Topic: Select committee budgets

 

August 15th Top

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

Charge 2: Implementation of programs created or expanded by the 83rd Legislature to improve mental health and substance abuse services

 

Charge 6: Current state of prescription drug abuse and strategies for reducing prescription drug abuse in Texas

 

Charge 5: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program structure

 

This entry was posted on August 4, 2014 at 4:36 PM and has received 2253 views. Print this entry.

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