Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 84th Legislative Session.
Committee Information
CHAIR
Kelly Hancock
VICE-CHAIR
Brandon Creighton
MEMBERS
Rodney Ellis
Don Huffines
Charles Schwertner
Kel Seliger
Larry Taylor
Kirk Watson
John Whitmire
CLERK:
Tatum Reagan
TEL:
(512) 463-0365
LOCATION:
Sam Houston Building, 370
Video/Audio — Archives
84th Session Interim
84th Regular Session
- May 25, 2015
- May 22, 2015
- May 21, 2015 (Part II)
- May 21, 2015 (Part I) — Note: Audio begins at the 27 second mark.
- May 19, 2015 (Part II) — Audio only.
- May 19, 2015 (Part I)
- May 14, 2015 (Part II)
- May 14, 2015 (Part I)
- May 12, 2015
- May 7, 2015 (Part II) — Audio only.
- May 7, 2015 (Part I)
- May 5, 2015
- April 28, 2015
- April 21, 2015
Interim Charges
- Review all occupations licensed under Texas law to determine the extent to which continued state regulation and licensure is required to protect public health and safety. Examine methods to ensure greater legislative oversight of new regulations, scope, and necessity of certain licenses and make recommendations for state licenses that should be repealed or transitioned to private-sector enforcement.
- Monitor the number of lawsuits related to property claims filed as a result of multiple hail storms and weather related events across Texas. Examine negative consumer trends that may result in market disruption such as higher premiums and deductibles, less coverage, non-renewals, and inability to secure coverage due to insurance carrier withdrawal from the state and make recommendations on legislative action needed.
- Study the impact of the penalty calculations under the current prompt payment of health care claim laws and regulations, including comparing penalties in other states and late payment penalties in Texas for other lines of insurance. Evaluate whether unregulated billed charges is the appropriate basis for determining penalty amounts and make recommendations for statutory changes, if needed.
- Examine cyber-security efforts undertaken by state entities and study the legal, policy, and privacy implications of the trend toward storage of personal, private, and business confidential information in network attached storage, cloud storage, and other developing data storage options rather than on local devices. Make recommendations on how to best protect Texans' financial and personal information.
- Study elder financial abuse and determine what steps the State of Texas should take to help protect older Texans from financial exploitation.
- Examine and make recommendations for necessary changes regarding the collection process of delinquent ad valorem property taxes, including an inquiry into the role that tax lien transfers play in forestalling foreclosure.
- Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce during the 84th Legislature, Regular Session and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
- State agency participation in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program;
- Implementation of legislation intended to further protect consumers from the balance billing process;
- Changes made to the operation of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association;
- The regulation of public insurance adjusters; and
- The current consent policy for state disclosure of personal data.
