Senate Committee on State Affairs
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 78th Legislative Session.
Committee Information
CHAIR
Robert Duncan
VICE-CHAIR
Tommy Williams
MEMBERS
Kenneth L. Armbrister
Rodney Ellis
Troy Fraser
Chris Harris
Frank L. Madla
Jane Nelson
Florence Shapiro
CLERK:
Teddy Carter
TEL:
(512) 463-0380
Video/Audio — Archives
78th Session Interim
- January 10, 2005
- September 21, 2004
- September 20, 2004
- August 11, 2004
- June 7, 2004 — Joint Hearing: Finance Committee, State Affairs Committee
- May 17, 2004
78th 1st Called Session
- July 17, 2003 — audio only
- July 9, 2003
- July 8, 2003
78th Regular Session
- May 22, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 22, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 19, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 19, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 15, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 15, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 13, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 13, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 12, 2003
- May 9, 2003 — audio only
- May 8, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 8, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 7, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 7, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 6, 2003
- May 5, 2003 (Part 2)
- May 5, 2003 (Part 1)
- May 1, 2003
- April 30, 2003
- April 28, 2003
- April 24, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 24, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 22, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 22, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 16, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 16, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 15, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 15, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 14, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 14, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 10, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 10, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 7, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 7, 2003 (Part 1)
- April 3, 2003 (Part 2)
- April 3, 2003 (Part 1)
- March 31, 2003
- March 27, 2003 (Part 2)
- March 27, 2003 (Part 1)
- March 24, 2003
- March 20, 2003 (Part 2)
- March 20, 2003 (Part 1)
- March 17, 2003
- March 10, 2003
- February 24, 2003
- February 17, 2003
- February 3, 2003
Reports
The following reports are available for download:
- The following items are the Senate Committee on State Affairs Interim Reports to the 79th Legislature:
- Senate Committee on State Affairs Report to the 79th Legislature (10 MB, PDF format)
- Senate Committee on State Affairs Report Regarding the Senator of District 6 (1.0 MB, PDF format)
Interim Charges
- Study the implementation of changes made to the state group health insurance plans and identify additional cost-saving measures. Study the feasibility and practicality of offering health reimbursement accounts as an alternate health insurance plan for those insured in ERS, TRS, and university plans. Provide recommendations regarding whether the current method of administering these programs is in the best interest of the State of Texas and the various insured populations, or whether such programs might be more efficiently administered in another fashion.
- Monitor the implementation of HB 1549, 78th Legislature, the Federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, to assure that Texas meets the criteria to secure the proposed federal funding. Make recommendations for statutory changes required to implement federal legislation and improve the efficiency of the process.
- Study the implementation of SB 10 and SB 541, and make recommendations, as needed, to make health insurance more accessible, and affordable for all Texans.
- Study the April 2003 United States Supreme Court decision in Kentucky Association of Health Plans v. Miller to determine its impact on Texas laws regulating health insurance plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and make recommendations to changes in state law to conform with recent federal court decisions.
- Study the reimbursement methodology of health care plans operating in Texas for out-of-network claims, specifically focusing upon the reimbursement of usual and customary charges, and make recommendations on how to improve their effectiveness. The study and recommendations should encompass all plans, including those participating in TexasÕ Medicaid managed care program and should consider federal and state laws as well as Health & Human Services Commission rules relating to the reimbursement of out-of-network claims.
- Study the implementation of House Bill 4 and Proposition 12 in achieving lower medical malpractice rates and providing more access to affordable health care. Monitor and report on trends in medical malpractice insurance rates and the effect of tort reform on access to health care and provider shortages in certain regions, particularly along the Border.
- Study and report on the affordability, reasonableness, and impact of mandatory liability insurance on the nursing home industry. Assess and report on the effects of the admissibility of quality reports.
