Senate Committee on State Affairs and the House Committee on General Investigating Hold Joint Hearing

AUSTIN--The Senate Committee on State Affairs and the House Committee on General Investigating met Monday, March 20, 2000 in a joint hearing to discuss the committee's tenth charge.

Charge ten will: "Review Texas' State Use Program and the benefit provided to persons with disabilities. The committee shall examine the powers and duties of the Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities; funding methods for the Council staff and activities; the Council's oversight of the central non-profit and community rehabilitation program work centers; the utilization by and satisfaction of customers with goods and services provided under the program; the nature of the disabilities required for participating in the program; and the adequacy of rules governing the State Use Program, including whether standards of eligibility for work center products and services should be added to statute. The committee shall also ensure the appropriate nature and amount of involvement by people with disabilities in the production of goods and provision of services."

The Senate Committee on State Affairs includes Senators Florence Shapiro of Plano, chair, Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso, vice-chair, David Bernsen of Beaumont, J. E. "Buster" Brown of Lake Jackson, David Cain of Dallas, Tom Haywood of Wichita Falls, Eddie Lucio, Jr. of Brownsville, Drew Nixon of Carthage, and Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio.

The House Committee on General Investigating includes Representatives Pete Gallego of Alpine, serving as chair, D.R. "Tom" Uher of Bay City, serving as vice-chair, Joe Crabb of Kingwood, Craig Eiland of Dickinson, and Terry Keel of Austin.

Invited testimony was heard from Chester Beattie, Legal Cousel of the General Services Commission, Bob Templeton of the Texas Council for Purchasing from People with Disabilities, Cindy Reed and Doug Brown of the State Auditor's Office, Lyndai Memmert from Texas Industries for the Blind and Handicapped, Nathaniel Rido from Southeast Keller Corporation, and a lawyer from Pitney Bowes.

After invited testimony concluded the Senate Committee on State Affairs and the House Committee on General Investigating joint hearing recessed subject to call of the chairs.

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