Voter I.D. bills, Public Health and Natural Resources Committees:
Before I headed over to the Reagan Building for the Voter I.D. partisan debate/battle, I got to the House Public Health and Natural Resources Committee meetings to witness for the Greens:
House Public Health Committee hearing
For HB 1386 by Yvonne Davis - Relating to the reporting of health care-associated infections at health care facilities.
Rationale: Additional transparency of information, especially in the healthcare field, is always a benefit for the public!
For HB 3755 by Donna Howard - Relating to the period for which a prescription written for a Medicaid recipient is valid.
Provides for the consistency between state and federal regulations.
For HB 40 by Corte - Relating to regulations on certain complementary and alternative health care services.
Protection against consumer fraud in alternative medical practices.
For HB 3259 by Naishtat - Relating to the creation of the Council on Children and Families and the Children's Behavioral Health Council.
Bill analysis by the House Research Organization: C.S.H.B. 3259 establishes the Council on Children and Families to be administered through the Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth in the Health and Human Services Commission. The bill requires the commissioner or executive directors of each state agency serving children and youth to be a member of the council and sets forth the required duties of the council. The bill also establishes the Children's Behavioral Health Council to provide a coordinated, comprehensive, interagency approach to the development and delivery of behavioral health services to children.
For HB 4341 by Truitt - Regulation of discount health care programs by Texas Department of Insurance.
Proposed legislation for consumer protection against discount health care companies.
Following is the analysis provided by the House Research Organization:
Discount health care program members pay fees, dues, or other charges to receive discounts on health care services, such as dental and vision care. These programs are not considered insurance.
In 2007, the 80th Legislature enacted HB 3064 by Delisi, which established Health and Safety Code, ch. 76 providing for the regulation of
discount health care programs. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) registers and oversees discount health care programs,
including the collection of fees and imposition of disciplinary actions and penalties. Discount health care programs are subject to marketing,
disclosure, contract, and operational requirements. Remedies for violations of discount health care program regulations may be sought under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
DIGEST: As of April 1, 2010, CSHB 4341 would repeal Health and Safety Code, ch. 76 regulating discount health care programs under TDLR and would transfer registration, oversight, and enforcement duties related to these
programs to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). The bill would define and prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the discount HB 4341
health care program business. Certain marketing, consumer disclosure, provider contracting, and operational requirements from repealed Health and Safety Code, ch. 76 substantively would be re-established under new Insurance Code, ch. 562.
House Natural Resources Committee hearing
Against HB 604 by Farabee - Relating to projects that may be undertaken by certain development corporations in connection with water conservation programs.
In my opinion a slippery slope has been benefiting development corporations which have undue access to public funding, via so-called 'public-private partnerships', and are focused purely on a profit motive. Water must be a public right and not a "resource" that can be manipulated by for-profit 'development' corporations, and therefore needs to be overseen by a public entity.
House Elections Committee hearing: Voter I.D. bills - Against all:
The Green Party of Texas is against the voter I.D. bills produced by the Republican Party, because it is a manufactured solution needing a problem. Documented voter fraud exists in the use of mail-in ballots; systemic fraud was witnessed by the nation in the 2000 and 2004 (s)elections. The Green Party welcomes true systemic voting system reforms identified by Vincent Bugliosi in his book They used to call it Treason, and the Conyers Report, What went wrong in Ohio, the investigation after the 2004 presidential (s)election. The so-called Voter I.D. bills can disproportionately disenfranchise senior citizens, minority groups, the poor, those born to midwives outside of a hospital system, and citizens in rural areas.
Against SB 362 by Fraser - Relating to requiring a voter to present proof of identification.
Against HB 125 by Brown - Relating to requiring a voter to present proof of identification.
Against HB 2335 by Heflin - Relating to fees charged for issuance by a state or local governmental entity of identification that may be presented to be accepted to vote.
Against HB 3556 by Bonnen - Relating to requiring a voter to present proof of identification.
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