Capitol Roundup
Star Plus enrollment to reopen; Senate OKs CHIP expansion.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
HEALTH CARE
Star Plus enrollment to reopen
 Rodolfo Gonzalez/AMERICAN STATESMAN Time to recycle those old TVs, demonstrators told members of the Legislature, which is considering a waste recycling measure. Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, gets a flier from Robin Schneider, executive director of Texas Campaign for the Environment, near the entrance to the House chamber Tuesday. |
The Health and Human Services Commission will reopen enrollment in an Austin-area health care program that serves Medicaid patients, officials said Tuesday.
In March, the state halted signups for the Star Plus managed health care program run by the company Evercare because too few physicians in the company's network were willing to accept new patients.
Beginning Tuesday, patients in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson counties may choose Evercare as their health plan.
Senate OKs CHIP expansion
The Senate voted 30-1 on Tuesday to approve a plan to add about 100,000 kids to the Children's Health Insurance Program by loosening restrictions added during a budget crunch in 2003. Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, voted no.
The Senate plan would add about 33,000 fewer children than a plan the House has approved, according to the Health and Human Services Commission.
Both plans would eliminate a 90-day waiting period and allow children to stay in the program for a full year instead of having to apply every six months.
GASOLINE TAX
House still pushing for holiday
The House decided Tuesday to ask members of its conference committee on a tax collections bill to work to get a gas tax holiday into the final compromise on the legislation.
Earlier this month, the House overwhelmingly voted to suspend the state's 20 cent gas tax through the summer months. But the Senate took that language out of the bill.
The fuel tax reduction could cost the state up to $700 million over the three-month period.
TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION
Senate: Put cops at lockups
Law enforcement officers would be stationed at Texas Youth Commission facilities to investigate abuse allegations and prevent employees from covering them up under legislation passed Tuesday by the Senate.
The proposal calls for establishing an inspector general's office at the troubled agency. Under the bill, licensed peace officers would replace civilian investigators at each facility.
The bill now returns to the House.
FILM AND GAMING
State incentives go to governor
A proposal that would create state incentives for the state film and game industry has passed the Legislature and is on its way to the governor's desk.
A similar proposal for the film and television industries was approved during the 2005 session but did not include money. This year, it is included.
The proposal would give up to $250,000 for a "digital media interactive project," which includes games. A film project can receive up to $2 million and a television program up to $2.5 million.
CLEAN ENERGY
Senate approves grants
A grant program to encourage clean energy projects got approval from the Senate on Tuesday.
The Ultraclean Energy Project Grant and Loan Program would spend $30 million a year to encourage utilities to build low-emission power plants.
Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, amended the measure to direct the state environmental commission to examine ways to cut greenhouse gases. Another amendment by Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, would require the commission to weigh the cumulative pollution in an area when deciding whether to issue an air permit for a new facility.
Quote of the day
"Texas will still be here tomorrow without these bills."
Rep. Frank Corte Jr. of San Antonio, chairman of the House Republican Caucus, on the raft of bills that died at midnight.
