2008 Affiliate President Conference Call Schedule Posted Calls will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 PM on the Thursday prior to the Board of Directors meetings/calls. 2008 Board of Directors Meeting Schedule Posted Family to Family Teacher calls: 2nd Wednesday of the month. If you would like to be on the call, please contact Lisa Moore at lmoore @namitexas.org.

Advocacy

We seek to promote this change by providing science based information that "severe mental illnesses" are brain disorders that can be treated and managed effectively if an individual has access to a combination of medication, supportive counseling and community support services, including education and vocational training. By educating and informing the public, employers and policy makers, a higher value will be placed on recovery and the quality of life that a person with a severe mental illness can achieve.

INTERIM COMMITTEE CHARGES

Provided courtesy of Advocacy, Inc.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS:

1. Study the general issue of electronic voting technology, including the issues of general benefits and risks, security and accuracy, paper trails, etc.;
2. Examine the prevalence of fraud in TX elections, considering prosecution rates and measures for prevention. Study new laws in other states regarding voter identification and recommend statutory changes necessary to ensure that only eligible voters can vote in Texas elections. Specifically study the TX mail-in ballot system, the provisional voting system, and the various processes for purging voter lists of ineligible voters;
3. Monitor the continued implementation of the Federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 by the Office of the Secretary of State, specifically including the implementation of the Texas Election Administration Management system to maintain voter registration records, administer elections, and execute and report election results;
4. Study poll worker recruitment and training in TX, and suggest possible statutory improvements; and4. Study poll worker recruitment and training in TX, and suggest possible statutory improvements; and
5. Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS:

1. Access the current senior housing market and available options for affordable senior housing; and
2. Study and evaluate the levels, methods and alternatives by which the state funds all affordable housing programs, focusing on administrative cost-effectiveness to determine greater returns on investment, savings, and efficiency. Examine the current procedures and applications of the annual, integrated Low Income Housing Plan prepared by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), and prepare recommendations for the development of a comprehensive, long-range, statewide plan or model to address growing needs throughout the state.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES:

1. Research strategies to promote permanency and stability for children and families involved with Child Protective Services. Identify and priorities that would approve the adoption process;
2. Evaluate Prevention and early Intervention programs at the Department of Family and Protective Services that have been funded by the Texas Legislature for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Consider if higher priority for selection should be given to child or family mentoring or other support services, such as foster grandparents and efforts that assist mothers; and
3. Evaluate existing and past efforts by the State for Youth Transitions in Independent Living. Recommend improvements to educational, occupations, health, and life skills components of preparation of foster children for adult living.
4. Explore strategies to support the needs of aging Texans effectively and efficiently. This investigation should include best practices in delaying or avoiding the need for institutionalized care as well as promoting high-quality services for those who are best served in nursing homes. (SDM)
   Investigate the need and potential of respite care programs to delay or avoid institutional placements, thereby resulting in cost savings for the state. (SDM)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE AND FAMILY ISSUES:

1. Study the use of police diversion under Chapter 52 of the Family Code for youth who are referred to the juvenile justice system, including those there as a result of incidents in school;
2. Determine whether current mental health practices followed by the Texas Youth Commission are adequate or appropriate, and make recommendations for any needed changes;
3. Study the organizational structure of the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission to determine if the current system is effectively and efficiently addressing the needs of the juvenile justice system in conjunction with the sunset review of these agencies (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Corrections);
Study Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs, including referral rates, age of students, whether parents have sufficient recourse to challenge a placement, funding, and course requirements (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Corrections); and
5. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE:

1. Monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 103 and the continuing reforms to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) and the juvenile criminal justice system. Identify barriers to effective implementation and provide recommendations to ensure that the goals of this legislation are achieved. Provide recommendations relating to the best practices and identify needed additional treatment programs for juvenile sex offenders
2. Study the relationship between the public mental health system and the criminal justice and civil courts systems, including the identification and sharing of information regarding mentally ill offenders, including minors, among criminal justice and mental health agencies, the courts, state hospitals, and the Veterans Administration. Study how current confidentiality laws impact the exchange of information among groups described above. Study the sentencing of mentally ill offenders compared to non-mentally ill offenders, including minors, and the affect that has on statewide prison capacity and on the quality of health care provided to mentally ill offenders. (Joint charge with Senate Criminal Justice Committee).

EDUCATION

1. Study the effectiveness of public school programs serving special education students, including autistic students. Specifically, consider whether special education services are adequately preparing students for post-secondary opportunities. The review should also include the availability and quality of the supports and services provided by adult services agencies for individuals with disabilities. Make recommendations for improving public school special education programs and the coordination of adult education services among state agencies;
2. Conduct a comprehensive review of the public school accountability system and make recommendations for improvements. The review shall include indicators in the current system, measures of district and campus performance, public expectations, individual student achievement and measures of teacher, program and financial effectiveness; and
3. Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Education committee, 80th Legislature, Regular Session, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the implementation of HB 2237, relating to grants and programs for dropout prevention, high school success and college and workforce readiness in public schools. Include a review of the revised methodology the Texas Education Agency (TEA) uses to calculate the dropout rate. Report on the implementation of education reforms in HB 1, 79th Third Called Special Session. The review should include: the implementation of the high school allotment, the development of the best practices clearinghouse and the electronic student records system, the alignment of curriculum to attain college readiness, student improvement/growth models and access to college credit in high school. The committee should also study and make recommendations on how to continue strengthening the P-16 Initiative to promote college attendance in this State.

FINANCE

1. Provide effective budget oversight of state agencies to ensure that monies appropriated are spent wisely. Particular areas of focus will include the Texas Department of Transportation, Department of State Health Services coordination of mental Health Services, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department revitalization of State Parks, Health and Human Services Commission management of Frew settlement agreement and waiting list slots, Department of Aging and disability Services improvement of State Schools, Texas Department of Criminal Justice roll out of treatment programs and review of the salary career ladder for employees for retention purposes, Texas Youth Commission achievement of reform, Texas Southern University rehabilitation, Higher Education Coordinating Board implementation of incentive programs and the creation of the Texas Cancer Research and Prevention Institute. (SDM)

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:

1. 1. Study the changes in statute contained in SB 10, 80th Legislature, as well as the State’s current prevention and wellness efforts and chronic care management efforts, and identify opportunities for improvement in State policies and programs. Examine options for expanding and optimizing the State’s current investment in wellness programs and management tools for individuals with chronic care conditions, including options that address childhood asthma. Review partnerships with the private sector that specifically address the following:
• Tobacco cessation, including the evaluation of a statewide smoking ban in public places;
• Reducing obesity;
• Availability and effectiveness for childhood and adult vaccines, including public education programs to promote the use of vaccines; and
• More effective management of chronic care conditions.
2. Monitor the implementation of legislation address by the Health and Human Services Committee, 80th Legislature, Regular Session, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, report on the implementation of SB 10 to ensure meaningful improvement in access to quality care in the Texas Medicaid program, focusing on how to cover more uninsured in Texas with market-based plans or premium assistance for employer health plans, and monitor the creation of the Texas Cancer Research and Prevention Institute.
3. Study the effectiveness of the Resiliency and Disease Management (RDM) program in the mental health service delivery system, implementation of changes to the crisis care program, and recommendations for appropriate use of the mental health transformation grant. Identify strategies to increase access to services and meet future demand for services. Examine resource allocation and opportunities to maximize funding. Policy recommendations should maximize the number of inpatient psychiatric acute care beds, enhance access to outpatient services, promote the use of recovery-based services, and enhance access to community-based services.
4. Monitor the Department of Aging and disability Services’ improvement plan for the system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities, focusing on efforts to improve state schools and provide more community care options. Evaluate the process for preventing, reporting, and investigating abuse and neglect in state schools, ICF/MRs and the Home and Community-Based services (HCS) program. Determine the short-term and long-term financial impact of increasing the number of individuals served in home or community locations and the financial impact this shift has on state schools. Monitor the Department’s efforts to convert institutions to Community Care providers through the money-follows-the-person program designed to improve access to community care services. Specifically make recommendations on:
• How to further improve the system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities;
• How to further improve the system of care for individuals with developmental disabilities;
• Developing a transition plan for reducing waiting list for community care service;
• Incentives for converting institutions into community care providers; and
• A long-term plan to address issues that result from the current Federal Department of Justice investigation.
Study the effectiveness and efficiency of nursing homes and home-based solutions/home care in Texas, and make recommendations to improve nursing homes and their funding. Identify and study successful nursing home funding models established by other states. Consider ways to fund infrastructure for nursing and therapists and home care. Examine the possibility of an incentive-based “pay for performance” rate plan for nursing facilities and consider factors that it could be based on, taking into account similar plans implemented in other states. Make recommendations on how best to use Medicaid to fund skilled nursing and home health care in Texas. Explore options for improving graduation rats for nurses in Texas. (Susan, Jeff & James)

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS:

1. Increasing the effectiveness of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ (TDHCA) Housing Tax Credit (HTC) Program. Examine potential rule changes to the HTC Program’s Qualified Allocation Plan to give owners of mixed-income projects seeking low-income housing credits the same opportunity to receive credits that low-income projects have, thus helping cities address the problem of a lack of adequate quality affordable housing while enhancing central city revitalization;
2. Significantly improving homeownership rates by evaluating Texas’ efforts to address the growing housing need. Efforts should include assessment of the range of tools which may be used to help low-income Texans develop equity through homeownership. Tools should be evaluated in terms of their economic development impact, leverage of federal and private funds, and how they are utilized in other states;
3. Evaluating the progress of affordable housing programs within the state and developing recommendations to boost the capacity of non-profits to build increased affordable housing developments;
4. Monitor the expansion of the Housing Trust fund by the 80th Legislature; review the funds of other states to develop recommendations for a permanent funding source for the Texas Housing Trust Fund; and
5. Assessing the existing use of State and Federal housing funds in relation to statutory and budgetary mandates.

STATE AFFAIRS:

1. Study the relationship between the public mental health system and the criminal justice and civil courts systems, including the identification and sharing of information regarding mentally ill offenders, including minors, among criminal justice and mental health agencies, the courts, state hospitals, and the Veterans Administration. Study how current confidentiality laws impact the exchange of information among groups described above. Study the sentencing of mentally ill offenders compared to non-mentally ill offenders, including minors, and the affect that has on statewide prison capacity and on the quality of health care provided to mentally ill offenders. (Joint charge with Senate Criminal Justice Committee).

VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS:

1. Study state services and benefits for injured service members and their families who are recovering from their injuries and rehabilitation in Texas. Make recommendations on how to better serve them.

Contact Your Representatives

Advocacy Links