Lt. Governor David Dewhurst is announcing several select interim charges as he speaks throughout the State of Texas.
He announced the following five Interim Charges for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and Military Installations on December 7th during a news conference at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 76 in San Antonio, Texas:
- Study veteran employment and veteran-owned small business issues, including the usefulness of creating a veteran-specific employment database to provide job openings tailored to the skills sets of Texas’ returning veterans;
- Examine the utilization of the new GI Bill and what the state can do to ensure Texas is serving veterans and their families. Include recommendations on how the programs can be utilized and improved to better serve veterans;
- Study the advantages of a centralized call center for the referral of veterans to benefit providers, including potential cost savings and customer service improvements associated with consolidation;
- Assess what veteran workforce programs are being offered by various state agencies, and recommend ways to streamline and coordinate these programs;
- Study and make recommendations on how Texas can better address the mental health needs of veterans. Monitor the appropriation of an additional $6.2 million for veterans mental health programs to provide support for returning veterans and their families.
On December 9th he announced the following three Interim Charges addressing Texas water issues that he will assign to the Senate Natural Resources Committee:
- Differences in cost between immediate and delayed implementation of the State Water Plan;
- The joint planning process for management of Texas’ finite groundwater resources;
- Implementation of water conservation and reuse projects.
On December 10th Dewhurst announced the following three Interim Charges for the Senate Economic Development and Business and Commerce committees:
- Study and make recommendations regarding career-focused education and workforce training programs in Texas to insure that such programs meet business and worker needs. Specifically, study whether such programs: (1) meet the current future workforce needs of health care, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, information technology and green jobs; (2) help retain workers in such trades and fields; (3) retrain and update the skills and education of workers in such trades and fields; and (4) foster and encourage collaboration between the State, education, labor and business to provide education and training. (Business and Commerce)
- Review the effectiveness of state programs aimed at assisting small business growth and development. Include an assessment of all state policies aimed at Texas businesses with procurement of state construction contracts. (Economic Development)
- Review the impact of workforce development programs on economic development across the state. Focus on the impact of Texas Workforce Commission initiatives, the JET (Jobs and Education for Texas) program administered by the Comptroller’s office, and federally funded stimulus programs. Make recommendations for legislation to improve and enhance workforce development in Texas. (Economic Development)
On December 15th Dewhurst announced the following four selected Interim Charges for the Senate Education Committee, during a tour of the Dealey International Academy and the UT Dallas Middle School Brain Years Program:
- Review the state’s education policy and initiatives regarding middle grades and make recommendations to prepare students, especially at-risk students, for high school retention and success;
- Review the implementation of legislation related to the state’s accountability system including the revised dropout rate calculation, textbooks and technology, and the virtual school network;
- Review the performance and accountability of the state’s charter schools and consider options for increasing the number of outstanding charter schools, identify best practices that can be implemented in other charter and public schools, and review options for a charter schools facilities program;
- Examine cost drivers in education including state requirements that impact school district budgets. Recommend opportunities for achieving cost efficiencies.
Dewhurst’s office has stated he will announce a complete list of Interim Charges later this month.