From the Desk of Allen Vaught

Texas House Select Committees
When the Texas Legislature is not in session, the Speaker may create “select committees” for the interim, which are designed to study specific issues and report back to the Legislature prior to the next legislative session. These committees are temporary and dissolve once their report has been released, usually at the end of the year.

Last week, Speaker Straus created four new select committees: the Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness, the Select Committee on Government Efficiency and Accountability, the Select Committee on Fiscal Stability, and the Select Committee on Federal Legislation. I was honored to be appointed to the Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness, which is composed of eleven total House members. In this article, I will give a brief overview of the four new select committees and discuss the issues they will study during the interim.

Emergency Preparedness
The Speaker created this committee to study the State of Texas’ preparedness level for major disasters, including those resulting from natural catastrophes and criminal activity. The study will incorporate an analysis of the level of preparedness among critical infrastructure entities, state and local emergency planning organizations, emergency warning systems, evacuation plans, first response efforts, and overall coordination of jurisdictions across the state.

Additionally, the committee will review previous studies regarding emergencies to determine whether progress has been made and will make legislative recommendations to improve preparedness for future disasters.

Government Efficiency and Accountability
This select committee is tasked with recommending what can be eliminated in state government to reduce inefficiencies and improve accountability. The committee’s study will include an examination of best practices for purchasing state goods and services and recommend improvements.

The committee’s work will also include an analysis of the need for additional disclosure requirements to enhance transparency in government contracting. The committee will look at the advantages and disadvantages of privatization, including a review of previous findings.

Fiscal Stability
While Texas has fared better than most states, its current economic condition is cause for concern. According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts’ recent revenue estimate, Texas will face a substantial budget shortfall next session. Declining revenues and increased population growth coupled with other major budgetary demands will substantially strain the state’s budget for the next cycle.

The Fiscal Stability committee will study whether the recent and anticipated shortfalls are simply the product of the ongoing recession or whether state resources simply cannot keep pace with increasing demands.

Federal Legislation
Congress is currently considering numerous policy issues that may impact the citizens and economy of Texas. A coordinated state effort is essential to prepare for possible new changes and to communicate with federal entities regarding Texas’ specific needs and challenges.

The Federal Legislation committee will review and monitor significant pending federal legislation to the extent such legislation limits state authority. Additionally, the committee will monitor the implementation of unfunded mandates, including those that could violate the federal Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

One of the most significant assignments for the committee will be to monitor Congress’s health care reform efforts and their potential impact on the state’s health care system, health insurance regulation statutes and policies, Medicaid and children’s health insurance programs (CHIP), eligibility system, workforce recruitment and retention, and health care financing mechanisms.


If you have questions regarding any of these select committees or would like more information, I invite you to contact my district office at (214) 370-8305 or my capitol office at (512) 463-0244. Please free to email me as well at District107.Vaught@house.state.tx.us, and be sure to include your name and full address. I look forward to hearing from you.