This Week in Texas: November 20, 2013

Posted November 20, 2013 in The Mignon Memo

Gov. Rick Perry announced that the runoff in the special election for House District 50 will be held on January 28, 2014.  Democrat Celia Israel and Republican Mike VanDeWalle will compete in the runoff.  The early voting period for this special election will run from January 20 to January 24, 2014.  The winner will serve the remainder of former Rep. Mark Strama’s unexpired term.  

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Ben Raimer of Galveston as chair of the Health and Human Services Council for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2015. The council helps develop policies and rules for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and makes recommendations regarding the management and operation of the commission.  Raimer is a board certified  pediatrician, and senior vice president and professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB).  

Gov. Perry also appointed Jacinto Juarez of Laredo as chair of the State Health Services Council. The council makes recommendations regarding the management, operation, policies and rules for public health, mental health and substance abuse.  Juarez is dean emeritus and an instructor for the Laredo Community College Department of Computer Information Systems and Mathematics. 

The Texas Legislative Reference Library has updated their comprehensive guide to the sunset process in Texas.  The sunset process, established in 1977, is the regular assessment of the continuing need for a state agency to exist.  During the current review cycle, 21 state agencies will be reviewed. For more information about the sunset process, the guide made be viewed here: http://www.sunset.state.tx.us/suntx.pdf.