Legislative Issues Committees

Administrative Committees

Criminal Justice

Address issues relating to homeland security and the following House Standing Committee: Corrections, Criminal Jurisprudence and Law Enforcement and the Senate Standing Committee of Criminal Justice.

Chair - Elsie Whiteside

District - East TX
Vice Chair - Robert C. Smith North Central
Secretary - Bettye Green South Plains
Members
Bill T. Bailey - Tarrant County
LaNelle Gallant - Heart of TX
Trini Garza - Dallas County
Jane Lanier - Heart of TX
J. Mannon Mints - Golden Crescent
Reymundo (Rey) Oropez - Lower Rio
Oscar Soliz - Coastal Bend
Jerry Stamps - South Plains


Education

Public School finance; continuing education opportunities for senior citizens; bi-lingual education opportunities for the elderly minorities, and others.

Chair - A. G. "Pete" Hinojosa

District - Harris County
Vice Chair - Nancy Byler West Central
Secretary - Betty C. Hooey Dallas County
Members
Lynn Crisp - Houston-Galveston
E.W. (Wayne) Daniels - South East
Joe Neil Folk - Deep East TX
Lela Foreman - Texoma
Jerrie Hubbard - Rio Grande
James T (Ted) Hubert,Jr. - Central Texas
Delia Oropez - Lower Rio
Carol Peters - Capital
Jerry Pybus - Panhandle
Mark M. Walsh - Coastal Bend
Roy A. Watson - North Central
Carolyn E. Williamson - Tarrant County


Health & Human Resources

Protect Medicaid and Medicare benefits to senior citizens; be an advocate for nursing home reforms, alternatives to institutionalization, training for nurses aides, greater incentives for in-home care, improved medical care for the indigent elderly, other issues relating to improved health care for the elderly and other issues.

Chair - James E. (Jim) Hitt

District - North Central
Vice Chair - Jetta Roberts Rio Grande
Secretary - Barbara Aydlett Heart of TX
Members
Adalaide Cash Balaban - South East
Jane Blay - South Plains
Ruth Bowling - Dallas County
Lorene Chambers - North Central
Cecilia Crossley - Capital
Patricia S Dorrough - Ark-Tex
Sandra Graham - Capital
Myron Meier - Central Texas
Mari Okabayashi - Harris County
Tomi Oliver - North TX
Linda H. Parrish - Brazos Valley
Barbara Pope - Dallas County
Howdy C. Smith - Lower Rio
Mary Smith - Alamo
Betty Trotter - Panhandle


Human Services

Increased funding for expanding community service programs, including transportation for rural and urban areas; funding for respite care; expanded Senior Center programs, and others that involve the physical aspects of elder care.

Chair - Chris Kyker

District - West Central
Vice Chair - Diana H. Randermann Brazos Valley
Secretary - Keith Callaway Coastal Bend
Members
Alan Abraham - Panhandle
Bobbie Brodnax - Deep East TX
Lee Ruth Bryant - Dallas County
John Giovannini - Houston-Galveston
Cecilia Gutierrez - Lower Rio
Jene Liaci - Bexar County
Callie Ragon - Tarrant County


Insurance

To identify insurance needs and research possible solutions that address insurance matters, especially as they affect seniors.

Chair - Juretta Marshall

District - Bexar County
Vice Chair - Stephen A Coycault Harris County
Secretary - Jack Hayward Panhandle
Members
Jerome Fletcher - Harris County
Oscar Garcia - Tarrant County
Ramon H. Garcia, Jr. - Middle Rio
LeeRoy W. Kiesling - Concho Valley


Retirement & Aging

Supporting the Aging Texas Well program, prepares resolutions for the protection and well being of Texas seniors on issues that relate to housing, employment, medical care, taxes, licenses, fees and other issues concerning with the health, retirement programs, property and other assets of retired and all aged Texans.

Chair - James E. (Jim) Hitt

District - North Central
Vice Chair - Billie Erwin Coastal Bend
Secretary - Norma C. Mena Tarrant County
Members
Vada Baldree - Middle Rio
Carlton Buesing - South Plains
Gerardo "Tito" Camacho - Rio Grande
Johnie Curtis - Heart of TX
Doris Griffin - Bexar County
Maurine M. Gross - Texoma
Oleavia Holmes - Dallas County


Rural-Urban

Resolutions that reflect the needs of aging Texans we serve in the rural - urban Texas communities, about issues which are unique to the rural – urban community.

Chair - Brigitte R. Rogers

District - Concho Valley
Vice Chair - Charlynne Elliott Texoma
Secretary - Judy Ward Panhandle
Members
Rodolfo (Rudy) Cantu - Coastal Bend
Jerry Johnson - Rio Grande
Della R. Turner - Texoma


State Affairs

Align the duties and responsibilities with the Texas House of Representatives State Affairs Committee, provided there is no conflict with other LIC committees.

Chair - Mona Bailey

District - Tarrant County
Vice Chair - Arnold Oliver North TX
Secretary -
Members
Nell Clark - South East
Jim Endicott - Central Texas
Jack Fisk - Houston-Galveston
Roberto Gutierrez, Sr. - Lower Rio
Carlos W. Higgins - Capital
Paula O Johnson - Capital
C. Christine Johnson - Bexar County
Homer W. Lear - Bexar County
Estella Tyson - Bexar County


Utilities & Natural Resources

Consider all agricultural, environmental, natural resources and utilities issues.

Chair - Dr. Robert T. Fitzgerald

District - Alamo
Vice Chair - Presley Donaldson Heart of TX
Secretary - Kenneth (Ken) Nesmith Houston-Galveston
Members
Willie Belle Boone - Harris County
Dolan Brinson - West Central
C. J. "Jim" Brisbin - Concho Valley
Ray Ellisor - Ark-Tex
Joyce Mayer - Central Texas
Anne Z. Mazone - Brazos Valley
Bobby R. (Bob) McCarn - Golden Crescent
Wayne Merrill - Concho Valley
Jane Nelson - Houston-Galveston
Charlotte Parks - East TX


Communications

The prime responsibility of this committee is the preparation, printing, and distribution of journals, Bylaws, Manuals, and Handbooks. The Committee shall prepare statewide media releases for the Speaker’s approval. This Committee shall file copies of the District news releases of each respective District TSHL member. The Editor of the TSHL Newsletter shall be appointed by the Speaker.

Chair - Reymundo (Rey) Oropez

District - Lower Rio
Vice Chair - Roy A. Watson North Central
Secretary - Keith Callaway Coastal Bend
Members
Jane Blay - South Plains
Nancy Byler - West Central
Lorene Chambers - North Central
Stephen A Coycault - Harris County
Cecilia Crossley - Capital
Joe Neil Folk - Deep East TX
LaNelle Gallant - Heart of TX
Oscar Garcia - Tarrant County
Ramon H. Garcia, Jr. - Middle Rio
Bettye Green - South Plains
Doris Griffin - Bexar County
Maurine M. Gross - Texoma
Jack Hayward - Panhandle
Oleavia Holmes - Dallas County
Jerry Johnson - Rio Grande
Jene Liaci - Bexar County
Joyce Mayer - Central Texas
Anne Z. Mazone - Brazos Valley
Wayne Merrill - Concho Valley
Jane Nelson - Houston-Galveston
Tomi Oliver - North TX
Charlotte Parks - East TX
Mark M. Walsh - Coastal Bend


Election & Credentials

Responsible for monitoring the election of TSHL members statewide; verify that Area Election Steering Committees are formed before election date; conduct TSHL officer elections, monitor committee elections; conduct election of resolution priorities.

Chair - Linda H. Parrish

District - Brazos Valley
Vice Chair - Carolyn E. Williamson Tarrant County
Secretary - Delia Oropez Lower Rio
Members
Alan Abraham - Panhandle
Vada Baldree - Middle Rio
Dolan Brinson - West Central
Bobbie Brodnax - Deep East TX
Lee Ruth Bryant - Dallas County
Carlton Buesing - South Plains
Nell Clark - South East
Lynn Crisp - Houston-Galveston
Johnie Curtis - Heart of TX
Jim Endicott - Central Texas
Dr. Robert T. Fitzgerald - Alamo
Lela Foreman - Texoma
Cecilia Gutierrez - Lower Rio
Jerrie Hubbard - Rio Grande
Paula O Johnson - Capital
Bobby R. (Bob) McCarn - Golden Crescent
Myron Meier - Central Texas
Norma C. Mena - Tarrant County
Arnold Oliver - North TX
Barbara Pope - Dallas County
Brigitte R. Rogers - Concho Valley


Finance

Responsible for the fiscal matters of the TSHL All decisions affecting the fiscal responsibilities of the TSHL shall be in accord with the Memorandum of Understanding with the TSHL Foundation. The formation of the budget shall be the prime responsibility of this committee. All fund raising activities shall be approved by this committee. This committee shall have full responsibility for the Silver Directory.

Chair - Rodolfo (Rudy) Cantu

District - Coastal Bend
Vice Chair - Jerry Stamps South Plains
Secretary -
Members
Bill T. Bailey - Tarrant County
Adalaide Cash Balaban - South East
Presley Donaldson - Heart of TX
Patricia S Dorrough - Ark-Tex
Charlynne Elliott - Texoma
Ray Ellisor - Ark-Tex
Jack Fisk - Houston-Galveston
Trini Garza - Dallas County
John Giovannini - Houston-Galveston
Roberto Gutierrez, Sr. - Lower Rio
Carlos W. Higgins - Capital
A. G. "Pete" Hinojosa - Harris County
James E. (Jim) Hitt - North Central
C. Christine Johnson - Bexar County
LeeRoy W. Kiesling - Concho Valley
Chris Kyker - West Central
Homer W. Lear - Bexar County
Mari Okabayashi - Harris County
Jerry Pybus - Panhandle
Jetta Roberts - Rio Grande
Howdy C. Smith - Lower Rio
Oscar Soliz - Coastal Bend
Estella Tyson - Bexar County


Legislative Action

The primary responsibility of the Legislative Action Committee shall be to present to the Texas Legislature and the Governor the prioritized resolutions adopted by the TSHL in the TSHL Legislative Session, and then pursuing those resolutions through the legislative process.

Chair - Carlos W. Higgins

District - Capital
Vice Chair - Paula O Johnson Capital
Secretary - Cecilia Crossley Capital
Members
Mona Bailey - Tarrant County
Dr. Robert T. Fitzgerald - Alamo
A. G. "Pete" Hinojosa - Harris County
Chris Kyker - West Central
Juretta Marshall - Bexar County
Brigitte R. Rogers - Concho Valley
Elsie Whiteside - East TX


Operations

The Operations Committee shall formulate plans and detailed logistics of all TSHL General Sessions.

Chair - Billie Erwin

District - Coastal Bend
Vice Chair - James T (Ted) Hubert,Jr. Central Texas
Secretary - Judy Ward Panhandle
Members
Barbara Aydlett - Heart of TX
Mona Bailey - Tarrant County
Willie Belle Boone - Harris County
Ruth Bowling - Dallas County
C. J. "Jim" Brisbin - Concho Valley
Gerardo "Tito" Camacho - Rio Grande
E.W. (Wayne) Daniels - South East
Jerome Fletcher - Harris County
Sandra Graham - Capital
Betty C. Hooey - Dallas County
Jane Lanier - Heart of TX
Juretta Marshall - Bexar County
J. Mannon Mints - Golden Crescent
Kenneth (Ken) Nesmith - Houston-Galveston
Carol Peters - Capital
Callie Ragon - Tarrant County
Diana H. Randermann - Brazos Valley
Robert C. Smith - North Central
Mary Smith - Alamo
Betty Trotter - Panhandle
Della R. Turner - Texoma
Elsie Whiteside - East TX