• HOME
• ABOUT US
• TEXAS TAXES
• FINANCES & ECONOMY
• STATE PURCHASING
• FORMS
• e-SERVICES

Against The Grain: Volume 2

This report is Volume 2 of the second performance review of state government developed by the Comptroller of Public Accounts. The first report, Breaking the Mold: New Ways to Govern Texas, was provided to the Governor and the Legislature in July 1991. That report was produced as a result of Senate Bill 111, adopted by the 72nd Texas Legislature in January 1991. Under House Bill 2009, adopted in May 1991, the Comptroller s authority to conduct performance reviews was extended, resulting in this report.

Volume 2 of Against the Grain provides detailed summaries of the proposals developed by the Comptroller and outlined in Volume 1

In total, Against the Grain encompasses 192 separate proposals and more than 450 individual recommendations affecting state government. If implemented, these recommendations would increase the amount available for certification from the General Revenue Fund of state government by a total of more than $4.5 billion in 1994-95 and would produce additional savings in succeeding years.

A summary of all proposals and their fiscal implications is contained in the Appendix of this report.

Table of Contents

Education and Workforce Development
Education Introduction

• ED 1 Make an Allocation of Certain Investment Income from the Permanent School Fund
  to the Available School Fund
  
• ED 2 Revise the State Textbook Process to Provide Greater Local Control
  
• ED 3 Increase Consolidation Incentives for School Districts
  
• ED 4 Modify Compulsory Attendance Policy to Provide for Greater Flexibility
  
• ED 5 Develop Full Service Schools to Provide Access to Health and Social Services for
  Children and Their Families
  
• ED 6 Delay One Foundation School Program Payment to School Districts as an Alternative to Reduced Funding
  
• ED 7 Encourage Cooperation Among Public Schools and Colleges and Universities
  
• ED 8 Reduce the Need for Post-Secondary Remedial Education by Holding Public Secondary Schools Accountable
  
• ED 9 Make General Revenue Appropriations for Higher Education Available in Monthly
  Installments
  
• ED 10 Reduce Competitive Academic Scholarship Waiver Cap
  
• ED 11 Limit Formula Funding to 80 Credit Hours for Doctoral Students
  
• ED 12 Base Higher Education Formula Funding on an All-Funds Approach
  
• ED 13 Increase the Accountability of Institutions of Higher Education
  
• ED 14 Require Peer Review of Special Item Funding for Higher Education
  
• ED 15 Examine the Operations of the Hinson-Hazlewood Program
  
• ED 16 Collect Debt Due to the General Revenue Fund from the American Educational
  Complex College
  
• ED 17 Provide Discounted Telephone Rates for Educational Institutions
  
• ED 18 Restructure Texas High School Vocational Education
  
• ED 19 Provide a Guarantee for Graduates of Texas High Schools
  
• ED 20 Increase Vocational Education Opportunities at Community Colleges and Ensure Students Receive Full Course Credit
  
• ED 21 Ensure the Texas State Technical College System is Properly Funded
  
• ED 22 Make the Texas State Technical College Eligible for HEAF Funding
  
• ED 23 Establish a Texas Commission on Commerce and Labor
  
• ED 24 Establish a Fund to Assist Dislocated Workers
  
• ED 25 Develop a Competitive Program for Youth Apprenticeship in Texas
  
• ED 26 Establish a Texas Youth Corps
  
  
  Health and Human Services
  Health and Human Services Introduction
  
• HHS 1 Replace Texas Disproportionate Share Hospital Programs I, III and IV
  
• HHS 2 Develop Selective Contracting for Medicaid Inpatient Services
  
• HHS 3 Increase Federal Medicaid Supplements to Improve Health Care Services
  
• HHS 4 Maximize Third-Party Reimbursements Under the Medicaid Program
  
• HHS 5 Require Agencies to Use Medicaid for All Eligible Clients.
  
• HHS 6 Maximize Federal Funding for Texas Department of Health Programs
  
• HHS 7 Delay the August 1995 Payment for Medicaid Claims Processing
  
• HHS 8 Decrease Medicaid Drug Diversion in Texas
  
• HHS 9 Use Neural Networks to Detect and Reduce Fraud in the State Medicaid Program
  
• HHS 10 Expand EPSDT Participation to Obtain More Federal Funding and Improve Health Care
  
• HHS 11 Maximize Federal Financial Participation in Indirect Costs
  
• HHS 12 Maximize Federal Title IV-A At-Risk Child Care Funds
  
• HHS 13 Maximize Federal Funding for Child Welfare Programs
  
• HHS 14 Develop a Prevention Approach to Child Welfare in Texas
  
• HHS 15 Move Patients from State Mental Hospitals to Special Nursing Homes
  
• HHS 16 Accelerate the Use of Alternative Treatment Approaches for Schizophrenics in State Mental Hospitals
  
• HHS 17 Increase Education, Training and Employment Opportunities for AFDC Recipients
  
• HHS 18 Establish a State Franchise Tax Credit to Encourage Businesses to Hire AFDC Recipients
  
• HHS 19 Identify and Transfer Unemployed Public Assistance Recipients to Unemployment Insurance Benefits
  
• HHS 20 Use Automated Systems to Reduce Caseworker Time in Health and Human Service Agencies
  
• HHS 21 Solicit Private Bids for Client Eligibility Determination Services
  
• HHS 22 Keep the Texas Department of Health s Name
  
• HHS 23 Improve Texas Immunization System for Children
  
• HHS 24 Establish a Health Care Cost Containment Office
  
• HHS 25 Increase Funding for AIDS/HIV Services
  
• HHS 26 Eliminate the Texas Cancer Council to Avoid Overlap with Other Programs
  
• HHS 27 Develop a Pharmaceutical Program for Texans Over Age 65
  
• HHS 28 Create a Non-Profit Organization to Help Businesses Purchase Cost-Effective Health Care 211
  
  
  Transportation
  Transportation Introduction
  
• T 1 Expand the State s Transportation Intermodal Planning Process for Long-Term State Economic Development
  
• T 2 Leverage Federal Funds for Tollway Projects and Merge the Turnpike Authority with TxDOT
  
• T 3 Coordinate State Telecommunications Improvements
  
• T 4 Transfer the Texas High Speed Rail Authority to the Texas Railroad Commission
  
• T 5 Enact a Pavement Management System Policy
  
• T 6 Require a Transportation Study of Multi-Modal Ground Corridors
  
• T 7 Expedite Urban Highway Construction
  
• T 8 Use State Highway Funds to Help Higher Education and State Agencies Maintain, Construct and Police Roads
  
• T 9 Redirect the Expenditure of the State s Oil Overcharge Funds
  
• T 10 Explore Innovative Approaches to Improving School Bus Transportation Systems
  
  
  Employee Benefits
  Employee Benefits Introduction
  
• EB 1 Adopt a Retirement Incentive for State Employees
  
• EB 2 Establish a Home Loan Program for Teacher Retirement System Members
  
• EB 3 Reduce for this Biennium State Contributions to the Major Retirement Systems
  
• EB 4 Delay Teacher Retirement System Contributions
  
• EB 5 Change the Funding Method for the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officers Supplemental Retirement Fund
  
• EB 6 Use the Group Insurance Fund Surplus to Reduce the State's Share of Health Insurance Costs
  
• EB 7 Eliminate Partial Per Diem Allowances
  
  
  Public Safety and Criminal Justice
  Public Safety and Criminal Justice Introduction
  
• PS 1 Promote Innovative Community Criminal Justice Plans
  
• PS 2 Increase Unit Accountability for Operating Costs in Prisons
  
• PS 3 Reduce Prison Operating Costs Through Improved Unit Design and Electronic Security Devices
  
• PS 4 Improve Management of Prison Unit Maintenance
  
• PS 5 Use Excess Beds in Privately Operated Prisons
  
• PS 6 Use Empty Beds at State Hospitals for Low-Risk Prisoners Needing Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment
  
• PS 7 Establish a Managed Care Health System for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
  
• PS 8 Eliminate Free Meals Served to Prison Employees
  
• PS 9 Change Free or Low-Cost Provisions for Certain Texas Department of Criminal Justice Employees
  
• PS 10 Collect and Remit Sales Tax on Commissary Sales in State Prisons and County Jails
  
• PS 11 Provide Paid Telephone Services for Inmates in Texas Prisons
  
• PS 12 Increase Revenues of Texas Correctional Industries
  
• PS 13 Change Remuneration Package for Inmates Upon Discharge from Prison
  
• PS 14 Improve the Windham School System and Other Prison Education Systems
  
• PS 15 Increase Federal Funding for Criminal Justice
  
• PS 16 Conduct a Performance Review of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
  
• PS 17 Charge a Fee to Reinstate Suspended Drivers Licenses
  
• PS 18 Require Only a Single License Plate on Motor Vehicles
  
• PS 19 Expand Use of Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices
  
  
  General Government
  General Government and Regulatory Introduction
  
• GG 1 Expand the General Services Commission s Mission to Provide a Full Range of Central Administrative Services
  
• GG 2 Shift the State Preservation Board s Administrative Functions to the General Services Commission
  
• GG 3 Transfer the Texas Surplus Property Agency to the General Services Commission
  
• GG 4 Reengineer Business Permitting in Texas
  
• GG 5 Target State Export Assistance on Companies Ready to Expand Their Exports
  
• GG 6 Abolish the State Banking Board and Transfer its Function to the Commissioner of Banking
  
• GG 7 Consolidate State Gaming Regulation Into One Agency
  
• GG 8 Abolish the Texas Space Commission and Transfer its Functions
  
• GG 9 Transfer the Board of Tax Professional Examiners to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
  
• GG 10 Transfer Regulation of Prepaid Funeral Services from the Department of Banking to the Department of Insurance
  
• GG 11 Transfer the Regulation of Premium Finance Companies to the Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner
  
• GG 12 Transfer Insurance Tax Administration Functions to the Comptroller of Public Accounts
  
• GG 13 Merge the Texas Public Finance Authority and the Bond Review Board
  
• GG 14 Provide Funding for the Texas Commission on the Arts with a Special State of the Arts License Plate
  
• GG 15 Reengineer and Modernize the State s Tax Processing and Information Management Systems
  
• GG 16 Simplify Elements of the Tax System to Improve Customer Service
  
• GG 17 Update the Comptroller s Enforcement Authority
  
• GG 18 Increase the Motor Fuels Enforcement Fee From 1 Percent to 2 Percent
  
• GG 19 Remit the Hotel Occupancy Tax in the Same Way as the Sales Tax
  
• GG 20 Require an Annual August Remittance of One-Half of August s Sales Tax Collections by Monthly Taxpayers
  
• GG 21 Adopt a Semi-Annual Schedule for the Prepayment of the Insurance Premium Tax
  
• GG 22 Eliminate or Reduce Discounts for Tax Report Filers
  
• GG 23 Delay Motor Fuels Tax Allocations
  
• GG 24 Modernize Franchise Tax Apportionment for Financial Institutions
  
• GG 25 Eliminate the Motor Fuel Tax Exemption for Railroads
  
• GG 26 Strengthen the Wording in the Responsible Party Statute
  
• GG 27 Make Taxes Paid Under Protest Available for Certification
  
• GG 28 Amend the Lottery Act to Abolish the Lottery Stabilization Fund
  
• GG 29 Use Interest and Sinking Fund Balances to Reduce General Revenue Appropriations for Debt Service
  
• GG 30 Transfer the State Preservation Board s Excess Funding to General Revenue; Seek Federal Funds for Capitol Grounds Restoration
  
• GG 31 Appropriate Excess Balances in the Telecommunications Revolving Account
  
• GG 32 Require Continued Repayment of General Revenue by the Texas Racing Commission
  
• GG 33 Require Certain State Agencies to Move Their Funds Into the General Revenue Fund in the State Treasury
  
• GG 34 Maintain the Texas Growth Fund in the Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company
  
• GG 35 Grant Financial Regulatory Agencies the Ability to Assess Appropriate Penalties and Fines
  
• GG 36 Improve State Agencies Use of Gas Transportation Service
  
• GG 37 Collect Fees on State Real Estate Transactions
  
• GG 38 Adopt Private Sector Practices of Billing for Financial Audits
  
• GG 39 Use the Comptroller s Determination of Good Standing for Franchise Tax Payments
  
• GG 40 Simplify State Court Fees
  
• GG 41 Improve the State s Child Support Enforcement Efforts: Introduction
  
• GG 42 Collect 100 Percent of Child Support Owed to Texas Children by the Year 2000 505
  
• GG 43 Establish an Administrative Hearings Process for Child Support Enforcement
  
• GG 44 Implement Self-Starting Enforcement and Establish a Central Registry for Child Support
  
• GG 45 Improve Child Support Information Collected in the State s AFDC and Medicaid Programs
  
• GG 46 Implement Employer New-Hire Reporting for Child Support Enforcement
  
• GG 47 Implement New Measures to Enforce Child Support Orders
  
• GG 48 Pursue Federal Funds for Child-Support-Related Demonstration Projects
  
• GG 49 Increase the Use of Electronic Fund Transfers in Child Support Enforcement
  
• GG 50 Strengthen Medical Support Enforcement in the Child Support Enforcement Program
  
• GG 51 Implement a Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment Program
  
• GG 52 Use Private Firms to Assist in Child Support Collections
  
• GG 53 Include a Late Payment Penalty in Child Support Orders
  
• GG 54 Implement Incentives for Child Support Workers
  
• GG 55 Establish an Education and Job Training Program for Absent Parents
  
• GG 56 Use Excess Unexpended Balances of Child Support Retained Collections for Texas Families
  
• GG 57 Assist Displaced State Workers
  
• GG 58 Capitalize on Volunteerism and Citizen Participation
  
  
  Natural Resources
  Natural Resources Introduction
  
• NR 1 Pursue Self-Sufficiency Measures at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  
• NR 2 Consolidate Field Offices of the Texas Water Commission and the Texas Air Control Board
  
• NR 3 Transfer Texas Air Control Board and Texas Water Commission Hearings to the Office of Administrative Hearings
  
• NR 4 Examine Policies and Procedures for Assessing Administrative Penalties at the Texas Air Control Board
  
• NR 5 Establish State Funding Requirements for Local Air Pollution Agencies
  
• NR 6 Establish an Independent Office of Environmental Public Interest Counsel
  
• NR 7 Make the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority Entirely Fee Funded
  
  Cross-Government
  Cross-Government Introduction
  
• CG 1 Initiate Process Reviews in State Agencies
  
• CG 2 Reengineer the State Procurement Process
  
• CG 3 Increase the State s Computer Software Buying Power
  
• CG 4 Establish a Single Identification Number for Entities Doing Business with the State
  
• CG 5 Eliminate Duplication in Certain Procurement Activities
  
• CG 6 Consolidate the Management of State Agencies Mail Operations
  
• CG 7 Reengineer State Vehicle Management
  
• CG 8 Calculate a Housing-Cost Fee to be Charged to State Agencies
  
• CG 9 Generate Additional State Revenue From Unclaimed Property
  
• CG 10 Establish Statutory Guidelines for State Agency Advisory Committees
  
• CG 11 Increase Cost Recovery from Providing Copies, Computer Data and Mailing Lists
  
• CG 12 Develop Improved Guidelines for Open Records Requests
  
• CG 13 Develop a Mechanism to Oversee and Coordinate Agencies Indirect Cost Recovery Plan Preparation
  
• CG 14 Improve the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Agency Rulemaking Processes
  
• CG 15 Reduce State Spending for Liability Insurance
  
• CG 16 Improve the Payment of Utility Services by State Agencies
  
• CG 17 Create a State Agency Utility Service Working Group
  
• CG 18 Establish a Centralized Utility Audit Process
  
• CG 19 Prevent Utility Companies from Billing State Government Before Service is Provided
  
• CG 20 Prohibit Utility Companies from Charging State Agencies Higher Rates than City or County Governments
  
• CG 21 Exempt the State from Utility Surcharges, Assessments and Rate-Case Expense Allocations
  
• CG 22 Clarify State Law Regarding Authority for Disaster Recovery of Utility Services
  
• CG 23 Make Greater Use of Electronic Monitoring Systems to Provide After-Hours Building Security
  
• CG 24 Create a Central Personnel Office in the General Services Commission
  
• CG 25 Coordinate State Training in a Central Personnel Office
  
• CG 26 Redesign the State s Employee Classification System
  
• CG 27 Create an Employee Relations Ombudsman for State Agencies
  
• CG 28 Adopt Work Alternative Policies for State Employees
  
• CG 29 Improve Incentives for State Employees to Develop Cost-Savings Ideas
  
• CG 30 Establish and Administer a Central Wellness Program for State Agencies
  
• CG 31 Prohibit Smoking in State Office Buildings
  
• CG 32 Limit Travel Reimbursements and Require Higher Education to Participate in State Travel Management Program
  
• CG 33 Integrate Telecommunications Networks Among State Agencies and Universities
  
• CG 34 Exempt Government from Regulatory Provisions that Impede Efficient Use of Communications Technology
  
• CG 35 Improve State Management of Fixed Assets
  
• CG 36 Establish a State Council on Competitive Government
  
• CG 37 Explore Opportunities for Consolidating and Contracting for Information Systems
  

Return to Volume1

Return to the Texas Performance Review Home Page