Background on the Task Force
House Bill (H.B.) 492, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, authored by Representative John Zerwas and Representative Lois Kolkhorst and sponsored by Senator Bob Deuell and Senator Dan Patrick, directed state agencies to expand faith- and community-based health and human services and social services initiatives in Texas. The purpose of these initiatives is to provide charitable and social services to needy persons in this state by strengthening the capacity of Texas faith- and community-based organizations (FCBOs) and forging stronger partnerships between those FCBOs and state government.
As part of this expansion, H.B 492 directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish the Task Force on Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity. The legislation required that the task force be comprised of representatives from state agencies, FCBOs, the academic community, the foundation community, and other individuals with expertise that would be valuable to the task force. HHSC, in coordination with OneStar Foundation (OneStar), sought out candidates throughout Texas to serve on the task force in December 2009 and the HHSC Executive Commissioner, Thomas Suehs, appointed eight task force members in March 2010, in consultation with the Texas Governor. The task force appointments [read member biographies here] include:
H.B. 492 directed the task force to present a report with legislative recommendations to the House Committee on Human Services, the House Committee on Public Health, and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The recommendations had to address methods for strengthening the capacity of FCBOs for managing human resources and funds and providing services to Texans in need. In addition, the legislation required the task force hold at least three public hearings throughout Texas to hear testimony from the public regarding strengthening nonprofit capacity of FCBOs. To achieve its objectives, the task force:
H.B. 492 authorized HHSC to contract with OneStar, which serves as the State Commission on National and Community Service, to administer the Renewing Our Communities Account. OneStar works throughout Texas to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits to address community needs. HHSC worked in constant coordination with the OneStar Foundation to support task force efforts to implement all legislative requirements. The OneStar Foundation provided HHSC with critical strategic and technical support and funded all task force meetings and public hearings. In addition, the OneStar Foundation sponsored and funded the task force survey and collaborated with the Bush School to study survey results and aid the task force in understanding the needs of FCBOs in Texas.
As part of this expansion, H.B 492 directed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish the Task Force on Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity. The legislation required that the task force be comprised of representatives from state agencies, FCBOs, the academic community, the foundation community, and other individuals with expertise that would be valuable to the task force. HHSC, in coordination with OneStar Foundation (OneStar), sought out candidates throughout Texas to serve on the task force in December 2009 and the HHSC Executive Commissioner, Thomas Suehs, appointed eight task force members in March 2010, in consultation with the Texas Governor. The task force appointments [read member biographies here] include:
- Joyce James (chair) :: Associate Deputy Commissioner, Texas Health and Human Services Commission :: Texas State Agency Representative
- Robert Hickerson (vice-chair) :: Chief Operating Officer, Texas Tech University Off-Campus Sites :: Community-Based Org. Representative
- Angela Bies, Ph.D. :: Assistant Professor, Bush School of Government & Public Service, Texas A&M University :: Academic Community Rep.
- Brad Carter :: Former Executive Director, Connecting Caring Communities :: Faith-Based Organization Representative
- Bruce Esterline :: Vice President for Grants, The Meadows Foundation :: Foundation Community Representative
- Karen R. Johnson :: Chief Executive Officer, United Ways of Texas :: Community-Based Organization Representative
- Bee Moorhead :: Executive Director, Texas Impact :: Faith-Based Organization Representative
- Barry Silverberg :: Chief Executive Officer, Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations :: Community-Based Organization Representative
H.B. 492 directed the task force to present a report with legislative recommendations to the House Committee on Human Services, the House Committee on Public Health, and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The recommendations had to address methods for strengthening the capacity of FCBOs for managing human resources and funds and providing services to Texans in need. In addition, the legislation required the task force hold at least three public hearings throughout Texas to hear testimony from the public regarding strengthening nonprofit capacity of FCBOs. To achieve its objectives, the task force:
- Held five public hearings to receive testimony on strengthening nonprofit capacity, traveling to Houston, Dallas, Austin, Harlingen, and El Paso between March and June 2010;
- Expanded the public comment process beyond public hearings by offering Texans additional opportunity to submit written comments and recommendations by mail and e-mail between March and August 2010;
- Established a subcommittee comprised of task force members to collaborate with the OneStar Foundation and the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University (Bush School) to develop a task force survey seeking statewide input on nonprofit capacity building from small- and medium-sized FCBOs not heard through public hearings, mail, and e-mail;
- Held public meetings in September and October 2010 to consider all testimony, written comments, and task force survey results, and agreed on legislative recommendations to submit to the Texas legislature; and
- Presented a report with legislative recommendation to the House Committee on Human Services, House Committee on Public Health, and Senate Health and Human Services Committee on November 1, 2010.
H.B. 492 authorized HHSC to contract with OneStar, which serves as the State Commission on National and Community Service, to administer the Renewing Our Communities Account. OneStar works throughout Texas to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits to address community needs. HHSC worked in constant coordination with the OneStar Foundation to support task force efforts to implement all legislative requirements. The OneStar Foundation provided HHSC with critical strategic and technical support and funded all task force meetings and public hearings. In addition, the OneStar Foundation sponsored and funded the task force survey and collaborated with the Bush School to study survey results and aid the task force in understanding the needs of FCBOs in Texas.
