[1. Welcome and opening remarks] [00:00:05] >> THE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. MAY THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THIS MEETING OF THE HHSC COUNCIL CONVENED AT 10:00 A.M. ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2025. WE WILL NOW CALL THE ROLL. >> MEMBERS, PLEASE REPLY WITH YOU'RE PRESENT. CECILE ERWIN YOUNG. >> PRESENT. >> MICHELLE LETO. >> PRESENT. >> JORDAN DIXON. >> PRESENT. >> MAURICE MCCREARY JR. AUDREY O'NEIL. DR. JENNIFER SHUFORD. EMILY ZALKOVSKY. THE DEPUTY CHIEF COMMISSIONER FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES IS PRESENT FOR DR. JENNIFER SHUFORD. KAY MALENAS ON BEHALF OF MAURICE MCCREARY JR. ELIZABETH FARLEY, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES CHIEF OF STAFF FOR DSHS COMMISSIONER AUDREY O'NEIL. THIS CONCLUDES THE ROLL CALL. >> WE WILL EXPLAIN THE PROCESS FOR USING THE MICROSOFT TEAMS PLATFORM FOR THIS MEETING. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS TESSA RAGLAN. THIS MEETING IS BEING CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING WEBCAST LIVE AND IS BEING RECORDED AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD. PLEASE DO NOT USE JARGON OR ACRONYMS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED. IN ACCORDANCE WITH HHSC POLICY, THE USE OF ART IFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS PROHIBITED IN THIS MEETING. PRODUCERS WILL NOT ADMIT A BOT OR OTHER AUTONOMOUS AGENTS INTO THE MEETING. IF A BOT SHOULD GAIN ENTRANCE, IT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING BY ONE OF THE PRODUCERS. FOR THE SAKE OF US VIEWING THE WEBCAST AND TO COMPLY WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WE ASK EACH VIRTUAL ATTENDEE PLEASE TURN ON YOUR VIDEO CAMERA AND STATE YOUR NAME, EACH TIME PRIOR TO BEGINNING YOUR COMMENTS. AND WE ASK YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE OR DEVICE. ONCE YOU'RE FINISHED SPEAKING, WE ASK YOU TURN YOUR CAMERAS ON AND UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND ONLY UNMUTE WHEN YOU NEED TO SPEAK. WE RECOMMEND MEMBERS AND PRESENTERS USE HEADSETS IF POSSIBLE TO PREVENT FEEDBACK AND MINIMIZE OTHER NOISE. WE ALSO ASK THAT MEMBER STAFF AND MEMBERS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON MUTE OR VIBRATE. IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, TURN OFF YOUR VIDEO AND MICROPHONE OPTIONS FROM YOUR VIEWING DEVICE SO THE SOUND DOES NOT CARRY BACK INTO THE MEETING. FOR MEMBER STAFF PARTICIPATING IN PERSON, WE ASK YOU SPEAK DIRECTLY INTO THE MICROPHONE SO YOUR VOICE AND COMMENTS CAN BE HEARD. YOUR MICROPHONES ARE DIRECTIONAL, SO THEY ONLY PICK UP SOUND DIRECTED INTO THE MIC. YOU CAN PICK UP THE MIC BY THE BASE TO MOVE IT TO YOUR COMFORT. PUT YOUR CELL PHONES ON MUTE OR VIBRATE. IF YOU NEED TO TAKE A CALL, STEP OUT OF THE ROOM AND AWAY FROM THE DOOR SO THE SOUND DOES NOT CARRY BACK INTO THE MEETING. FOR THOSE WHO UTILIZE A POWERPOINT OR HANDOUT DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, ONE OF OUR PRODUCERS WILL PULL UP THE POWERPOINT. THERE IS TIME ON THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AS ING NOTED ON THE POSTED AGENDA. MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO PREREGISTER TO PROVIDE ORAL COMMENT VIRTUALLY DURING TODAY'S MEETING. WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO PREREGISTERED TO PROVIDE COMMENT TODAY. WE ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO PREREGISTERED PLEASE CHECK IN WITH THE PUBLIC -- THE MEETING FACILITATOR AT THIS TABLE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON MAY REGISTER TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THEY WILL COMPLETE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FORM CATED AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE AT THE FRONT DOOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ROOM. FOR MEMBERS AND STAFF PARTICIPATING IN PERSON, RESTROOMS ARE LOCATED OFF THE ROOM ENTRANCE TO THE RIGHT AND AROUND THE RIGHT CORNER PAST THE ELEVATOR TOWARDS THE EXIT ON THE LEFT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EMERGENCY EXITS ARE LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THIS ROOM, WHERE MOST OF US CAME IN FROM, AND AT THE SIDE DOORS. IF THERE IS AN ALARM, YOU WILL EXIT THE BUILDING, RETURN ONLY AT THE DIRECTION OF SECURITY PERSONNEL. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRING FROM HHS ON JANUARY 2ND, SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST COUNSEL MEETING. IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU. I LEAVE YOU IN THE CAPABLE HANDS OF STEPHANIE MUTH WHO MANY OF YOU KNOW WAS THE COMMISSIONER AT DFPS AND SERVED IN A NUMBER OF [00:05:02] EXECUTIVE ROLES AT HHSC. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, ALL, FOR THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH YOU. IT HAS JUST BEEN SUCH AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE. SO, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OUR -- NOW FOR OUR AGENDA TODAY, WE ARE OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULES. OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THE RULE- MAKING PROCESS AND EFFICIENTLY PUBLISH PROPOSED RULES IN THE TEXAS [2. Rule proposals] REGISTER. THIS CONCLUDES AGENDA ITEM 1. WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 2. AGENDA ITEM 2 IS RULE PROPOSALS. THE RULES ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS ON THE AGENDA. AGENDA ITEM 2A IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD THAT HAS CLOSED. THERE ARE NO RULE PROPOSALS LISTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 2A1. WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 2B, RULE PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE "TEXAS REGISTER" FOR PUBLICATION AND IN WHICH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REQUIRED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT HAS NOT ENDED AS OF THE DATE OF THIS COUNSEL MEETING. DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE RULES IN AGENDA ITEM 2B? IF COUNSEL MEMBERS HAVE NO QUESTIONS, I OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS KATE BROWN, ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT CARDS? >> EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER YOUNG, THERE IS ONE PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRANT FOR 2B3. AT THIS TIME, TESSA RAGLAN WILL READ THE RULES SUMMARY FOR 2B3. >> RULE 25-RO 33. ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES PROPOSES AMENDMENTS, A REPEAL AND NEW RULES IN TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TITLED 25 PART ONE CHAPTER 265. GENERAL SANITATION SUBCHAPTER B CONCERNING TEXAS YOUTH CAMPS SAFETY AND HEALTH, THE REPEAL OF THE TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TITLE 25, PART ONE, CHAPTER 265, GENERAL SANITATION SUBCHAPTER C CONCERNING MIGRANT LABOR HOUSING FACILITIES AND A NEW RULE IN TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE TITLE 25, PART 1, CHAPTER 3, CONCERNING ADVISORY COMMITTEES COUNCILS AND BOARDS. THE PROPOSAL IS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT SENATE BILL 1 AND HOUSE BILL 1, 89TH LEGISLATURE, SECOND SPECIAL SESSION, 2025, THAT AMENDED HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE CHAPTER 141. SENATE BILL 1 AND HOUSE BILL 1 REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES TO UPDATE DEFINITION, ADD REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND SUBMISSION OF EMERGENCY PLANS FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE, AND ESTABLISH A MINIMUM CAMPER COUNSELOR OVERNIGHT RATIO. THE BILL ALSO ADDS REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUTH CAMPS TOTO THE DEPARTMENT OF STRUCTURE OF MODIFICATIONS AND SUBMIT RENEWAL APPLICATIONS FOR CERTAIN CAMP UPDATES. THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES AND YOUTH CAMP OPERATOR CREATES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE. PROPOSED RULE INCREASES LICENSE FEES FOR DAY AND RESIDENTIAL YOUTH CAMPS AS REQUIRED BY SENATE BILL 5. THE RULES ALSO AMEND COMPOSITION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS FOR CAMPERS. LASTLY, SUBCHAPTER C IS NO LONGER UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES AND WILL BE REPEALED. OUR RESOURCES DOCTOR TIMOTHY STEVENSON. I RETURN THE FLOOR BACK TO YOU. >> COMMISSIONER YOUNG, THIS IS KALA BROWN. I'LL READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT LOGISTICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS NOW. >> THANK YOU. >> HEALTH AND HUMAN AS MUCH ASS COMMISSION AND CLINS OMPLIANCE PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS COUNSEL MEMBERS FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. EACH COMMENTER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS. THE TIMER WILL REFLECT YELLOW WHEN YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE REMAINING AND RED WHEN TIME IS UP. YOU MUST CONCLUDE YOUR REMARKS. PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT TIME LIMITATIONS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE SHARED. AS A [00:10:01] REMINDER, COMMENTERS MUST COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS REGARDING ACCESS USER DISCLOSURE OF HEALTH INFORMATION OR OTHER SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION. THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO TITLE 42, CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 2, WHICH RESTRICTS THE USE OF INFORMATION PERTAINING DRUGS -- ALCOHOL USE AND TREATMENT AND TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 611 116, WHICH RESTRICTS DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OR RECORDS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL ON MR. DAN NEIL. MR. NEIL, YOU SHOULD BE IN PRESENTER MODE NOW AND IF YOU CAN TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND MICROPHONE, PLEASE. ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE THAT MR. NEIL IS STILL IN THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? >> HE IS STILL IN THE PLATFORM. AND HE IS IN PRESENTER MODE, BUT IT IS SHOWING THAT HE IS MUTED AND I DON'T SEE A CAMERA ON EITHER. >> THANK YOU. MR. NEIL, CAN YOU PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE TO BEGIN COMMENT? MR. NEIL? CAN YOU PLEASE TURN ON YOUR CAMERA AND UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT? WE DO SEE THAT YOU ARE IN THE VIRTUAL TEAMS PLATFORM. MR. NEIL? THIS IS KALA BROWN AGAIN WITH THE ADVISORYADVISORY COORDINATION OFFICE. PLEASE TURN ON -- >> CAN YOU -- >> YES, SIR. YES, SIR. WE HEAR YOU AND SEE YOU NOW. PLEASE PROCEED. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER YOUNG, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SERVICE AND REALLY WISH YOU THE BEST AS YOU CONTINUE ON AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW CHAPTER THAT IS IN FRONT OF US WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP. I -- MY NAME IS DAN NEIL. I AM OWNER/OPERATOR OF CAMP DOUBLE CREEK, A LOCAL SUMMER CAMP HERE IN AUSTIN. I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF CAMPING ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL PROGRESS. THIS IS A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF CAMPS ACROSS TEXAS. AND OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION FOR CAMPS BY COLLABORATION, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY WITH THE PRIORITY OF CAMPER SAFETY. WITH PRIORITIZING CAMPER SAFETY, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID AND FOCUSING ON THE SAFETY OF YOUTH CAMPS IN TEXAS, THROUGH HOUSE BILL 1 AND SB 1, AND WE WANT TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT WE VALUE THE WORK THAT DISH AND HHSC HAS DONE IN GETTING THESE RULES UP AND IMPLEMENTING THEM AND BEING TRANSPARENT WITH US IN TRYING TO GIVE US EVEN SOME FEEDBACK AS STAKEHOLDERS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS AND THINGS THAT YOU DID THERE. WHILE WE SUPPORT THE OVERALL GOALS OF THE RULES, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT GIVE US SOME PAUSE OR THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ON. IN PARTICULAR, THERE ARE TWO BIG ITEMS HERE. THAT IS THE FIBER BROADBAND, AND THE FEES. RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY OUR MEMBERS ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION AND THEY ARE GOING TO SUBMIT THAT IN THIS FORMAL COMMENT PERIOD. AND SO, NO NEED FOR ME TO DIVE INTO ALL OF THOSE THINGS HERE TODAY. AND I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT AS YOU KNOW, CAMP IS NOT REALLY A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH. SO TO HEAR FROM EACH CAMP IS, I THINK, VERY IMPORTANT. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE SHARE IN THE GOALS OF SAFETY, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH DSHS AND HHSC AS WE MOVE INTO THIS SUMMER '26 CAMP SEASON. WE ASK THAT THERE BE AN EMPHASIS ON CLARITY AND CONCISE AND REALISTIC TIMELINES AS WE GET INTO THIS. WE'RE ENTERING INTO '26 VERY RAPIDLY HERE AS WE HIT THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND BEFORE [00:15:01] YOU KNOW IT, CAMP SEASON WILL BE UPON US AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT IS BEING ASKED, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE CHALLENGE. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT TO DO AND SO WE JUST ASK THAT YOU -- YOU GIVE US SOME REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND TIMELINES THERE. CMP IS EXCITED TO WORK WITH EVERYONE AND IN A PRACTICAL AND CONSISTENT AND FOCUSED MANNER TO EMPHASIZE CAMPER SAFETY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO OFFER EXPERIENCES TO ENRICH TEXAS FAMILIES AS WE MOVE INTO 2026. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER YOUNG, THIS CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGISTRANTS FOR AGENDA ITEM 2B3, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM 2C, THE RULE PROPOSALS UNDER AGENDA ITEM 2C HAVE NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE "TEXAS REGISTER" FOR PUBLICATION AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT. THERE ARE NO RULE PROPOSALS LISTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 2C. [3. Recent Rule Adoptions - Information item not for discussion] THIS WILL CONCLUDE AGENDA ITEM 2. NEXT TO AGENDA ITEM 3. THE RULES LISTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 3 HAVE EITHER BEEN SUBMITTED FOR ADOPTION OR PUBLISHED AS ADOPTED IN THE "TEXAS REGISTER" SINCE NOVEMBER 20TH, 2025 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING. AND ARE PROVIDED FOR YOUR INFORMATION. THAT BRINGS US TO AGENDA ITEM 4, AND CONCLUDES ALL BUSINESS ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT AT 10:17 A.M., THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.