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Office of the Texas Governor, Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities to Meet in Waco, Texas on January 21-22, 2026

The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) welcomes all Texans to join us for our quarterly meeting on January 21-22, 2026, in Waco, Texas. Attendees have the options of joining the meeting in person or virtually. To participate virtually, registration through the Zoom links below is required.

*January 21 & 22, 2026 *

*Wednesday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. *

*Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.*

*Texas Workforce Solutions for the Heart of Texas *

*1416 S. New Road *

*Room #100 *

*Waco, Texas 76711*

*Zoom Registration Link*

January 21st Zoom link: [link removed] 

January 22nd Zoom link: [link removed] 

In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, the meeting agenda [ [link removed] ] is posted in the Texas Register on the Secretary of State’s website.

A public meeting of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities will be conducted under Texas Government Code Section 551.127, related to meetings involving members joining by videoconference call. It is the intent of the Committee to have the chairperson present in Waco, Texas. This location will be open to the public during the open portions of the meeting. Other members of the Committee will join by videoconference from separate locations.

Members of the public will also have access to a live audiovisual stream of the meeting in addition to the option to be physically present at the location. The Committee will record the video and audio of the meeting and make the recording available upon request. Email requests to [email protected]. For questions, contact (512) 463-5739 or email [email protected] <[email protected]>.__

 

Meeting Materials Available at: [link removed]

*Day One – January 21, 2026*

1. *Call to Order/ Roll Call and Introductions (begin recording)*, Ellen Bauman, Chair

2. *Approval of Committee Member Absences as Submitted* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

3. *Approval of Summary Minutes for October 2025* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

4. *Listening to the Waco Disability Community* (15 minutes per presentation)

     a. Waco Committee for People with Disabilities – Kristen Padilla, Chair

     b. Heart of Texas Center for Independent Living – Melissa Ingriola, Executive Director

     c. The Arc of McLennan County – Coleen Heaton, Executive Director

     d. City of Waco Police Department Take Me Home Program – Susie Murray, CMCP

*BREAK*

5. *Public Comment* (3 minutes per presentation)

6. *Reports from Invited Ex Officio Agency Representatives, includes follow up topics from previous meetings* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

     a. Department of Family and Protective Services – Hector Ortiz

     b. Texas Department of Criminal Justice – Emily Eisenman

     c. Texas Commission on Jail Standards – Ricky Armstrong

     d. Texas Education Agency – Elyse Lieberman

     e. Texas Workforce Commission  – Lisa Givens

     f. Health and Human Services Commission – Clair Benitez

*LUNCH*

7. *Policy Recommendation on Rule-Making Authority for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on Accessibility of Consumptive Recreation Programs* – Jessica Burke, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ("Discussion/Possible Action")

8. *Residential Solution for People with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness – Marilyn Hartman, Co-chair of Advocacy Committee at NAMI Central Texas* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

*BREAK *

9. *Consumer Directed Services (CDS) Renewals for Consumers on the 1915c Waivers – Linda Litzinger, Leadership and Advocacy Director, Texas Parent to Parent* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

10. *Executive Director Report* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

     a. Subcommittee Reports

     b. Community Outreach

     c. Public Policy Update

     d. Sunset Commission Updates for GCPD

     e. Establish a GCPD Workgroup on STAR-PLUS Waiver Assessment Errors and Add a Second Proposal to Resolve Delayed Payments for Attendants

11. *Recess* – Ellen Bauman, Chair

*Day Two – January 22, 2026*

12. *Reconvene* – Ellen Bauman, Chair

13. *Roll Call / Committee Member Absences*

14. *Public Comment* (3 minutes per presentation)

15. *Protecting Access to Care: TexMEP Recommendations for Updating Durable Medical Equipment Reimbursement* – Mark Gowan and Victoria Peterson, Texas Medical Equipment Providers Association ("Discussion/Possible Action")

16. *Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption Clarification Policy Proposal* – Matt Dickens and Angelique Prandecki ("Discussion/Possible Action")

*BREAK*

17. *2024 Special Education Language Acquisition Report and Combined State Plan* – Emily Heise, Statewide Coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Texas Education Agency ("Discussion/Possible Action")

18. *Policy Discussion from Past Public Comment, Discussions, and Meetings* ("Discussion/Possible        Action")

     a. K-12 Braille Literacy Work Group Revisions – Ron Lucey, Neva Fairchild

     b. Follow Up on Access to Special Education Healthcare Transition Planning Policy Recommendation – GCPD Staff

20. *Individual Member Reports on Outreach* ("Discussion")

21. *Future Agenda Items and Meeting Locations* ("Discussion/Possible Action")

22. *Adjournment* – Ellen Bauman, Chair

*Notice of Assistance at Public Meetings*

The Committee will provide Communication Access Real-time Translation (CART) and American Sign Language Interpretation for this meeting. Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need assistance, such as materials in an alternate format, contact the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting. Phone: 512-463-5739 E-mail: [email protected] <[email protected]>__

 



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