TX WC Council eliminated after funds slashed

State budget woes are taking a toll on Texas. Recently, the Research and Oversight Council (ROC) on Workers' Compensation announced it would be closing shop after a line item veto of funding by Governor Rick Perry.

Gene Acua, a spokesman in the governor's office, says the governor felt the agency's operation was not cost-justified. The ROC had requested $979,290 for fiscal year 2004 and an additional $979,290 for fiscal year 2005.

Apparently, many of ROC's functions will be transferred to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) through a memorandum of understanding. We'll have to see if the research reports and Texas Monitor continue. The agency's reports can still be found at the former site for now.