Debra Hawes Email and Phone Number

Office of Mental Health Coordination

Office of Health Coordination and Consumer Services

• Assist in building the DFPS Government Relations and Volunteer and Community Engagement Program.• Plan and oversee upcoming initiatives related to legislative session. Review proposed legislation, interim charges and attend hearings for potential impact to DFPS and HHS. • Professionally manage the role of agency liaison with Congressional, Senate, and House legislative offices and their constituency and stakeholder organizations to respond speedily to requests and provide appropriate information or services. Meet with legislative staff at own discretion.• Prepare executive level presentations, briefings, bill analysis, legislative summary documents, and specialized research material for executives, legislative offices and committees, the HHS-enterprise, and the public. • Facilitate, coordinate, and approve agency responses with program staff to develop accurate, concise, consistent, and cogent responses to requests for information. Skillfully handle with care and discreetness - consumer inquiries, consumer relations, external affairs and communications. • Provide guidance to agency staff in preparing for the legislative session including Sunset and manage multiple complex and sensitive projects during the interim. • Implementation of new laws and statutes into the agency after legislative session. Tracking and monitoring reports from the agency to the legislature.• Extensive travel with Commissioner and executive staff. Build and maintain relationships with legislative and stakeholder organizations while traveling.• Guide, plan and develop policy and procedures for developing, maintaining, and improving civic and service partnerships with the goal of improving services to clients.• Interact routinely with DFPS staff at all levels, other governmental or private agencies, community leaders, corporate interests, advocacy and volunteer organizations.

Create legislative agenda for Senator by bill drafting, tracking, and successfully carrying bill through legislative process from Senate to House. Meet with stakeholders and interest groups to craft legislation. Recommend and ascertain respective House member to co-sponsor legislation. Strategize and prepare for Senate floor debate by writing speeches, questions and answers, anticipate and alleviate complications before they arise prior to debate, draft amendments on the Senate floor, speedily grasp policy concepts and summarize.* Build and maintain external relations with legislative leaders, private sector, organizations, associations, media, and House and Senate staff members.* Manage legislative staff of 13 and supervise daily operations of Capitol office in Austin, including budget, assigning and reviewing tasks, as well as personnel administrative duties. Promote a work environment that is conductive to open communications, group problem-solving, and team-building.* Serve as governmental liaison between constituents and Texas agencies to resolve issues quickly and effectively. Use Federal, State and local level government to provide a resolution to their queries.* Independently manage media communications, press releases, media advisory, and prepare talking points.* Responsible for issues arising from the Senator’s appointments on the Senate Intergovernmental Relations, Government Organizations, Health and Human Services, Education, Jurisprudence, and Redistricting Committees, in addition to all issues pertaining to the Senate Finance, Natural Resources and Business and Commerce Committees. Familiar with the appropriation process for the State of Texas and work on Senator's Sub-committee on Flooding and Evacuations to develop legislation and aid in drafting committee report.* Travel extensively to senate district to meet with community representatives, local office holders, and civic organizations to engage public.

Conducted research on immigration, family and personal injury legal issues.Prepared immigration petitions for clients of the firm.Prepared case summaries on pertinent immigration legal decisions.Served as a translator for Spanish-speaking clients during court hearings.Responsible for all client correspondence, teleconferences, and appointments for case conferences.