House Committee on Judicial Affairs
75th Legislature
August 7, 1998
10:00 am
Liberty City Council Chambers, Liberty, Texas
Pursuant to a notice posted on July 24, 1998, the House
Committee on Judicial Affairs met in a public hearing and was
called to order by the Chair, Representative Senfronia
Thompson at 10:26 am.
The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Thompson; Hartnett; Crabb; Zbranek
(4).
Absent: Representatives Clark; Garcia; Luna, Vilma; Shields;
Solis (5).
The Chair swore in all witnesses.
The Chair recognized Justice Earl B. "Smokey" Stover, Ninth
Court of Appeals Judge, representing himself and his
profession to testify for appellate court redistricting.
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to testify
neutrally on the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) of
the Attorney General's Office:
Tamara Courtney, representing herself;
Patricia A. Harris, representing herself;
Melody Peck, representing herself;
Lavon Hensley, representing herself;
Laura Hornton, representing herself;
(Representative Luna now present.)
Victoria H. Pero, Field Officer with the Child Support
Enforcement Division of the Attorney General's Office,
representing herself and her occupation;
Cleve Halliburton, Field Officer with the Child Support
Enforcement Division of the Attorney General's Office,
representing himself and his occupation;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the Child Support Enforcement
Division of the Attorney General's Office, representing
himself and his occupation;
Arlene Pace, Assistant Director, Governmental Relations
Division of the Office of the Attorney General, representing
herself and her occupation;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the Child Support Enforcement
Division of the Attorney General's Office, representing
himself and his occupation, for further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony;
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony;
Victoria H. Pero, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office
of the Attorney General, representing herself and her
occupation, for further testimony;
Terry Orick, Field Officer with the CSED of the Office of the
Attorney General, representing himself and his occupation, for
further testimony; and,
Gary Michael Rashall, representing himself, for further
testimony.
The Chair recognized W. Frank Newton, Chair, Supreme Court
Jury Task Force, representing himself and his occupation, to
testify neutrally on the jury task force report.
The Chair recognized Jay Briggs, representing himself to
testify neutrally on the Child Support Enforcement Division of
the Attorney General's Office.
Bonnie Dool, representing herself, did not testify neutrally
on the child support enforcement but the Chair, with the
consent of the committee, moved to submit her written material
for the record.
At 12:55 pm. on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the Committee on Judicial Affairs recessed until 2:00 pm.
The committee reconvened at 2:04 pm and was called to order by
the chair, Representative Thompson. The roll was answered as
follows:
Present: Representatives Thompson; Hartnett; Crabb; Luna,
Vilma; Zbranek (5).
Absent: Representatives Clark; Garcia; Shields; Solis (4).
A quorum was present.
The Chair recognized Karen Kennard, attorney, representing the
Texas Municipal League to testify neutrally on proposed
Uniform Municipal Court legislation.
The Chair recognized Patrick Johnson, Committee Counsel,
Judicial Affairs Committee, to explain the Uniform Municipal
Court draft.
The Chair moved to submit the Uniform Municipal Court proposed
act to Legislative Council for final drafting. There were no
objections.
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to testify for
supplemental pay for county attorneys
David Aken, Jr., San Patricio County Attorney, representing
himself and his profession;
Ed Jones, Angelina County Attorney, representing himself and
his profession;
(swore in) Tom Holleman, Leon County Attorney, representing
himself and his profession; and,
Tom Krampitz, Director, District & County Attorneys
Association, representing the District & County Association.
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to testify
neutrally on the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) of
the Attorney General's Office:
Cindy Groomer, District Clerk for Potter County, representing
herself and the County & District Clerks' Association of
Texas;
Grover Mitchell, telephone specialist with the Child Support
Enforcement Division of the Attorney Generals' Office,
representing the CSED of the AG's office;
David Garcia, representing himself and the CSED of the AG's
office;
Karla Rodriguez, computer system specialist with the CSED of
the AG's office, representing the CSED of the AG's office;
Arlene Pace, Assistant Director, Governmental Relations
Division of the Office of the Attorney General, representing
herself and her occupation, for further testimony;
Karla Rodriguez, computer system specialist with the CSED of
the AG's office, representing the CSED of the AG's office, for
further testimony;
Victoria H. Pero, Field Officer with the CSED of the AG's
office, representing herself and her occupation, for further
testimony; and,
David Bercerra, payment processing specialist with the CSED
of the AG's office, representing himself and his occupation.
The following witnesses did not testify neutrally on the Child
Support Enforcement Division of the Attorney General's office:
Clint & Stephanie Brist, representing themselves.
The following witness did not testify neutrally on, but was
available as a resource witness on the subject of visiting
judges:
Denise Davis, representing the Texas Judicial Council,
Committee on Visiting Judges.
There being no further witnesses the chair moved that the
committee stand adjourned.
There being no objection, the Committee on Judicial Affairs
adjourned at 3:52 pm.
_____________________
Rep. Senfronia Thompson, Chair
______________________
Milda Mora, Clerk