MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION
Tuesday, April 8, 1997
7:45 am
Senate Admin. Comte. Rm. E1.714
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Administration was held on Tuesday, April 8, 1997 in Senate
Admin. Comte. Rm. E1.714, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Chris Harris None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator David Sibley
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:50 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The Chair laid out SCR 46 and recognized the author, Senator
Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Senator Ratliff stated that Senator Armbrister had sponsored a
bill last session for a portrait of President Bush. He asked
Rick Crawford, Executive Director of the State Preservation
Board, if there had been any action taken on the portrait and
if anyone else had a portrait and a bust. Mr. Crawford
answered that the family had not approved a portrait at this
time and that we had a portrait and a bust for President
Lyndon Johnson. Senator Truan moved that SCR 46 be reported
favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 7
ayes, 0 nays. Senator Ratliff moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar,
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1288 and recognized the author, Senator
Sibley, to explain the bill.
Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption. The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays.
Senator Truan sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption. The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays.
Senator Sibley moved that SB 1288, as amended, be reported
back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and
be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays.
Senator Harris moved to reconsider the vote that it do pass
and be printed, Senator Sibley so moved. The motion carried
with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays. Senator Sibley moved that SB
1288, as amended, be reported favorably to the full Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and NOT be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays. Senator
Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1751 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Senator Armbrister explained the bill and sent up Committee
Amendment 1. Carolyn B. Hall, a resource witness with Texas
Legislative Council, answered questions. Senator Moncrief
moved adoption. The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0
nays. Senator Armbrister moved that SB 1751,as amended, be
reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and NOT be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays. Senator Harris moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar,
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1807 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 1807, as amended, be reported
back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and
NOT be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0
nays. Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Harris asked Rick Crawford, Executive Director of the
State Preservation Board, to briefly update the committee on
the parking garage plans. Mr. Crawford gave the committee a
letter and report, which included locations, costs and plans
to finance the project. There was discussion. Senator
Armbrister asked that the committee look at the possibility of
a bill that would charge UT and/or persons attending UT events
for the use of state parking garages. This will be
investigated.
Senator Harris informed the committee of a situation where
some members are taking a cab from their home to the airport,
instead of getting a ride or driving their car and leaving it
at the airport. This has historically not been reimbursed as
constitutional travel. The consensus of the committee was not
to reimburse for this expense.
The next order of business was to consider and certify the
bills recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested
Calendar. Senator Harris informed the members that SB 1134/
Whitmire and SB 1352/Truan had been heard on the floor,
Monday, 4/7/97. He stated that he was pulling SB 937 from the
calendar and asked Senator Armbrister about the fiscal note on
SB 143. Senator Armbrister explained what was happening with
the bill and there was discussion. There was discussion on
other bills. Senator Moncrief moved to certify all the bills
listed with the exception of SB 820/West, SB 937/Harris, SB
1059/Moncrief and SB 1112/Ellis. The motion carried with a
vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays.
Senator Harris asked Carleton Turner to tell the committee
about the problem with Senate offices reserving seats in the
gallery. The committee consensus was that offices can reserve
seats for 15 minutes into session and then the seats can be
opened up to the public.
Senator Harris informed the committee about the letter that
went out Friday, 4/4/97 letting the members know about
upcoming trips/conferences and some of the cost of airfare and
hotels. There was discussion and the committee will look at
this again at another meeting.
There being no further business, Senator Harris moved that the
Committee be recessed subject to the call of the Chair.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Chris Harris, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk