MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOPWOOD, STATE CONTRACT
& EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
Tuesday, May 26, 1998
9:30 am
Capitol Extension, Room E1.012
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Hopwood,
State Contract & Employment Practices was held on Tuesday, May
26, 1998 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin,
Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
The Hon. Bob Lanier None
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Frank Madla
Senator Bill Ratliff
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:40 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The Chair recognized each committee member to make opening
remarks regarding the committee or its charge. After opening
remarks were given by Senators Ellis and Barrientos, the Chair
made some comments.
On a motion by Senator Ratliff, seconded by Senator Ellis, and
without objection, the Committee approved its Rules.
The Committee discussed the timeline under which its charges
are to be completed and discussed possible out-of-town meeting
locations.
The Chair called the following witnesses to testify regarding
Hopwood issues in higher education:
Don Brown, PhD, Commissioner, Higher Education
Coordinating Board;
The Hon. Ray Farabee, General Counsel, University of
Texas System;
James Brink, PhD, Vice-Provost and Interim Vice-President
for Enrollment Management, Texas Tech University;
and
Barry B. Thompson, PhD, Chancellor, A&M University.
Delmar L. Cain, General Counsel, A&M University System, and
Sallie Sheppard, Associate Provost, A&M University, registered
as resource witnesses but did not testify.
At 12:30 pm Senator Ellis moved that the Committee stand
recessed until 1:00 p.m. There being no objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair called the Committee back to order at 1:05 p.m. The
Chair recognized Mr. Dennis Duffy, General Counsel, University
of Houston, to testify regarding Hopwood issues in higher
education.
The Chair recognized Mr. Jay Aguilar, Special Assistant
Attorney General, Attorney General's Office, to testify
regarding Hopwood and the U.S. Department of Education Office
of Civil Rights investigation of higher education in Texas.
The Chair recognized Mr. William M. Hale, Executive Director,
Texas Commission on Human Rights, to testify regarding
affirmative action in state employment.
The Chair recognized Mr. Jim Todd, Attorney, Attorney
General's Office, to testify regarding the Messer case.
The Chair recognized the following persons to testify
regarding the Texas Certified Historically Underutilized
Business Program:
Tom Treadway, Executive Director, General Services
Commission
Rolando Fabrega, Director of Business Services, General
Services Commission
The Chair recognized Ms. Carol Ann Smith, State Auditor's
Office, to testify regarding the Audit Report on Compliance
with State Historically Underutilized Business Requirements.
Ms. Robin Smith of the State Auditor's Office registered as a
resource witness but did not testify.
There being no further business, at 4:20 pm Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
________________________
The Hon. Bob Lanier, Chair
________________________
Cheryl Vanek, Clerk