MINUTES
         
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
                            Monday, February 24, 1997
                                     9:30 am
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
         
                                      *****
         
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was 
         held on Monday, February 24, 1997 in the Capitol Extension, 
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.  
         
                                      *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Bill Ratliff                    Senator Teel Bivins
         Senator Carlos Truan
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
         Senator J.E. Brown
         Senator Mike Moncrief
         Senator Jane Nelson
         Senator David Sibley
         Senator Jeff Wentworth
         Senator Judith Zaffirini
         
                                      *****
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:  
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
         Senator Royce West
         
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:35 am.  There being 
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted. 
         
         The Chair laid out SB 244 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         
              Samuel Bier, representing Veterans of Foreign War, 
              testified in favor of the bill.
              Jane Caldwell, representing Texas Higher Education 
              Coordinating Board, testified on the bill.
              Don McDonald, representing Self, registered but did not 
              testify in favor of the bill.
              Joe Rodriguez, representing Self, registered but did not 
              testify in favor of the bill.
         
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 244 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 474 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Ogden, to explain the bill.  Senator Sibley sent up a 
         committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Ogden to 
 
         





         explain the difference between the committee substitute and 
         the bill.
         
              James L. Reid, representing Self, testified in favor of 
              the bill.
              Jane Caldwell, representing Texas Higher Education 
              Coordinating Board, registered but did not testify on the 
              bill.
         
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 474 do not pass but that CSSB 
         474 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation 
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a 
         vote of 9 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  
         After the vote was recorded, the Chair announced that Senators 
         Armbrister, Bivins, and West requested unanimous consent to be 
         shown voting aye on the previous motion; without objection, 
         the final vote was 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 
         1 absent.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 584 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Ogden, to explain the bill.  
         
              Terry Boucher, representing Texas Osteopathic Medical 
              Association, testified on the bill.
              Daffney Henry, representing Texas Department of 
              Transportation, testified on the bill.
              Cassie Carlson Reed, representing Texas Department of 
              Transportation, testified on the bill.
              Walter Hinojosa, representing Texas AFL-CIO, testified in 
              opposition to the bill.
              Cathy J. Williams, representing Texas Department of 
              Transportation, registered but did not testify on the 
              bill.
         
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 584 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         At 10:50 am Senator Truan assumed the chair.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 581 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Ratliff, to explain the bill.  
         
              Kimberly Kiplin, representing Texas Lottery Commission, 
              testified on the bill.
              James Rinn, representing Texas Lottery Commission, 
              testified on the bill.
         
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 581 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 582 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Ratliff, to explain the bill.  
         
              David Garlick, representing Texas Railroad Commission, 
              testified on the bill.
 
         





              Jimmy W. Bradshaw, representing Tipro, NTOGA, Bettis, 
              Boyle & Stovall, registered but did not testify in favor 
              of the bill.
              Dan Hinkle, representing Burlington Resources, registered 
              but did not testify in favor of the bill.
              Steve Melzer, representing Permian Basin Petro 
              Association, registered but did not testify in favor of 
              the bill.
              Steve Perry, representing Texaco, registered but did not 
              testify in favor of the bill.
              Ken Rigsbee, representing Phillips Petroleum Company, 
              registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
              Dan Robertson, representing ARCO Permian, registered but 
              did not testify in favor of the bill.
              Ben Sebree, representing Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas 
              Association, registered but did not testify in favor of 
              the bill.
              Jack M. Wilhelm, representing Mobil Oil Corporation, 
              registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
         
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 582 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 1 
         present not voting, and 4 absent.  After the vote was 
         recorded, the Chair announced that Senators Armbrister and 
         Bivins requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on 
         the previous motion; without objection, the final vote was 10 
         ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 2 absent.
         
         At 11:08 am Senator Ratliff assumed the chair.  
         
         There being no further business, at 11:10 am Senator Ratliff 
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of 
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.  
         
         
         
         
         ______________________                       
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
         
         ______________________
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk