MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, March 20, 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 Thursday, March 20, 1997 in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Judith Zaffirini
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator David Sibley
Senator Royce West
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:30 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
At 9:31 am Senator Truan assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 1706 and recognized the author, Senator
Ratliff, to explain the bill. Senator Ratliff sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Ratliff to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed.
William G. Burnett, representing Texas Department of
Transportation, testified on the bill.
T.C. Mallett, representing Comptroller's Office,
registered but did not testify on the bill.
C.M English, Jr., representing United Transportation
Union, registered but did not testify in favor of the
bill.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 1706 do not pass but that CSSB
1706 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. The
Chair announced that Senators Lucio and Zaffirini requested
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the previous
motion; without objection, the final vote was 10 ayes, 1 nay,
0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 1898 and recognized the author, Senator
Ratliff, to explain the bill. Senator Ratliff sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Ratliff to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed.
Gregory M. Ellis, representing Edwards Aquifer Authority,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 1898 do not pass but that CSSB
1898 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair announced that Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous
consent to be shown voting aye on the previous motion; without
objection, the final vote was 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 2 absent.
The Committee recessed at 10:00 am until 30 minutes on
adjournment of the Senate.
At 1:10 pm the Committee reconvened and Senator Ratliff
resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 745 and recognized the author, Senator
Carona, to explain the bill. Senator Moncrief sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Carona to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed.
Jim Bisson, representing Texas Department of
Transportation, registered but did not testify on the
bill.
Jerry Dike, representing Texas Department of
Transportation, registered but did not testify on the
bill.
Senator Nelson moved that SB 745 do not pass but that CSSB 745
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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. The Chair
announced that Senators Barrientos and Lucio requested
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the previous
motion; without objection, the final vote was 11 ayes, 0 nays,
0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 770 and recognized the author, Senator
Moncrief, to explain the bill.
Sally Hanners, representing Texas Dental Association,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Bob Robinson, representing Texas Dental Peer Assistance
Program, registered but did not testify on the bill.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 770 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, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. The Chair announced that
Senators Barrientos, Lucio and West requested unanimous
consent to be shown voting aye on the previous motion; without
objection, the final vote was 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 2 absent. Senator Moncrief requested unanimous
consent to certify the bill for Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 515 and recognized the author, Senator
Moncrief, to explain the bill. Senator Moncrief sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Moncrief to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator Moncrief requested unanimous
consent to incorporate amendments into the committee
substitute. Senator Moncrief then moved that the new
committee substitute be adopted.
Edward Seidenberg, representing Texas State Library,
testified on the bill.
James Smith, representing Comptroller's Office, testified
on the bill.
Eugene Stockton, representing North Texas Regional
Library System, testified in favor of the bill.
Lynne Handy, representing North Texas Regional Library
System, registered but did not testify in favor of the
bill.
Judy Schepis, representing North Texas Regional Library
System, registered but did not testify in favor of the
bill.
Mark Smith, representing Texas Library Association,
registered but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 515 do not pass but that CSSB
515 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair announced that Senator Lucio requested unanimous
consent to be shown voting aye on the previous motion; without
objection, the final vote was 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 2 absent. Senator Moncrief requested unanimous
consent to certify the bill for Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:40 pm Senator Truan assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 581 and recognized the author, Senator
Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 581 be reported favorably to the
full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent.
At 1:55 pm Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 1:55 pm Senator Ratliff
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
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