MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, May 8, 1997
9:00 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, May 8, 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 David Sibley
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Royce West
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Judith Zaffirini
At 1:31 pm Senator Moncrief assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 1795 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 1795.
Senator Ratliff moved that HB 1795 be reported favorably to
the full 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 4 absent. Senators Brown and
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. 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 HB 107 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
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. Senator
Ratliff moved adoption of the committee substitute, without
objection, it was so ordered.
Sandy Kibby, representing Texas Congress of Parents and
Teachers, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Senator Ratliff moved that HB 107 do not pass but that CSHB
107 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 4 absent.
Senators Brown and 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. 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 HB 1855 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 1855.
Senator Ratliff moved that HB 1855 be reported favorably to
the full 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 4 absent. Senators Brown and
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. Senator
Ratliff moved that the bill be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 1:35 pm Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 1577 and recognized Senator Truan, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Elbert C. Hutchins, representing Texas Veterinary Medical
Association, testified in favor of the bill.
Ron Allen, representing Texas State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners, testified on the bill.
Senator Truan moved that HB 1577 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 5 absent. Senators Brown, Lucio, Jr.,
and 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.
Senator Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was
so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2411 and recognized Senator Zaffirini,
in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 2411.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2411 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 5 absent. Senators Brown, Lucio, Jr.,
and 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.
Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2923 and recognized Senator Zaffirini,
in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 2923.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2923 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 5 absent. Senators Brown, Lucio, Jr.,
and 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.
Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2933 and recognized Senator Zaffirini,
in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 2933.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2933 be reported favorably to
the full 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 4 absent. Senators Brown and
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. Senator
Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 1112 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.
Senator Truan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Carl P. Borchers, representing Harris County Sheriff's
Office, testified on the bill.
Melinda Hoyle Bozarth, representing Texas Department of
Criminal Justice, testified on the bill.
Tony Fabelo, representing Criminal Justice Policy
Council, testified on the bill.
Laura McElroy, representing Board of Pardons and Paroles,
testified on the bill.
Victor Rodriguez, representing Board of Pardons and
Paroles, testified on the bill.
Wayne Scott, representing Texas Department of Criminal
Justice, testified on the bill.
Jim Allison, representing County Judges and Commissioners
Association of Texas, registered in favor of the bill but
did not testify.
Donald Lee, representing Conference of Urban Counties,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Charles E. Bonney, representing Board of Pardons and
Paroles, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Armbrister moved that HB 1112, 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 11 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 1614 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Patterson, to explain the bill.
Jack Howard, representing Fetzen/Howard Inc., testified
in favor of the bill.
G.M. Miller, representing Star Enterprise, testified in
opposition to the bill.
HB 1614 was left pending.
The Chair laid out HB 621 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Patterson, to explain the bill.
Bill Clayton, representing Texas Chiropractic College,
testified in favor of the bill.
Dr. S.M. Elliott, representing Texas Chiropractic College
- Pasadena, testified in favor of the bill.
Charles Priewe, D.C., representing Texas Chiropractic
College, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Dr. Kenneth S. White, representing Texas Chiropractic
College, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Deborah Ingersoll, representing Parker College of
Chiropractic - Texas Chiropractic College, registered in
favor of the bill but did not testify.
Walter Aymen, representing Texas Chiropractic College,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Sandra N. Mooney, representing Texas Chiropractic
College, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Robert D. Davison, representing Texas Chiropractic
College, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Senator Brown moved that HB 621 be reported favorably to the
full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Brown moved that
the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:05 pm Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 1673 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill.
Robert S. Martin, representing Texas State Library and
Archives Commission, testified on the bill.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 1673 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Armbrister moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:15 pm Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 2214 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. Senator Barrientos sent
up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without
objection, the amendment was adopted.
Teri Flack, representing Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, testified on the bill.
Senator Barrientos moved that HB 2214, 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 11 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 1773 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill.
Sands L. Stiefer, representing Harris County Appraisal
District, testified in favor of the bill.
Senator Barrientos moved that HB 1773 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Barrientos moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2519 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 2519.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2519 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Moncrief moved that
the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 3:40 pm 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