MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, May 15, 1997
9:00 a.m. or Upon Adjournment of the Senate
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 15, 1997 in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff Senator Kenneth
Armbrister
Senator Carlos Truan Senator Royce West
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jeff Wentworth
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator David Sibley
Senator Judith Zaffirini
The Chair announced that public testimony would be heard on
the following bills and a time certain would be set for 4:15
p.m. to allow committee members to return and vote on all
bills. Members were later notified that the time certain had
changed to 3:30 p.m.
The Chair laid out HB 2798 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Carona, to explain the bill.
Jeanne Talerico, representing Texas Bond Review Board,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
The Chair announced that HB 2798 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Zaffirini
moved that HB 2798 be reported back 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, 1 present not voting,
and 3 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 767 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lindsay, to explain the bill. Senator Moncrief sent
up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator
Lindsay to explain the difference between the committee
substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Moncrief moved
adoption of the committee substitute, without objection, it
was so ordered.
Joe Papick, representing the Department of Protective and
Regulatory Services, registered on the bill but did not
testify.
The Chair announced that HB 767 would be left pending to await
a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved that
HB 767 do not pass but that CSHB 767 be reported back to the
full 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 3 absent. Senator Bivins 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 1518 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 1518.
The Chair announced that HB 1518 would be left pending to
await a quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon
arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved that HB 1518 be
reported back to the full Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion failed with a vote of 6
ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 6 absent. The Chair
announced that HB 1518 would be left pending to await the
arrival of other members.
The Chair laid out HB 846 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.
Shanna Igo, representing the Texas Municipal League,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Susan Wendel, representing the Texas Association of
Counties, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
The Chair announced that HB 846 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator
Zaffirini moved that HB 846 be reported back to the full
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 3 absent. Senator Bivins
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 Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2252 and recognized the Senate
sponsor, Senator Truan, to explain the bill. Senator
Truan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Cindy Alexander, representing the Office of the
Comptroller of Public Accounts, testified on the bill.
Kermit Black, representing Texas A&M University,
testified on the bill.
Ruth Cedillo, representing the Texas Department of
Housing and Community Affairs, testified on the bill.
Yesenia Ayala, representing The University of Texas - Pan
American, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Marcy Contreras, representing Progreso Residents,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Mario Galvan, representing Progreso Primary, registered
in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Victor M. Hernandez, representing The University of Texas
- Pan American, registered in favor of the bill but did
not testify.
Leonardo Olivares, representing The University of Texas -
Pan American, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Walter W. Wendler, representing Texas A&M University,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
The Chair announced that HB 2252 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved
that HB 2252, as amended, be reported back to the full 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 4 absent.
The Chair laid out HB 733 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.
Corie Caldarola, representing the Office of the
Comptroller of Public Accounts , testified on the bill.
The Chair announced that HB 733 would be left pending to await
a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Barrientos moved
that HB 733 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Barrientos moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar,
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:11 pm Senator Truan assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 2157 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Jim Reynolds, representing Texas Ticket Brokers
Association, testified in favor of the bill.
Karey Barton, representing the Office of the Comptroller
of Public Accounts, registered on the bill but did not
testify.
The Chair announced that HB 2157 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth
moved that HB 2157 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar,
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 571 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 571.
The Chair announced that HB 571 would be left pending to await
a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Barrientos moved
that HB 571 be reported back 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 Bivins and Lucio, Jr. 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 Barrientos moved
that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:30 p.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 65 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Senator Ratliff sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 65.
The Chair announced that HB 65 would be left pending to await
a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved that
HB 65, as amended, be reported back 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 Bivins and Lucio, Jr. 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 HB 3027 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
David Durden, representing the Texas Department of
Insurance, testified on the bill.
Jay Thompson, representing the Medical Protective
Company, testified in favor of the bill.
The Chair announced that HB 3027 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved
that HB 3027 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Brown 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 2799 and recognized Senator Barrientos,
in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Senator Barrientos sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Susan Anderson, representing Government Treasurers
Organization of Texas, registered in favor of the bill
but did not testify.
Kathy Hynson, representing County Treasurers Association
of Texas, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Susan Wendel, representing Texas Association of Counties,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
The Chair announced that HB 2799 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Barrientos
moved that HB 2799, as amended, be reported back to the full
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 3 absent. Senator Brown 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 HB 2747 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill.
Rey Garcia, representing Texas Association of Community
Colleges, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
The Chair announced that HB 2747 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr.
moved that HB 2747 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Bivins 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 Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar,
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2564 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill.
No witnesses appeared for, against, or on HB 2564.
The Chair announced that HB 2564 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr.
moved that HB 2564 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Bivins 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 Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar,
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 99 and recognized Senator Lucio, Jr., in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Tom A. Jones, representing Sprint, testified on the bill.
Tom Millwee, representing the Texas Department of Public
Safety, testified on the bill.
Henry Flores, representing the Texas Telephone
Association, registered on the bill but did not testify.
The Chair announced that HB 99 would be left pending to await
a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved that
HB 99, as amended, be reported back 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 Bivins and Lucio, Jr. 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 HB 3250 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Robert L. Trimble, representing the Humane Society of
Greater Dallas, testified in favor of the bill.
The Chair announced that HB 3250 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth
moved that HB 3250 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Brown 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 SCR 71 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in
the absence of the author, to explain the bill.
Robert Cuellar, representing the Texas Department of
Transportation, testified on the bill.
The Chair announced that SCR 71 would be left pending.
At 2:57 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 1209 and recognized Senator Ratliff, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.
Andrea Cowan, representing the Office of the Comptroller
of Public Accounts, registered on the bill but did not
testify.
The Chair announced that HB 1209 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved
that HB 1209 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Bivins 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 2778 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.
Carl Reynolds, representing Texas Board of Criminal
Justice, registered on the bill but did not testify.
The Chair announced that HB 2778 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved
that HB 2778 do not pass but that CSHB 2778 be reported back
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 Bivins and Brown
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.
At 3:00 p.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 3203, which had been left pending during
a previous hearing, and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator
Duncan, to explain the bill.
Senator Zaffirini sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Eric Craven, representing Texas Electric Cooperatives,
testified in favor of the bill.
The Chair announced that HB 3203 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Bivins
moved that HB 3203, as amended, be reported back to the full
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 3 absent.
At 3:05 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 3189 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Jayna Burgdorf, representing Texas Parks and Wildlife,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Andrew Sansom, representing Texas Parks and Wildlife,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
The Chair announced that HB 3189 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Bivins
moved that HB 3189 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Brown 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 Bivins moved that the bill be recommended
for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:07 p.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 3271 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Truan, to explain the bill.
Robert R. Furgason, representing Texas A&M University -
Corpus Christi, testified on the bill.
The Chair announced that HB 3271 would be left pending to
await a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Truan moved
that HB 3271 be reported back to the full 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 3 absent. Senator Brown 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.
There being no further business, at 3:35 p.m. 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