The House Committee on Ways & Means 
         76th Legislature 
         June 30, 2000 
         9:00 p.m. 
         3201 Cullen, Houston, Texas 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on June 14, 2000, the House  
         Committee on Ways & Means met in a public hearing and was called  
         to order by the chair, Representative Oliveira, at 9:16 p.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Oliveira; Bonnen; Davis, Yvonne;  
                   Heflin; Keffer; King, Tracy; Ramsay (7). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives McCall; Craddick; Hilbert; Sadler (4). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Tax Structure Changes 
          
         The chair laid out the interim charge to: 
          
              Identify and list the specific changes to the tax structure  
              that would: 
              (1)  produce the most positive effect on the gross state  
                   product; 
              (2)  produce the most positive effect on the creation and  
                   retention of jobs that pay a living wage; 
              (3)  most benefit troubled or declining industries, such as  
                   agriculture and oil production; 
              (4)  promote enhanced tax equity, including mitigation of  
                   the regressivity of the current tax structure; and 
              (5)  address loopholes that permit certain classes of  
                   taxpayers to avoid equitable taxation. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         The chair laid out the interim charge to: 
              Review the tax exemptions and credits approved by the 76th  
              Legislature, including S.B. 441 and the emergency severance  
              tax measures, and evaluate their success in achieving  
              legislative goals. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         At 12:43 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned until 1:51 p.m., July 14, 2000. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Oliveira, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
  
         J.J. Garza, Clerk