MINUTES 
                                           
                  SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS 
                            Thursday, December 16, 1999 
                                     9:00 a.m. 
                           City of McAllen, Civic Center 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Intergovernmental Relations was held on Thursday, December 16,  
         1999, in the City of McAllen, Civic Center 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Frank Madla                     Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Jon Lindsay                     Senator Mike Moncrief 
         Senator Drew Nixon 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out Charge One:  
          
         "Evaluate the potential benefits offered through the  
         "design-build" form of bidding, which allows engineers,  
         architects, and builders to form teams and bid on state projects  
         in contrast to the current method which mandates that each  
         entity bid separately.   The Committee shall compare the State  
         of Texas practices to other states and to the private sector and  
         evaluate the "design-build" option as it relates to buildings,  
         roads, and other publicly funded projects." 
             
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
            the attached list.   
          
         The Chair laid out Charge Two: 
          
         "Study the funding and expenditures of Councils of Government  
            (COGs) and examine 
         the chang in relationship between COGs and the state and federal  
            governments since 1982.  The 
         Committee shall monitor the compliance by COGS regarding  
            publication of financial statements, 
         as referenced in the General Appropriations Bill, HB 1, 76th  
            Legislature, Regular Session."      
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
            the attached list.   
  
         The Chair informed the members of a memo in their binder from  
            Legislative Council that identifies 
         areas of conflict or ambiguity in the Local Government Code that  
            the committee may want to look in 
         regards to Charge three. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:05 p.m. Senator Madla  
            moved that the Committee stand recessed 
         subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so  
            ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Frank Madla, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Hillery Stephens, Clerk