MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                           Thursday, February 18, 1999 
                                    8:00 a.m. 
                         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, February 18, 1999 in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Bill Ratliff                    None 
         Senator Carlos Truan 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator John Carona 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Mike Moncrief 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Royce West 
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:    
         Senators Fraser and Gallegos. 
          
         At 8:05 a.m. Senator Truan assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 472 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.  Senator  
         Ratliff moved adoption of the committee substitute, without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 472 do not pass but that CSSB  
         472 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 0 absent.   
         At 9:15 a.m. Senator Ratliff assumed the chair.   
  
         The Chair laid out SB148 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Fraser, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Fraser to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Fraser moved adoption of the committee substitute, without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Fraser moved that SB 148 do not pass but that CSSB 148  
         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 0 absent.   
          
         The Chair recognized witnesses to testify on Legislative  
         Budget Board (LBB) recommendations pertaining to the following  
         agencies: 
          
              General Land Office and Veterans Land Board 
              Health and Human Services Commission 
              Department of Health 
              Children's Trust Fund 
          
         At 3:30 p.m. Senator Moncrief assumed the chair.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the LBB  
         recommendations are shown on the attached list.   
          
         There being no further business, at 6:55 p.m. Senator Moncrief  
         announced that the Committee would stand recessed until 9:00  
         a.m., Monday, February 22, 1999.  Without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk