MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Subcommittee on the Drought Response Advisory Committee Report
Tuesday, March 2, 1999
9:00 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 Finance Subcommittee on
the Drought Response Advisory Committee Report was held on
Tuesday, March 2, 1999 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036,
at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Robert Duncan
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the Chair reviewed the charge given to the
subcommittee, outlined the day's schedule and made opening
comments. The Chair then allowed each member to make comments.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
none.
The Chair recognized Martin Hubert, Deputy Commissioner of
Agriculture, to give members an overview of the Drought
Response Advisory Committee Report. Susan Combs, Commissioner
of Agriculture, was also recognized to make comments.
The Chair then recognized James B. Hull, State Forester and
Director of the Texas Forest Service, and Bobby Young,
Associate Director of the Texas Forest Service, to provide
members with an assessment of the state's risk of wildfire.
The Chair recognized the following representatives from state
agencies who participated in developing the report to provide
additional testimony on the report:
Governor's Division of Emergency Management
Tom Millwee, Director
Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Dr. Travis Miller, Professor & Extension Specialist
Texas Food & Fibers Commission
Bob Avant, Executive Director
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
John Hofmann, Executive Assistant to Commissioner
Baker
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Cindy Loeffler, Water Resources Team Leader
Texas State Soil & Water Conservation Board
Bob Buckley, Executive Director
Texas Water Development Board
Carolyn Brittin, Director of Special Projects
Craig Pedersen, Executive Administrator
Senator Ogden asked the invited panel of producers to come
forward. The following representatives of various agricultural
commodities provided oral testimony:
Paul Heller, citrus
Bill Kubecka, grain sorghum
Bill Powers, Texas Farm Bureau
Steve Verett, cotton
Charles Carter, livestock
Tony Bennett, timber
The following provided additional oral testimony:
Doug Schernik, producer
Robert Lundgren, producer
Billy Carlson, producer
William E. Albert, producer & coop manager
Randall Bohls, producer
The following registered but did not provide oral testimony:
Cris Gwinn
Dale Shively, Texas Parks & Wildlife
Philip Durocker, Texas Parks & Wildlife
Jack Burkett, Independent Bankers Association of Texas
B. L. Harris, Associate Director, Texas Agricultural
Extension Service
Bill Dugas, Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Ron George, Texas Parks & Wildlife
Dr. Jerry L. Cooke, Texas Parks & Wildlife
Tom G. Boggus, Texas Forest Service
Edwin H. Barron, Texas Forest Service
Ron Hufford, Texas Forestry Association
Michael F. Thuss, CEO of the San Antonio Water System,
provided written testimony to the committee.
Senator Ogden asked members to work with staff to develop a
list of recommendations for the full Committee. There being no
further business, at 3:19 p.m., Senator Ogden announced that
the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the
Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Steve Ogden, Chair
______________________
Marlene McMichael, Clerk