MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                         Subcommittee on Exempt Salaries 
                            Wednesday, March 3, 1999 
                                    1:30 p.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 Wednesday, March 3, 1999 in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jon Lindsay, Chair              Senator Gonzalo  
                                                 Barrientos 
         Senator John Carona 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:34 p.m.  This being  
         a public hearing to receive testimony only, no quorum was  
         required. 
          
         The Chair reviewed the charge and outlined the hearing's  
         schedule and made opening comments. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mike Mericle, State Auditor's Office, to  
         give members an overview of exempt position salaries. 
          
         The Chair then recognized representatives from the following  
         state agencies, who provided oral testimony on increasing the  
         salaries for their exempt positions: 
          
         Beatrice Burke, Texas School For the Deaf 
         John Brieden, Texas Veterans Commission 
         Charles Williams, Commission on Law Enforcement 
         David Herndon, DHS Board 
         Phil Hatlen, Texas School for the Blind 
         Barney Schulz, Texas School for the Blind 
         Pat Wood, Public Utility Commission 
          
         The following registered but did not provide oral testimony: 
         Kevin Hamby, Texas Credit Union League 
  
         Scott Mcanally, Research & Oversight Council on Worker's  
         Compensation 
         James S. Duncan, Texas Veterans Commission 
          
         Senator Lindsay asked the State Auditor's Office to complete a  
         report on exempt salaries by Tuesday, March 9.  There being no  
         further business, Senator Lindsay closed the public hearing at  
         2:08 p.m. 
          
         There being no further business, at 2:08 p.m. Senator Lindsay  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Jon Lindsay, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Matt Hunoval, Clerk