MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Thursday, March 4, 1999 
                                    9:30 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, March 4, 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 9:35 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senators Duncan, Fraser, Gallegos and Moncrief. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 441 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ellis, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Truan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the  
         committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Truan  
         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 Truan moved that SB 441 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 818 and recognized the author, Senator  
  
         Shapleigh, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 818 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 616 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Moncrief  moved  that  SB 616  be reported favorably  
         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.  Senator Moncrief moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 341 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ogden, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Ogden to explain the difference between the  
         committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Ogden  
         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 SB341 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 1:20 p.m. Senator Truan assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB174 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. 
          
         Senator Barrientos sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.   
         Senator Barrientos sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.   
         Senator Ratliff requested unanimous consent to incorporate  
         amendments into the committee substitute;  without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Senator Ratliff then moved that the new  
         committee substitute be adopted; without objection it was so  
         ordered. 
  
         No witnesses registered to testify for, against, or on SB 174  
         or CSSB 174. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 174 do not pass but that CSSB  
         174 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 laid out SB 175 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ratliff, to explain the bill.   
          
         No witnesses registered to testify for, against, or on SB 175. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 175 be reported favorably 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 laid out SB176 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. 
          
         No witnesses registered to testify for, against, or on SB 176  
         or CSSB 176. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 176 do not pass but that CSSB  
         176 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 laid out SB 177 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. 
          
         Senator Ogden sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.   
         Senator Ratliff requested unanimous consent to incorporate the  
         amendment into the committee substitute;  without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Senator Ratliff then moved that the new  
         committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
  
         Senator Ratliff moved that  SB 177 do not pass but that CSSB  
         177 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 laid out SB 178 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 West sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;  
         without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator West  
         sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without  
         objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator West sent up  
         Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without objection,  
         the amendment was adopted.  Senator West sent up Committee  
         Amendment 4 and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted.  Senator West sent up Committee  
         Amendment 5 and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted.  Senator West sent up Committee  
         Amendment 6 and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted.   
          
         Senator Barrientos sent up Committee Amendment 7 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.   
          
         Senator Ratliff requested unanimous consent to incorporate  
         amendments into the committee substitute;  without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Senator Ratliff then moved that the new  
         committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         No witnesses registered to testify for, against, or on SB 178  
         or CSSB 178. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 178 do not pass but that CSSB  
         178 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.   
          
         There being no further business, at 2:25 p.m. Senator Ratliff  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk