MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Monday, March 8, 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 Committee on Finance was  
         held on Monday, March 8, 1999 in the Capitol Extension, Room  
         E1.036, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Bill Ratliff                    Senator Gonzalo  
                                                 Barrientos 
         Senator Carlos Truan                     
         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 9:05 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senators Fraser, Gallegos and West. 
          
         The Committee began its markup session on the General  
         Appropriations Bill (Senate Bill 2) and worked on the  
         following: 
          
              Board of Public Accountancy 
              Office of Administrative Hearings 
              Board of Architectural Examiners 
              Board of Barber Examiners 
              Cosmetology Commission 
              Credit Union Department 
              Board of Registration for Professional Engineers 
              Finance Commission 
                Department of Banking 
                Consumer Credit Commissioner 
                Savings and Loan Department 
              State Securities Board 
              Board of Tax Professional Examiners 
          
         The Committee adopted specific items included in the  
  
         Legislative Budget Board (LBB) markup document for each  
         agency.  Final action will be taken on adopted items at the  
         end of the markup process. 
          
         Chairman Ratliff  told members that exempt salary items  
         included in the LBB markup document would be referred to  
         Senator Lindsay's Subcommittee on Exempt Salaries. 
          
         Action taken on items not included in the LBB markup documents  
         included the following: 
          
              Senator Duncan sent up two proposed riders to zero fund  
              the Board of Barber Examiners and merge its functions  
              with the Cosmetology Commission.  Senator Ratliff  
              requested that the riders be left pending for  
              consideration at the end of the markup process. 
          
              John O'Brien, of the LBB, requested authority to make  
              technical corrections in accordance with budgetary and  
              FTE decisions made by the Committee.  Without objection,  
              it was so ordered. 
          
              Mr. O'Brien asked Chairman Ratliff for clarification on  
              the use of  the contingent revenue collections rider.   
              The Chair directed LBB staff to apply the rider to the  
              appropriate agencies.  At the end of markup, the  
              Committee will determine which additional agencies will  
              need to be covered by the rider. 
          
         Witnesses called on to answer questions of  the Committee are  
         shown on the attached list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 11:25 a.m. Senator Ratliff  
         announced that the Committee would stand recessed until 9:00  
         a.m. Tuesday, March 9, 1999.  Without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk