MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                            Wednesday, March 10, 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 Wednesday, March 10, 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 9:05 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senators Carona and Gallegos. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 728 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Fraser, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Fraser sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Fraser moved that SB 728, as amended, 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 SJR 10 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
  
         Senator West moved that SJR 10 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 SB 10 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator West moved that SB 10 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 SB 523 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Cain, to explain the bill.   
          
         No witnesses registered to testify for, against or on SB 523. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 523 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 674 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Moncrief, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Moncrief  moved  that  SB 674 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 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 66 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in  
         the absence of the author, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 66 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
         The Chair laid out SB 5 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Sibley, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Truan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Sibley 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. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that SB 5 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 704 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Shapiro, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Moncrief sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Shapiro to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Moncrief 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 704 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Committee proceeded with the Senate Bill 2 (General  
         Appropriations Bill) markup session on the following agencies: 
          
              Special Provisions - Article VIII 
              Board of Pharmacy 
              Board of Chiropractic Examiners 
              Board of Dental Examiners 
              Board of Medical Examiners 
              Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners 
              Board of Nurse Examiners 
              Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners 
              Optometry Board 
              Council of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy  
              Examiners 
              Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners 
              Board of Examiners of Psychologists 
          
         Witnesses called on to answer questions of the committee  
         during the markup process are shown on the attached list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:00 p.m. Senator Ratliff   
         announced  that the Committee would stand recessed until  
         Thursday, March 11, 1999 at 9:00 a.m.  Without objection, it  
         was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk