MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, March 24, 1999
9:00 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 24, 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 Barrientos, Carona, Gallegos and Moncrief.
The Chair laid out SB 706 and recognized the author, Senator
Ogden, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
SB 706 was left pending until the Committee reconvened after
adjournment of the Senate.
The Chair laid out SB 719 and recognized the author, Senator
Lindsay, to explain the bill.
Senator West 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.
SB 719 was left pending until the Committee reconvened after
adjournment of the Senate.
The Committee recessed at 10:00 a.m. and reconvened at 12:30
p.m.
The Chair recognized Senator Ogden for a motion. Senator
Ogden moved that SB 706 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 recognized Senator Lindsay for a motion. Senator
Lindsay moved that SB 719, 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. Senator Lindsay moved that the bill
be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1065 and recognized the author, Senator
Fraser, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Fraser moved that SB 1065 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 Committee resumed its markup session on Senate Bill 2
(General Appropriations Bills) and worked on the following:
Department of Agriculture
River Compact Commission
General Land Office and Veterans Land Board
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority
Railroad Commission
Department of Economic Development
The Committee adopted specific items included in the
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) markup document on each agency.
A formal vote will be taken on adopted items at the end of the
markup process.
Action taken on items not included in the LBB markup
documents, included the following:
During the markup session on the Department of Agriculture,
Senator Duncan moved adoption of a rider for the Cost Share
Program for Boll Weevil Eradication. The motion carried
without objection.
During the markup session on the Railroad Commission:
Senator Ogden moved adoption of a rider directing the
Commission to study the effectiveness of the state's
existing rules and regulations regarding the detection,
control and disposal of oil and gas naturally occurring
radioactive material (NORM) waste. The motion carried
with the understanding that the LBB would modify the
language of the rider at the Chair's request.
Senator Truan moved adoption of a contingency rider
appropriating money in the competitive rail account upon
enactment of Senate Bill 628. The motion carried without
objection.
During the markup session on the Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Disposal Authority, Senator Duncan moved adoption of a packet
of riders recommended by the Senate Natural Resources
Committee. Action taken on the packet included the following:
adoption of a contingent appropriation for House Bill 1910;
adoption of a rider revision on Appropriation Limited to
Revenue Collections; the deletion of a rider on Limitation of
Expenditures; adoption of a rider revision on Closure
Contingency; adoption of a new rider on the Compact
Commission; and adoption of a new rider of Local Public
Projects. The motion carried without objection.
During the markup session on the Department of Economic
Development, Senator Truan moved adoption of a contingency
rider on the appropriation for Senate Bill 495: Office of
Defense Affairs and Texas Strategic Military Planning
Commission. The motion carried without objection.
There being no further business, at 3:50 p.m. Senator Ratliff
announced that the Committee would stand recessed until
Thursday, March 25, 1999. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk