MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Monday, March 29, 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 29, 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, Duncan, Gallegos, and Moncrief.
The Chair laid out SB 672 and recognized the author, Senator
Moncrief, to explain the bill.
Senator Moncrief sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
There were no witnesses wishing to testifying for, against or
on SB 672.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 672, 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 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 762 and recognized the author, Senator
Duncan, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Duncan moved that SB 762 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.
At 9:25 a.m. Senator Truan assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 1319 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 asked Billy Hamilton of
the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts to explain
the bill. Senator Ratliff 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 1319 do not pass but that CSSB
1319 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.
At 9:58 a.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 1488 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 1488 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 10:30 a.m. Senator Truan assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out SB 1320 and recognized the author, Senator
Ratliff, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 1320 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 1321 and recognized the author, Senator
Ratliff, to explain the bill. Senator Ratliff asked Billy
Hamilton of the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts
to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 1321 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.
At 11:05 a.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.
The Committee resumed its markup session on Senate Bill 2
(General Appropriations Bill) and worked on the following:
Department on Aging
Commission on Alcohol & Drug Abuse
Commission for the Blind
Cancer Council
Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Texas Rehabilitation Commission
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 on Aging, Senator
Barrientos moved adoption of a funding item for the increased
appropriation for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program by
$140,000 per year. The motion carried without objection.
During the markup session on the Commission for the Blind,
Senator Moncrief moved adoption of a rider that would allow
any unexpended balances of funds donated for the Commission's
Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program from the
current biennium as well as all receipts during 2000-01 to be
used by the agency for that program. The motion carried
without objection.
There being no further business, at 12:35 p.m., Senator
Ratliff announced that the Committee would stand recessed
until Tuesday, March 30, 1999. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk