MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Tuesday, April 6, 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 Tuesday, April 6, 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:   
         none. 
          
         The Committee resumed  its  markup session on Senate Bill 2  
         (General Appropriations Bill) and worked on the following: 
          
              General Academic Institutions 
                  Higher Education Fund 
                  Available University Fund 
              Health-Related Institutions 
              Agricultural Experiment Station 
              Agricultural Extension Service 
              Engineering Experiment Station 
              Transportation Institute 
              Engineering Extension Service 
              Forest Service 
              Wildlife Damage Management Service 
              Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory 
          
         Chairman Ratliff provided an overview of  his proposed formula  
         funding recommendations for Higher Education General Academic  
         Institutions and Health-Related Institutions. The proposed  
         recommendations were left pending. 
          
         The Committee adopted specific items included in the  
         Legislative Budget Board (LBB) markup document on the Higher  
         Education Fund as well as miscellaneous riders not included in  
         the LBB markup documents.  A formal vote will be taken on the  
         adopted items at the end of the markup process. 
          
         Witnesses called on to answer questions of the Committee are  
         shown on the attached list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:20 p.m. Senator Ratliff  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until Wednesday, April  
         7, 1999 at 9:00 a.m.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk