MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Thursday, April 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 Thursday, April 8, 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 9:10 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: 
          
              Attorney General's Office 
              Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts 
                   Fiscal Programs 
                   Ranger Pensions 
                   Social Security Contributions 
              Teacher Retirement System 
              Optional Retirement Program 
              Group Insurance Contributions - Higher Education 
              Employees Retirement System 
              Pending Markup Issues 
          
         The Committee adopted specific items included in the  
         Legislative Budget Board (LBB) markup document on each agency  
  
         as well as various riders and funding proposals submitted by  
         members of the Committee. 
          
         The Chair laid out  the subcommittee report on the Crime  
         Victims' Compensation Fund and recognized Senator Moncrief to  
         explain the recommendations.  Senator Truan moved adoption of  
         the report and accompanying riders.  Without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         A formal vote will be taken on 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 3:45 p.m. Senator Ratliff  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 8:00 a.m.,  
         Friday, April 9, 1999.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk