MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Friday, April 9, 1999
8:00 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 Friday, April 9, 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 8:10 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senators Barrientos, Gallegos and Ogden.
The Committee conducted public hearings on Articles IX, X and
XII and resumed its markup session on Senate Bill 2 (General
Appropriations Bill).
Public Hearing on Article IX
The Chair laid out the Subcommittee Report on Exempt Salaries
and recognized Senator Lindsay to explain the subcommittee's
recommendations. Senator Lindsay explained the committee
report and the State Auditor's Office recommended
classification plan changes for the 2000-2001 biennium.
Senator Lindsay sent up an addendum to the report on the
salary of the Administrative Director of the Office of Court
Administration and moved its adoption; without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Lindsay then moved adoption of the
subcommittee report as amended and the recommended
classification system. The motion carried without objection.
The Committee recessed for session at 8:58 a.m. and reconvened
at 11:25 a.m. to continue the public hearing on Article IX.
The Chair called on witnesses wishing to testify on Article IX
issues. Witnesses testifying on Article IX are shown on the
attached list.
The Committee adopted specific items riders and funding
proposals submitted by members of the Committee. Action
requiring a record vote under Article IX included the
following:
Senator West moved adoption of a revised rider to add a
section on contingent fee legal contracts to the current
section on Court Representation and Outside Legal
Counsel. The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 1
nay, 0 present not voting and 1 absent.
Senator Truan assumed the Chair at 11:40 a.m.
Senator Ratliff moved adoption of Article IX as amended;
without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Ratliff resumed the Chair at 11:45 a.m.
Public Hearing on Article X
The Chair laid out Article X markup issues for discussion by
the Committee.
The Chair called on witnesses wishing to testify on Article X.
No witnesses appeared to testify for, against, or on Article X
issues.
Senator Moncrief moved to adopt Article X with one technical
adjustment laid out by LBB staff; without objection it was so
ordered.
Public Hearing on Article XII
The Chair called on witnesses wishing to testify on Article
XII (appropriation of tobacco proceeds). Witnesses testifying
and registering on Article XII are shown on the attached list.
Consideration of Article XII funding proposals was left
pending until later during the day.
Pending Markup Issues
The Chair laid out the Subcommittee Report on Drought Issues
and recognized Senator Ogden to explain the committee's
recommendations.
Senator Ogden explained the report and moved its adoption
along with Riders 2 through 5; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Committee adopted various riders and funding proposals
submitted by members of the Committee for Articles I through
VII and XII. Action requiring a record vote included the
following:
Senator Ratliff moved adoption of a funding item to
increase the Commissioner of Education's discretionary
fund under Article III, Strategy B.3.2.:
Deregulation/School Restructuring by $500,000 in 2000
and $500,000 in 2001. The motion carried with a vote of
9 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Ogden moved adoption of a rider specifying that
the Department of Health may distribute funds for
medical, dental, psychological or surgical treatment
provided to a minor only if consent to treatment is
obtained pursuant to Chapter 32 of the Texas Family Code.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 5 nays, 0
present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Gallegos moved to appropriate an additional $50
million of tobacco proceeds to the M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center. The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 3
nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
Senator Moncrief moved to approve all previously adopted
markup items for submission to the LBB for the drafting
of the general appropriations bill committee substitute.
The motion carried with 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent.
There being no further business, at 7:20 p.m. Senator Ratliff
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
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Patricia Hicks, Clerk