MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Monday, May 10, 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 Monday, May 10, 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 8:05 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. 
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1879 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Sibley, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that HB 1879 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 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 HB 1341 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.   
  
         Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Fraser to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Fraser 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 Fraser moved that HB 1341 do not pass but that CSHB  
         1341 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation  
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a  
         vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 541 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Barrientos moved that HB 541 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 8:25 a.m. Senator Moncrief resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HJR 58 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that HJR 58 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 8:55 a.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2615 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that HB 2615 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1799 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
  
         Senator Truan moved that HB 1799 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 958 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Nixon, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that HB 958 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 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 182, which had been left pending during  
         a previous hearing, and recognized Senator Moncrief  for a  
         motion. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 182 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 10:15 a.m. Senator Moncrief assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1837, which had been left pending during  
         a previous hearing, and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 moved adoption of the committee substitute, without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that HB 1837 do not pass but that CSHB  
         1837 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation  
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a  
         vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         Senator Ratliff moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
  
         At 10:25 a.m. Senator Ratliff resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1810 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Lindsay, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Lindsay sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Lindsay to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Lindsay 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 Lindsay moved that HB 1810 do not pass but that CSHB  
         1810 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation  
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a  
         vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 HB 3211 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption;  
         without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Duncan  
         sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without  
         objection, the amendment was adopted.  (The committee has  
         standing orders to incorporate amendments into the committee  
         substitute.)   Senator Duncan then moved that the new  
         committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Duncan moved that HB 3211 do not pass but that CSHB  
         3211 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation  
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a  
         vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 3600 and recognized Senator Moncrief, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that HB 3600 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.   
          
         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 713, which had been left pending during  
         a previous hearing, and recognized the author, Senator Ogden,  
         to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Ogden sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption.  The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 2 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ogden moved that SB 713, 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 8 ayes, 2 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         No action was taken on SB 1244. 
          
         There being no further business, at 10:45 a.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 
          
         ______________________ 
         Patricia Hicks, Clerk