MINUTES 
                                         
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                           Tuesday, February 23, 1999 
                                     2:00 pm 
                                 Senate Chamber 
                                         
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural  
         Resources was held on Tuesday, February 23, 1999 in the Senate  
         Chamber at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair      Senator Gonzalo  
                                                 Barrientos 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
         Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
         Senator Bill Ratliff 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:10 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         Senator Bivins moved that the Minutes from the previous  
         hearing be adopted.  There being no objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         At 2:11 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Armbrister laid out SB 143 and Senator Brown explained  
         the bill. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute for SB 143. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         At 2:19 pm, Senator Bivins assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Bivins closed public testimony on SB 143.  The bill  
         was left pending until a quorum was present. 
          
         Senator Bivins laid out SB 262 and Senator Brown explained the  
         bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved its  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 262 as amended be reported  
         favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it  
         do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Bivins reopened public testimony on SB 143 and a list  
         of those that testified is attached.  The bill was left  
         pending until a quorum was present.     
          
         At 4:03 pm, Senator Lucio assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Lucio laid out SB 487 and subsequently moved to table  
         the bill. 
          
         At 4:09 pm, Senator Armbrister assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Armbrister laid out SB 143 and Senator Brown moved to  
         adopt the Committee Substitute. It was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that CSSB 143 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0  
         nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 
          
         Senator Armbrister laid out SB 487 and Senator Brown explained  
         the bill.  Attached is a list of witnesses that testified on  
         the bill.  The bill was left pending until a quorum was  
         present. 
          
         Senator Armbrister laid out SB 486 and Senator Brown explained  
         the bill.  Attached is a list of witnesses that testified.  
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment One and moved its  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment Two and moved its  
         adoption; without objection, it was  adopted.     
          
         Senator Brown moved that Committee Amendments One and Two be  
         rolled into CSSB 486 and reported favorably to the full  
         Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Brown then assumed the chair.  Senator Armbrister  
         asked unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on SB 262,  
         which changed the vote to 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent. 
          
         Senator Brown laid out the Subcommittee on Agriculture Report  
         on SB 448.   
  
         Senator Duncan, the author, explained the bill.   
          
         Senator Haywood moved the adoption of the Subcommittee on  
         Agriculture Report.  It was unanimously adopted. 
          
         Senator Haywood moved that SB 448 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         There being no further business, at 4:54 pm Senator Armbrister  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ___________________________                   
                                                      __________________ 
                                                      ____________ 
         Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair                Carol  
                                                           McGarah,  
                                                           Clerk