MINUTES 
          
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                           Subcommittee on Agriculture 
                            Thursday, March 25, 1999 
                                     1:00 PM 
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.012 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing Senate Committee on Natural Resources,  
         Subcommittee on Agriculture was held on Thursday, March 25,  
         1999 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Tom Haywood                     Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:05 PM.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         none. 
          
         Senator Armbrister moved that the minutes from the previous  
         meeting be adopted. There being no objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         At 1:07 PM, Senator Armbrister assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Armbrister laid out SB 224 and Senator Haywood  
         explained the bill. 
          
         Senator Haywood sent up a committee substitute for SB 224. 
          
         Public testimony was then heard. 
          
         Susan Combs, representing Texas Department of Agriculture,  
         testified in favor of the bill. 
          
         Mike Hatley, representing Texas Economic Development Council,  
         testified in favor of the bill. 
          
         Durwood Tucker, representing Texas Farm Bureau, testified in  
         favor of the bill. 
          
         Tony Williams, representing Texas Cotton Ginners' Association,  
         testified in favor of the bill. 
  
         Michael Reeves, representing Lubbock Chamber of Commerce,   
         testified in favor of the bill. 
          
         Richard Lavine, representing Center for Public Policy  
         Priorities, testified on the bill. 
          
         Ross Wilson, representing, Texas Cattle Feeders Association,  
         testified in favor of the bill. 
          
         James Grimm, representing, Texas Poultry Federation, testified  
         in favor of the bill. 
          
         Ed Small, representing, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers  
         Association, registered in favor of the bill. 
          
         The Chair then asked if there was anyone else here to testify  
         on, for or against the bill. 
          
         Hearing none the Chair closed public testimony. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 2 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chair announced that the C S S B 224 is reportedly  
         favorably to the Senate Natural Resources committee. 
          
         At 1:25 PM Senator Haywood resumed the chair. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:29 PM Senator Haywood  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Tom Haywood, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Todd Kercheval, Clerk