MINUTES 
          
                       SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS 
                           AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS 
                            Monday, February 8, 1999 
                                    12:00 pm 
                          Lt. Governor's Committee Room 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, an Organizational Meeting for the Senate Committee on  
         Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Monday ,  
         February 8, 1999 in the Lt. Governor's Committee Room, State  
         Capitol, Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Carlos F.  Truan, Chairman      Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Gregory Luna, Vice-Chairman 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m.  The  
         Committee Clerk called Roll and the Chairman pronounced a  
         quorum present.  The following business was transacted.    
         Invited Guest speakers testifying as Resource witnesses were   
         John A. Brieden, III,  James S. Duncan,  Members; and Billy  
         Green,  Deputy Administrator for the Texas Veterans Commission  
         were recognized.  Their topic of discussion was the importance  
         of State maintained Veteran Cemetaries.  Senators Shapleigh  
         and  Fraser were recognized and responded to these issues.  
         Also,  James Duncan testifying as a Resource witness,  a  
         member of the Texas Veterans Commission,  addressed the issue  
         of the Veterans not being made aware of all of the benefits  
         that are available to them.  The Chair then recognized the  
         Chairman of the Texas Veterans Commission, Herbert W. Odell ,  
         who was asked to introduce other members of the Commission and  
         also the Travis County Veterans Service Officer William  
         McLemore,  representing the Texas Coalition Veterans  
         Organizations.  
          
         The Chair called for the Adoption of the Committee Rules.   
         Senator Luna made a motion that the Rules be adopted with Roll  
         Call of 4 Ayes, 0 Nays,  and 1 absent.    
          
         Lesiglative Aide, Janeal Rohrbough, from the office of  Rep.   
         Bob Hunter, spoke regarding  Military Apprecation Day.  The  
         date has been set for Tuesday,  February 16, 1999  at  the  
         Capitol Ground Floor Rotunda .  This is a ceremony recognizing  
         active duty military personnel. 
          
         Senator Truan introduced the members of his Staff to the  
         Committee Members and guests present at the meeting.  The  
         Chairman then opened up discussion on the role and  mission of  
         the Committee and discussion between the Senators was held. 
          
         There being no further business to transact Senator Luna moved  
         that the Committe stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         Chair.  There being no objections, the motion passed.    
          
         .   
          
         _________________________________________ 
         Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman 
          
         _________________________________________ 
         Emma Dibbles, Committee Clerk 
          
         .