MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS Monday, March 1, 1999 11:00 am Lt. Gov. Cmte. Rm. ***** Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Monday, March 1, 1999 in Lt. Gov. Cmte. Rm., at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Carlos F. Truan None Senator Gregory Luna Senator Troy Fraser Senator Steve Ogden Senator Eliot Shapleigh ***** The Chair called the meeting to order at 11:15 a.m. . The Chair laid out SB 198, relating to the computation of average daily attendance in certain school districts that experience a decline in attendance, and recognized its sponsor, Senator Luna. The Chair recognized Senator Fraser for questions. Senator Luna noted that an Amendment will be submitted on the suggestion of the Lt. Governor's office. On recommendation of the Chair, the bill was held for the sponsor to work on a Committee substitute. Testifying as resource witnesses on SB 198 were, Dr. Dolores Munoz, Superintendent of Edgewood, I. S.D., Ms. Debra Baros from the Cuero I.S.D., and Mr. Robert Damron from the Stamford I.S.D. Mr. David Dunn from the Texas Assoc. of School Boards, registered as a witness in favor of, but did not wish to testify. The Chair recognized Senator Luna and Senator Ogden for questions. Senator Truan recommended that SB 198 continue to be discussed at the next Committee hearing not as a Public Hearing but as a working session between the Committee members with only invited testimony. There being no further testimony, Senator Luna moved to leave SB 198 on the table subject to call. The motion was so ordered by unanimous consent. Chairman Truan laid out the following bills: SB 606, SB 607, SB 640, SB 641, and SCR 34. Senator Fraser was recognized as their sponsor and asked to explain the bills. Chairman Truan turned the gavel to Vice-Chairman Luna to preside at the hearing because of a prior commitment. Resource witnesses on these bills were then called on by Vice-Chair Luna. Both Mr. Mitchell George representing the Texas Department Of Economic Development and Mr. Charles Heald representing the Texas Dept. of Transportation, provided testimony on SB 606. Senator Fraser noted that amendments to this bill would be presented on completion of the testimony on SB 606. Senator Shapleigh noted that he intended to offer an amendment to SB 606 at the appropriate time. Vice-Chair Luna closed testimony on SB 606. Vice-Chair Luna then laid out SB 607 and recognized its sponsor, Senator Fraser for an explanation of the bill. Senator Fraser laid out Amendment #1 to SB 607 and explained its purpose. Vice-Chair Luna moved that Amendment #1 to SB 607 be adopted. There being no objections, the motion was so ordered. No witness testimony was heard and the Vice-Chair moved to leave SB 607 with amendments pending for a later vote. The Vice-Chair simultaneously laid out SB 640, SB 641, and SCR 34. Senator Fraser laid out and explained Amendment #1 for SCR 34. The Vice-Chair then recognized resource witnesses for all three bills. Mr. Michael Palmquist representing the American Legion, Samuel Bier representing the Capitol City Chapter of American Veterans of Austin and Mr. Jim Duncan representing the Texas Lone Star Chapter for Korean War Veterans testified for all the bills laid out by the Vice-Chair. There being no further testimony, on the motion by Vice-Chair Luna, testimony on SB 640, SB 641, and SCR 34 was closed. Vice-Chair Luna turned the gavel back to Chairman Truan to preside at the hearing . Chairman Truan recommended that a vote be taken on all bills and amendments which had been laid out before the Committee. Amendment #2 to SB 606 by Senator Shapleigh was withdrawn. There being no objection to the withdrawal of Senator Shapleigh's amendment to SB 606, it was so ordered. Amendment #1 by Senator Fraser to SB606 was withdrawn and replaced by Senator Fraser with revised Amendment #1. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser moved to report SB 606 as amended to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed. Chairman Truan ordered a Roll Call for SB 606 by the Clerk. A vote of 5 ayes and no nays was recorded. The Chairman called for Roll Call on SB 607, there were 5 ayes and no nays. Senator Fraser requested that unanimous consent be given to place SB 607 on the Local & Uncontested Calendar. There being no objections, it was so ordered. Chairman Truan then recognized Senator Fraser for a motion on SB 640. The Clerk called the Roll for SB 640 with 5 ayes and no nays and SB 640 was reported favorably out of Committee with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar. Chairman Truan recognized Senator Fraser for a motion on SB 641. The Clerk called the Roll with 5 ayes and no nays and SB 641 was reported favorably out of Committee with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed. Senator Fraser asked unanimous consent to certify SB 641 for the Local & Uncontested Calendar. There being no objections, it was so ordered. The Chair recognized Senator Fraser for a motion on SCR 34. The Roll was called with 5 ayes and no nays, SCR 34 as amended was reported favorably to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed. Senator Fraser asked unanimous consent to certify SCR 34 as amended for the Local & Uncontested Calendar. There being no objections, it was so ordered. There being no further business to transact, Vice-Chair Luna moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to call of the Chair. There being no objections, the motion passed. _________________________________________ Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman _________________________________________ Emma Dibbles, Committee Clerk Attachment