MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS Monday, March 22, 1999 12:00 pm Lt. Governor's Committee Room ***** 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 22, 1999 in the Lt. Governor's Committee Room, at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Carlos F. Truan Senator Steve Ogden Senator Gregory Luna Senator Troy Fraser Senator Eliot Shapleigh ***** The Chair called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. Chairman Truan turned the gavel to Senator Shapleigh to preside at the hearing at this time. The clerk called the Roll at 12:15 p.m. Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown as voting for SB 495 and SB 643. Senator Shapleigh laid out SB 495, relating to the powers and duties of the Office of Defense Affairs and Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission, and recognized its sponsor, Senator Truan, to explain the bill. Senator Truan laid out Amendment #1 to SB 495 and explained its purpose. The Chair recognized Mr. Steve Ray, from the Texas Department of Economic Development, Mr. Manuel Longoria, from the City of San Antonio, Mr. Gary Bushell, from the Greater Corpus Christi Business Alliance, and Mr. Robert Tokerud, from the Texas Strategic Military Planning Commission, as witnesses testifying for SB 495. There being no questions or further testimony, on motion by the Chair, testimony on SB 495 was closed. Senator Truan moved that SB 495 with Amendment #1 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. The Chair laid out SB 643, relating to awards for members of the state or other military forces, and recognized its sponsor, Senator Truan, to explain the bill. Senator Truan laid out a committee substitute to SB 643 and explained its purpose. Senator Truan recognized Major General Daniel James, from the Adjutants Generals Department as a resource witness. There being no further questions or objections, the testimony was closed. Senator Truan moved that committee substitute for SB 643 be reported favorably to the Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. Senator Shapleigh turned the gavel back to Chairman Truan to preside at the hearing. Chairman Truan moved that SB 525 be removed from the pending list and testimony was opened on the bill. Senator Luna sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Luna to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. There being no questions or objections, on motion by the Chair, testimony was closed. Senator Luna moved that SB 525 be reported favorably to the Senate as substituted with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 absent. Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of the minutes from March 1, March 8, and March 15, 1999. There being no objections, the minutes were unanimously approved. There being no further business, at 1:10 p.m., Senator Luna moved that the committee stand recessed subject to call of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered. ____________________________________ Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman ____________________________________ Emma Dibbles, Committee Clerk