MINUTES 
          
                  SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER AFFAIRS - SPECIAL 
                           Thursday, February 11, 1999 
                                     8:30 am 
                          Capitol Building, Room 2E.20 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Border  
         Affairs - Special was held on Thursday, February 11, 1999 in  
         the Capitol Building, Room 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                 
         Senator David Sibley 
         Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Carlos Truan 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 am.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Robert Duncan 
          
         The Chair introduced Alfonso Salazar Arzola, International  
         Affairs Director in Tamaulipas, Mexico. 
          
         The Chair gave opening remarks.   
          
         The Chair introduced the Committee Staff: Daniel  
         Esparza/Committee Director, Mindy McCracken/General Counsel,  
         Stephanie Hoover/Committee Clerk, and Lori Flores/Research  
         Analyst.  
          
         The Chair recognized Attorney General John Cornyn. 
          
         Attorney General John Cornyn introduced his staff:  Clark  
         Ervin, General Counsel and Jennifer Lustina, Deputy Director  
         of Government Relations.  He gave an overview with his  
         concerns on public health problems relating to colonias along  
         the Texas-Mexico border.   General Cornyn also shared his  
         concerns on health and safety issues relating to NAFTA. 
          
         The Chair asked that the Committee receive a written copy of  
  
         General Cornyn's presentation. 
          
         The Chair introduced the members of the Senate Committee on  
         Border Affairs. 
          
         The first order of business was to adopt the Committee Rules. 
          
         Senator Sibley inquired on Committee Rule 9.   
          
         Sibley asked if there would be any notice or publication as to  
         what bills will be heard on an uncontested calendar of the  
         Committee. 
          
         Senator Sibley suggested that there be an understanding to  
         give a one week notice for any uncontested calendar. 
          
         Senator Truan suggested that the Committee look into Rule 9  
         but adopt the rules as they were presented  to the committee.  
          
         Senator Sibley moved that the rules be adopted.   
          
         Senator Truan seconded the motion. 
          
         With unanimous consent of all the members, the rules were  
         adopted. 
          
         The Chair introduced Bill Summers, President of the Rio Grande  
         Chamber of Commerce. 
          
         A brief discussion followed. 
          
         There being no further business, at 9:00 am Senator Duncan  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Stephanie R. Hoover, Clerk