MINUTES 
          
                  SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER AFFAIRS - SPECIAL 
                           Thursday, February 25, 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 25, 1999 in  
         the Capitol Building, Room 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator David Sibley 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Carlos Truan 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:35 am.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Duncan 
         Senator Sibley 
          
         The Chair asked for approval of the Committee Minutes from the  
         previous hearing.  
          
         Senator Zaffirini moved that the Committee Minutes be  
         approved. 
          
         Without objection, the Committee Minutes were approved and  
         read into the record. 
          
         The Chair gave opening remarks.  Chairman Lucio stated that  
         with the expertise of the people testifying, the Committee  
         will be able to outline and recommend specific items to be  
         taken under consideration during the  
         legislative/appropriations process. 
          
         The Chair opened the floor to public testimony. 
          
         The Chair recognized  Comptroller Carole Rylander, Sandra  
         Martinez, and Billy Hamilton with the State Comptroller's  
         Office.  Comptroller Rylander, Ms. Martinez, and Mr. Hamilton  
  
         gave testimony regarding the challenges and opportunities that  
         exist along the Texas-Mexico border. 
          
         The Chair recognized Secretary of State, Elton Bomer.   
         Secretary Bomer gave testimony on dealing with existing  
         colonias and stopping the proliferation of new colonias. 
          
         At 9:50 am the Chair announced that the Committee stand in  
         recess until 10 minutes after session. 
          
         At 11:32 am the Committee reconvened. 
          
         The Chair recognized Commissioner Susan Combs, the Texas  
         Department of Agriculture.  Commissioner Combs gave testimony  
         on priorities that the Department has for the border. 
          
         The Chair recognized Chairman Mike Allen representing the  
         Border Infrastructure Coalition.  The Chair also recognized   
         Vice President for Executive Affairs, Roland Arriola with the   
         University of Texas Pan-American.   Chairman Allen and Mr.  
         Roland gave testimony on issues relating to the border. 
         At 12:07 pm Senator Truan assumed the chair.   
          
         Senator Truan recognized Executive Director, Jeff Saitas and  
         Diana Borja with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation  
         Commission.  Mr. Saitas and Ms. Borja gave testimony on what  
         the Commission is doing to protect the environment and to  
         improve conditions for the residents in the border region.       
          
         At 12:36 pm Chairman Lucio resumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair recognized the Executive Administrator for the Texas  
         Water Development Board, Craig Pedersen.  Mr. Pedersen gave  
         testimony on the Board's programs and initiatives relating to  
         the border. 
          
         At 1:16 pm Senator Truan assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Truan recognized the General Counsel for the Attorney  
         General's Office, Clark Ervin.  Mr. Ervin gave testimony on  
         the Attorney General's efforts to better the border region. 
          
         Senator Truan recognized Executive Director, Daisy Stiner, and  
         Ruth Cedillo, with the Texas Department of Housing and  
         Community Affairs.  Ms. Stiner and Ms. Cedillo, gave testimony  
         on programs and initiatives that the Department is involved in  
         that relate to the border region. 
          
         At 1:50 pm Chairman Lucio resumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair recognized Brent Stewart with the Texas Department  
         of Housing and Community Affairs. 
         Mr. Stewart gave testimony on programs and initiatives that  
         the Department is involved in that relate to the border  
         region. 
  
         The Chair recognized  Amy Johnson and Program Manager, Andrew  
         Ramirez with Border Water Works.  The Chair also recognized  
         Colonia Resident Leader, Ricardo Mireles with Colonia Sun  
         Country Estates.  Ms. Johnson, Mr. Ramirez, and Mr. Mireles  
         gave testimony on programs relating to border colonias. 
          
         At 2:36 pm  Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.   
          
         Senator Shapleigh recognized El Paso County Attorney, Jose  
         Rodriguez.  Mr. Rodriguez gave testimony  on the issues  
         regarding the relocation efforts of colonias in the El Paso  
         area. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh recognized Manual Pacillas, Patricia  
         Holland-Branch, and Woody Hunt from El Paso.  Mr. Pacillas,  
         Ms. Holland, and Mr. Hunt gave testimony on El Paso's Five  
         Star Agenda. 
          
         At 2:52 pm Senator Lucio resumed the chair.   
          
         At 3:05 pm Senator Lucio asked that the Committee stand in  
         recess for 10 minutes. 
          
         At 3:19 pm the Committee reconvened. 
          
         At 3:37 pm Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair. 
          
         At 3:42 pm Senator Lucio resumed the chair. 
          
         The Chair recognized Vice President for Executive Affairs,  
         Roland Arriola with the University of Pan American.  Mr.  
         Arriola gave testimony on exceptional line items that the  
         University is proposing. 
          
         The Chair recognized Co-Director, John Henneberger with Texas  
         Low Income Housing Information Services.  Mr. Henneberger gave  
         testimony on recommendations for funding initiatives and  
         programs which deal with the affordable housing problem along  
         the border. 
          
         At 4:09 pm Senator Lucio asked that the Committee stand in  
         recess. 
          
         At 4:15 pm the Committee reconvened. 
          
         The Chair recognized Wayne Halbert with the Texas Irrigation  
         Council.  Mr. Halbert gave testimony on programs and  
         initiatives concerning water conservation projects along the  
         border. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:20 pm Senator Lucio  
         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