MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BORDER AFFAIRS - SPECIAL
Thursday, March 18, 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, March 18, 1999 in the
Capitol Building, Room 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. None
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 8:00 am.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Bivins, Senator Duncan, Senator Shapleigh, and Senator
Sibley.
Senator Zaffirini moved that the Minutes from the previous
hearing be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair recognized Chairman David Laney with the Texas
Department of Transportation. Commissioner Laney gave
testimony on the Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles Bonds
(GARVEE) concept and its approach to finance infrastructure.
The Chair laid out SB 720 and recognized the author, Senator
Zaffirini, to explain the bill.
Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute; the Chair
recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Zaffirini moved adoption of the committee substitute, without
objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Armbrister joined the discussion on SB 720.
The Chair stated the Committee would wait for the arrival of
other Committee Members before voting on SB 720.
The Chair recognized Kenneth Nordeman, Bill Eggers, and Steve
Koebek with the Comptroller of Public Accounts. Mr. Nordeman,
Mr. Eggers, and Mr. Koebek gave testimony on the GARVEE Bond
concept.
At 9:19 am Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.
Senator Shapleigh laid out SB 1421 and recognized the author,
Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.
Senator Lucio announced that he was pleased that Senator
Zaffirini, Senator Truan, and Senator Shapleigh have seen the
bill's merits and agreed to co-author the legislation.
Senator Lucio also announced that no action would be taken
that day. He stated that representatives from the Texas Water
Development Board, the Office of the Secretary of State and
the Attorney General's Office were there to provide an
overview of the issues that SB 1421 attempts to address and
the solutions included in the first draft of the bill.
Senator Lucio announced that there would be a working group to
develop a Committee Substitute for SB 1421. Senator Lucio
thanked Craig Pedersen and Jonathan Steinberg with the Texas
Water Development Board for their hard work. He also thanked
the Office of the Secretary of the State for their hard work.
Senator Lucio asked them to provide a briefing of the issues
that SB 1421 attempts to address, as well as the solutions
that they propose.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Zaffirini asked that the Committee to suspend the
posting rules to lay out SB 1410, SB 1411, and SB 1412 so the
working group can work with those colonia bills as well.
At 9:45 am Chairman Lucio resumed the chair.
Senator Zaffirini moved that SB 720 do not pass but that CSSB
720 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. A vote was taken. The Chair
announced there were a few Members that were not present for
the vote. The Chair left the bill pending for future
discussion.
There being no further business, at 9:55 am Senator Shapleigh
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