The House Committee on Appropriations
77th Legislature
February 28, 2001
7:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, E1.030
Pursuant to a notice posted on February 21, 2001, the House
Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was
called to order by the chair, Representative Junell, at 7:05
a.m.
The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;
Farrar; Flores; Gutierrez; Janek; King, Tracy; Luna,
Vilma; Maxey; McReynolds; Moreno, Paul; Pickett;
Pitts; Puente; Smith; Turner, Sylvester (17).
Absent: Representatives Coleman; Delisi; Eiland; Gallego;
Giddings; Glaze; Hamric; Heflin; Hochberg; Mowery
(10).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
Office of the Attorney General
(Representative Heflin now present.)(Representative Hamric now
present.)(Representative Eiland now present.)(Representative
Glaze now present.)(Representative Ellis now
present.)(Representative Haggerty now present.)(Representative
Mowery now present.)(Representative Giddings now
present.)(Representative Gallego now present.)(Representative
Hawley now present.)(Representative Goolsby now
present.)(Representative Delisi now present.)(Representative
Hochberg now present.)
Representative Farrar moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Fund the State Disbursement Unit.
36 additional FTEs to staff four new regional call centers for
agency's Child Support Division. Increased funding from the
Compensation to Victims of Crime
Fund No. 469. Funding from the Compensation to Victims of Crime
Fund No. 469 to continue funding grants for victim assistance
coordinators and liaisons; and to increase the grant amount and
number of grants. Funding from the Compensation to Victims of
Crime Fund No. 469 to provide additional money to Texas CASA,
Inc. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to expand the program
into counties not currently being served. Funding from the
Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 for additional
grants to Children's Advocacy Centers. Funding from the
Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 for C.1.3. Victims
Assistance for Sexual Assault Program Grants. From Compensation
to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 for C.1.3. Victims Assistance
for Sexual Assault Prevention and Crisis Services Program. From
Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 for grants to
organizations that provide legal services to crime victims.
From Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 to provide
grants to other organizations providing victims' services. From
Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 to fund Family
Violence Services through the Department of Human Services.
From Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund No. 469 to fund the
Batterers Intervention and Prevention Program through the
Department of Criminal Justice. And with the following
technical changes: Restore GR that was inadvertently cut from
Legal Services Strategy A.1.1. in FY2002. Modify targets to
Average Cost Per Legal Hour and Percent of IV-D Cases with
Arrears in Which Payment was Made. And with the other following
changes: Victims Assistance Grants rider (Farrar #1) and
Capital Budget rider (Farrar #2) and Unexpended Balances rider
(Farrar #3) and Exemption from Capital Budget Authority rider
(Farrar #4) and Child Support Enforcement rider (Farrar #5).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
At 9:53 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the meeting was recessed until 1:30 p.m., February 28, 2001.
The committee reconvened at 1:38 p.m. and was called to order by
the chair, Representative Junell. The roll was answered as
follows:
Present: Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Eiland;
Farrar; Gallego; Giddings; Hamric; Heflin; Hochberg;
Luna, Vilma; McReynolds; Mowery; Puente; Turner,
Sylvester (14).
Absent: Representatives Allen; Coleman; Delisi; Flores; Glaze;
Gutierrez; Janek; King, Tracy; Maxey; Moreno, Paul;
Pickett; Pitts; Smith (13).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
Department of Criminal Justice
Representative Turner moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Salary Increases for correctional
officers, laundry and food service managers, and parole officers
and case managers. Costs for retirement and social security
benefits. Increased felony community supervision population
based on revised correctional population projections. Increased
parole and mandatory supervision populations based on revised
correctional population projections. Correctional managed
health care to fund increased prescription drug costs; Hepatitis
treatment; and increased expenses due to aging inmates. Restore
funding of the Treatment Alternative to Incarceration Program
for substance abuse treatment to local Community Supervision and
Corrections Departments. Funding for Texas Council on Offenders
with Mental Impairments. Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund
for Batterers Intervention and Prevention Program. And with the
following technical changes: Adjust rider 3 amount to match
Comptroller estimate of unexpended balance of construction
bonds. Adjust rider 30 amounts and corresponding strategy to
match Comptroller estimate for Texas Correctional Industries
receipts. Adjust rider 30 amount to match Comptroller estimate
of UB for Texas Correctional Industries receipts. In Article
IX, modify the detailed listing of Schedule A and Schedule B
classified positions to include Correctional Officer V and to
increase classification of the Sergeant of Correctional
Officers. And with the following Performance Measure changes:
Average Number of Inmates in Contractual Correctional Bed
Capacity. Average Number of Felons under Direct Supervision.
And an additional 159 FTEs. And with the other following
changes: Capital Budget rider (Turner #1) and Unexpended
Balances of Construction Bonds rider (Turner #2) and Salary
Adjustment Authorized rider (Turner #3) and Transfer Authority
Within and Between Goals rider (Turner #4) Capital Expenditures
Authorized rider (Turner #5) and Battering Intervention Program
rider (Turner #6) and Chaplaincy Programs rider (Turner #7) and
Contracted Temporary Capacity rider (Turner #8) and Career
Ladder Adjustments rider (Turner #9) and Mental Health Services
rider (Turner #10) and Treatment Alternative to Incarceration
Program rider (Turner #11) and Contract Review rider (Turner
#12). And to add to Article XI the following: Community
Corrections Beds. Repair and rehabilitation of facilities.
Multi-year contract rate increases. Capital transportation
items. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Youth Commission
(Representative King, Tracy now present.)(Representative Pickett
now present.)(Representative Smith now present.)(Representative
Gutierrez now present.)(Representative Flores now present.)
Representative Turner moved the adoption of Salary Adjustment
Authorized rider (Turner #1). Without objection, the motion was
adopted.
Office of Court Administration
(Representative Delisi now present.)(Representative Pitts now
present.)(Representative Allen now present.)
Representative Turner moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Disaster Recovery, Data Operations,
and Information Services at the Appellate Courts rider (Turner
#1) and Judicial Technology rider (Turner #2) and State
Telecommunications Infrastructure rider (Turner #3) and
Performance Measures of the Texas Courts of Appeals rider
(Turner #4) and Performance Measures of the Texas District
Courts rider (Turner #5). And to add to Article XI the
following: An additional eight new foster care courts. The
following items were left pending: Increase funding for the
Judicial Committee on Information Technology strategy. Capital
Budget rider. Informational Services for the Trial Courts
rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Public Safety/Polygraph Examiners Board
Representative Gallego moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: To purchase DNA laboratory
equipment. To fund operation of Conroe Communications Facility.
To replace aging communications consoles and to upgrade the
Automated Driver License Testing systems. To upgrade statewide
driver license facilities to adhere to the Texas Accessibility
Standards and the Americans with Disability Act. For
construction of five facilities to provide office space for
employees in Traffic Law Enforcement, Criminal Law Enforcement,
Driver License, and Ranger Divisions. And an additional 7 FTEs
for Conroe facility. And with the other following changes:
Capital Budget rider (Gallego #1) and Restriction of Vehicle Use
rider (Gallego #2) and Complex Crime Unit rider (Gallego #3) and
Clothing Provisions rider (Gallego #4) and Training for Local
Law Enforcement Agencies rider (Gallego #5) and Staffing
Patterns rider (Gallego #6) and Staffing Patterns rider (Gallego
#7) and Hardships Stations (Gallego #8) and Polygraph Examiners
Board (Gallego #9) and Additional Capital Budget Authority rider
(Gallego #10) and Transfer of Land and Office Building rider
(Gallego #11) and Response to Bomb or Other Terrorist Threats in
the Capitol Complex rider (Gallego #12) and Security Services in
the Capitol Complex rider (Gallego #13) and Radio Technicians
rider (Gallego #14) and HB 335 Contingency rider for Historical
Museum and Research Center (West #15) and Funeral Travel
Reimbursement rider (McReynolds #16). And to add to Article XI
the following: Vehicle Replacement Schedule. Unsolved Crimes
Investigation Team. Texas Ranger Headquarters and Museum. The
following items were left pending: Education Requirements for
Commissioned Officers. Driver's License Character Sets.
Additional Recruit School. Identification Card Requirements.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Article IV and V Special Provisions
Move the adoption of LBB recommendations. Without objection,
the motion was adopted.
Texas Aerospace Commission
Representative Luna moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Spaceport Authorities Pursuit Fund.
Coordination of Spaceport Initiatives rider (Luna #1). Without
objection, the motion was adopted.
Pension Review Board
Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the addition of the following to Article XI: Computer
System Replacement. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Public Finance Authority
Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following technical change: Reduction of General
Obligation debt service based on more current information on
bond issues. And with the other following change: Contingency
Funding for Agency Operations: Additional Bond Issues rider
(Heflin #1). Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Bond Review Board
Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Capital Rider for Computer
Conversion. Capital Budget rider (Heflin #1). Without
objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Information Resources
Representative Luna moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following technical changes: Restore GR that was
inadvertently reduced. Amend Capital Budget Rider to reflect
the exclusion of capital items. And with the other following
change: Capital Budget rider (Luna #1). And to add the
following to Article XI: Statewide IT Security Assessment.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
(Representative West, George "Buddy" in chair.)
Veterans Commission
Representative Flores moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following items to be added to Article XI: Improve
Counseling. Improve Administration. Without objection, the
motion was adopted.
(Representative Junell in chair.)
Ethics Commission
Representative Puente moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the addition of the following to Article XI: Electronic
Filing System Back-up. Without objection, the motion was
adopted.
Texas River Compact Commission
Representative Puente moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following item to be added to Article XI: Increased
Costs. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
(Representative Janek now present.)
Commission on Human Rights
(Representative West, George "Buddy" in chair.)
Representative Pickett moved adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following item to be added to Article XI: LAN/CDS.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner
Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following change: Program Director in Texas Statewide
Emergency Services Retirement Act Fund 0976. Without objection,
the motion was adopted.
Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission
Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Commission on the Arts
(Representative Junell in chair.)
Representative Pickett moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following technical changes: Modify the FTE cap from
18 to 19 FTEs for the biennium. Modify the bill pattern to
authorize the agency to carry forward unexpended balances
between fiscal years within the biennium for Strategy C.1.1,
Distribute Direct Grants. And with the other following changes:
Texas, State of the Arts License Plates rider (Pickett #1) and
Unexpended Balances Between Fiscal Years rider (Pickett #2) and
Unexpended Balances Between Biennia rider (Pickett #3) and
Entrepreneurial Business System Revenue rider (Pickett #4). And
to add the following to Article XI: Stable Level of Resources.
The following items were left pending: Capital Budget rider.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Aircraft Pooling Board
Representative Pickett moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Capital Budget rider (Pickett #1).
And to add the following items to Article XI: Aircraft
Replacement for FY2002. Ground Service Fuel Trucks for FY2002.
Maintenance and Avionics Equipment. Without objection, the
motion was adopted.
Office of State-Federal Relations
Representative Luna moved the adoption of LBB recommendations.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Historical Commission
Representative Puente moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following change: Courthouse Preservation Grants rider
(Puente #1) and Sam Rayburn House Caretaker rider (Flores #2)
and Capital Budget rider (Puente #3). And with the following
items to be added to Article XI: Local Assistance. Main Street
Program Enhancement. La Salle Odyssey rider. The Pearce Civil
War Collection rider. The following items were left pending:
African American Museum Professional Internship Program. Rider
13, Unexpended Balances: Acquisition of Historical Artifacts.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Animal Health Commission
Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes: Contingency Rider to Increase the
FTEs for the Tuberculosis Eradication Program rider (Heflin #1)
and Capital Budget rider (Heflin #2). Without objection, the
motion was adopted.
At 6:56 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.
________________________
Rep. Junell, Chair
________________________
Darshoel Willis, Clerk