The House Committee on Appropriations
77th Legislature
March 8, 2001
7:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, E1.030
Pursuant to a notice posted on March 2, 2001, the House
Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was
called to order by the chair, Representative Junell, at 7:01
a.m.
The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;
Delisi; Giddings; Glaze; Gutierrez; Hamric; Heflin;
Hochberg; King, Tracy; Luna, Vilma; Maxey; McReynolds;
Moreno, Paul; Mowery; Pickett; Puente; Smith; Turner,
Sylvester (20).
Absent: Representatives Coleman; Eiland; Farrar; Flores;
Gallego; Janek; Pitts (7).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
School for the Deaf
(Representative Farrar now present.)
Representative Gutierrez moved the adoption of LBB
recommendations with the following changes:
Appropriations: Add funding for construction of dorm.
Technical: Modify strategy C.1.1., Educator Professional Salary
Increases to reflect updated information from the Austin
Independent School District.
Rider: Capital Budget rider (Gutierrez #1) and Facility
Construction Project rider (Gutierrez #2).
Article XI: School Safety; Technology in the Curriculum; and
School to Work training for students.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Representative Gutierrez moved the adoption of LBB
recommendations with the following changes:
Appropriations: Funds for the reclassification of the school's
House parent series to the new Residential Specialist series;
Funds for the construction of a new dormitory.
Technical: Modify strategy C.1.1., Educator Professional Salary
Increases to reflect updated information from the Austin
Independent School District.
Performance Measure: Number of participants in video
conferencing events, to reflect a shift in the way the agency
delivers services to remote locations.
Rider: Capital Budget (Gutierrez #1).
Article XI: Growing Demand for Services; Maintenance and
Renovation; Campus Facilities Upgrades; Additional services.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
State Board for Educator Certification
Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of LBB
recommendations with the following changes:
Rider: Capital Budget rider (Hochberg #1) and Integrated
Reporting System rider (Hochberg #2) and Texas Beginning
Educator Support System rider (Hochberg #3), Test Development
rider (Hochberg #4), Communication of New Rules rider (Hochberg
#5).
Article XI: Expansion of the beginning teacher induction
program; national criminal history background check on
certification applicants; professional conduct staff increase;
computer-assisted testing at secure sites; customer service
enhancement; educator preparation program reporting system.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Teachers Retirement System
Representative Mowery moved adoption of LBB recommendations with
the following changes:
Appropriations: Funds for enhancement of the benefits division,
investment personnel, and support services. Raise the travel
cap.
FTE: Increase for benefits division, investment personnel and
support services.
Rider: Capital Budget rider (Mowery #1).
Performance: Average customer hold time for calls received on
toll-free number.
Article XI: Difference between Teacher Retirement System
estimates and LBB recommendations for Teacher Retirement System
Card; Health insurance reserve; Teacher Retirement System Care
open enrollment for Teacher Retirement System members who did
not elect coverage or who chose lower coverage at retirement and
now want to get or upgrade their coverage.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Optional Retirement Program
Representative Mowery moved the adoption of LBB recommendations.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions
Representative Mowery moved the adoption of LBB recommendations,
with the following changes:
Appropriations: Same rate increases as were adopted for ERS.
Article XI: A 60 day reserve. Employees Retirement System
requested premium and rates increases above LBB recommendations.
Technical: Increase in enrollees previously uncounted for Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
At 10:10 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,
the meeting was recessed until adjournment of the House Floor,
March 8, 2001.
The committee reconvened at 11:38 a.m. and was called to order
by the chair, Representative Junell. The roll was answered as
follows:
Present: Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;
Flores; Gutierrez; Hamric; Heflin; Hochberg; King,
Tracy; Moreno, Paul; Mowery; Pickett; Puente; Turner,
Sylvester (14).
Absent: Representatives Coleman; Delisi; Eiland; Farrar;
Gallego; Giddings; Glaze; Janek; Luna, Vilma; Maxey;
McReynolds; Pitts; Smith (13).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
Fourteen Courts of Appeals
Representative S. Turner moved to consider the budget for the
appellate courts.
(Representative Giddings now present.)(Representative Coleman
now present.)(Representative Gallego now
present.)(Representative Smith now present.)
Founding for Fourteen Courts of Appeal are pending.
(Representative West, George "Buddy" in chair.)
Office of Court Administration
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Increase general revenue funding for the
Judicial Committee on Information Technology Strategy
Rider: Capital Budget rider (S. Turner #1), Information Services
for the Trial Courts rider (S. Turner #2). The Committee pended
Interim Report.
FTE: Increase for various projects.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Public Safety
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Increase seized funds for additional recruit
school.
Rider: Additional Capital Budget Authority rider (Gallego #1),
Restoration of Existing Rider Sale of Vehicles rider (Gallego #
2), Automobile Emission Inspections rider (Gallego #3) and
Modification of Existing Rider Firearms Training Facility rider
(Gallego #4).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Juvenile Probation Commission
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Pending.
Representative S. Turner adopted: Subcommittee recommend keeping
number of new TYC commitments as a key-measure.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Military Facilities Commission
(Representative McReynolds now present.)
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Performance Measure: Percent of needed routine or preventive
maintenance completed and Percent of facilities that comply with
Texas Accessibility Standards.
Article XI: Funds to purchase land of construction of Joint
Reserve Facility in Houston area.
Rider: Additional Travel Limitation rider (S. Turner #1).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Youth Commission
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Performance Measures: Revisions to Strategy A.1.1. Correctional
Programs, Strategy B.1.1. Education and Workforce.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Office of the Attorney General
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Performance Measures: Revision to number of payments processed
by SDU Vendor, Amount of Title IV-D Child Support Collected (in
millions), Ratio of total dollars collected per dollar spent,
Amount of crime victim compensation awarded, Total dollars
awarded to sexual assault programs, total number of children
served by Court-appointed Volunteers and Total number of
counties served by CASA Programs.
Technical Adjustments: Revision to average cost per legal hour,
percent of IV-D cases with arrears due in which any amount is
paid toward arrears.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Supreme Court of Texas
Rider: Unclaimed Property Held by an Attorney rider (Gallego
#1), left pending.
Court Reporters Certification Board
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Rider: Contingent Appropriation of General Revenue rider (S.
Turner #1).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Performance Measures: Revision to strategy B.1.1. Average Cost
per License/Permit Processed; Strategy C.1.1. Average Cost Per
Inspection, Analysis, and Compliance Activity; and Strategy
C.2.1. Number Of Alcoholic Beverage Containers and Cigarette
Packages Stamped.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Criminal Justice
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Article XI: Contingency Appropriation Rider for House Bill 1617.
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Commission on Fire Protection
Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Rider: Contingency Payment of Lawsuit Judgement rider (S. Turner
#1).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Teachers Retirement System
Representative Gutierrez moved the adoption of the following:
Performance Measure: Average Customer Hold Time for Calls
Received on the Toll-Free Number.
Rider: Travel Expenditures rider (Gutierrez #1)
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
(Representative Junell in chair.)
(Representative Farrar now present.)
Texas Real Estate Commission
Representative T. King moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Funding in 2002 and 2003 for increased lease
expenses, funding in 2003 to move FTEs out of Austin, funding in
2002 for Modular furniture to reconfigure space needed for
downsizing.
Rider: Additional Legislative Intent rider (T. King #1),
Legislative Directive rider (T. King #2) and Contingent Revenue
rider (T. King #3).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Appraisal Licensing and Certification Board
(Representative Delisi now present.)
Representative T. King moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Funding to upgrade computers and software in
2002 and 2003.
Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King#1)
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
Representative T. King moved the to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Funding for Admin Tech II for implementation of
HB 1248 in 2002 and 2003, funding for an increase in
Investigator II, funding for an increase in office space in 2002
and no funding in 2003.
Performance Measurers: Increase Percent of Complaints Resulting
in Disciplinary Action , Increase Complaints Resolved for FY2002
by ten and FY 2003 by 15.
Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King#1).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Board of Medical Examiners
Representative Allen moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Funding: Increased funding for continuation of participation in
the Health Professions Council, funding for Increase Admin Tech
II and Investigator II for processing physician applications and
profiles.
Rider: Contingent Appropriation of General Revenue rider
(Allen#1).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
State Board of Barber Examiners
Representative Hamric moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Funding in 2002 to co-locate with the
Cosmetology Commission in the Frank Joseph Cosmetology Building;
funding in 2002 for telephone handsets to be compatible with
Cosmetology Commission's new telephone system; funding in 2002
to upgrade computer hardware and software.
Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (Hamric #1).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Board of Public Accountancy
Representative T. King moved to add the following changes to
previously adopted recommendations:
Appropriations: Funding for local area network upgrades.
Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King #1) and Capital Budget
rider (T. King #2).
Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Representative T. King moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes:
Appropriations: Funding in 2002 and 2003 for an Engineer Tech IV
and increased capital budget authority for 2003 (Amount is above
approved Biennial Operating Plan).
FTE : Increase FTE cap Engineer Tech IV serve as a Boiler
Inspector.
Performance Measures: Increase Inspection Coverage Rate and
Percentage of boilers inspected form certification with
appropriate time lines.
Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King #1) and Capital Budget
rider (T. King #2).
Without objection, the motion was adopted
Board of Plumbing Examiners
Representative Hamric moved the adoption of LBB recommendations
with the following changes:
Appropriations: Funding for 1 Program Specialist II.
Performance Measures: Change Number of Job Sites Monitored
Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (Hamric #1) and Capital Budget
rider (Hamric #2). Without objection, the motion was adopted
At 1:00 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, Chief Clerk