MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, January 25, 2001
8:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public
hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, January 25,
2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Chris Harris
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. There being a quorum
present, the following business was transacted:
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to provide testimony regarding
Legislative Budget Boards (LBB) recommendation:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Dominic Giarratani, LBB Budget Analyst
Thomas A. Davis, Director
Spoke to the progress in past two years. Talked about the
exceptional items and answered questions from Committee.
Colleen McHugh, Board Member
Spoke to the number one exceptional item of fleet replacement.
Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Tom Haas, Chief of Finance
David McEathron, Asst. Director
Frankie Waller, Asst. Director
Polygraph Examiners Board
Dominic Giarratani, LBB Budget Analyst
Frank DiTucci, Executive Officer
Spoke to the exceptional items in proposed budget. Salary
increases are needed and relief from travel cap. Answered
questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
William K. Teigen, Dallas, Texas
Texas Youth Commission
Cindy Noble, LBB Budget Analyst
Cathleen C. Herasimchuk, Board Member
Gave an overview and spoke to the general needs of the Youth
Commission. Answered questions.
Steve Robinson, Executive Director
Spoke to the exceptional items in proposed budget. Answered
questions.
Weldon "Terry" Graham, CFO
Answered questions.
Public Testimony:
Ted Meline Raab, Legislative Director, Texas State Employees Union
Criminal Justice Policy Council
Tony Fabelo, Ph.D.
Spoke to the two exceptional items in proposed budget.
At 10:39 a.m. Senator Truan moved that the committee stand recessed until 30
minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 11:59 a.m. the committee reconvened.
Adjutant General's Department
John Newton, LBB Budget Analyst
Major General Daniel James, III, Adjutant General
Spoke to the exceptional items in the proposed budget. Spoke to
the Seaborne /Challenge Youth Education Program in Galveston and
the success they have experienced with that particular program.
Answered questions.
Major General Wayne D. Marty, Asst. Adjutant General
Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying;
Major General Michael B. Smith, Asst. Adjutant General/Air
Division
Texas Military Facilities Commission
John Newton, LBB Budget Analyst
Jerry D. Malcolm, COL (ret), Executive Director
Introduced staff and Board member in attendance. Spoke to the
exceptional items in proposed budget. Answered questions.
Sandra Paret, Commission Member/Architect
Answered questions about need for repair of facilities. Ms. Paret
also spoke to exceptional item #8, a salary increase for the
Executive Director.
Registering, but not testifying:
Lydia Cruz, Director of Administration/Accounting
Texas Board of Medical Examiners
Mark Wiles, LBB Budget Analyst
Frank M. Langley, DVM, MD, JD, Executive Director
Gave an overview for the previous biennium. Spoke to the good
stewardship that the board had shown. Pointed out several
programs where the Texas Board of Medical Examiners is the leader
in the country with forward thinking programs. Answered
questions.
Wallace Lankford, Director of Finance
Spoke to the agencies priorities. Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Lee S. Anderson, MD, Board Member
Larry Price, MD, Board Member
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
Dominic Giarratani, LBB Budget Analyst
Allen Shivers, Jr., Chairman of the Commission
Spoke to the exceptional items being requested in the proposed
budget. Answered questions.
Doyne Bailey, Administrator
Answered questions. Answered specific questions about a state
employee, in Dallas area, that is serving as a contract employee
to MADD.
Randy Yarbrough, Asst. Administrator
Answered questions.
Board of Medical Examiners
Mark Wiles, LBB Budget Analyst
F.M. Langley,D.V.M., M.D., J.D.
Spoke to some of the initiative programs that the board had
initiated in the past several years and the plans for the future.
Answered questions from the Committee.
Wallace Lankford, Director of Finance
Answered questions from Committee.
There being no further business, Senator Ellis moved that the Committee
stand recessed until 8:00 a.m., Monday, January 29, 2001. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk