MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Thursday, March 8, 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, March 8, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room  
         E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Chris Harris                     
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos               
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Carlos Truan 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The Committee continued its markup session on the General  
         Appropriations Bill (Senate Bill 1).  Senator Ellis recognized  
         Senator Duncan, Chairman of the work group for Public Education  
         (Article III) to present the work group recommendations to the  
         full Committee on the following agencies: 
          
              PUBLIC EDUCATION: 
              School for the Deaf:  
              LBB technical adjustment was made.  Without objection, the  
              adjustment was adopted. Workgroup recommendation was  
              adopted without objection.  
              Rider proposed by LBB to add new special provision for  
              TSBVI and TSD to allow certain exemptions to the Article IX  
              travel limitation.  Without objection, the rider was  
              adopted. 
              School for the Blind & Visually Impaired: 
              A technical rider proposed by LBB was adopted without  
              objection.  The work group recommendation was adopted  
      
              without objection.   
              LBB proposed rider adopted without objection in Article XI. 
              State Board for Educator Certification:   
              Technical correction made by LBB was adopted without  
              objection.  Senator Duncan's work group recommendation was  
              adopted without objection.   
              Rider proposed by LBB concerning Computer-Assisted Testing  
              was adopted without objection and put in Article XI.  
              The Test Development Rider, proposed by LBB, was adopted  
              without objection.   
              Rider proposed by LBB concerning National Criminal History  
              Background Check was adopted without objection. 
              Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board:  
              LBB base recommendation on Unexpected Balance Carry Forward  
              was left pending.  Senator Duncan's work group  
              recommendation was adopted without objection.  Rider on  
              Travel cap adopted without objection. 
          
         Senator Ellis recognized Senator Ogden, Chairman of the work  
         group for Employee Retirement System/Teacher Retirement System  
         and Health Insurance Costs to present the work group  
         recommendations to the full Committee. 
          
              EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM/TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND  
              HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS: 
              Employee Retirement System: 
              LBB technical adjustment was adopted without objection..   
              Senator Ogden's workgroup recommendation was adopted  
              without objection.    
              Teacher Retirement System: 
              Senator Ogden explained his work group recommendation which  
              was adopted without objection. 
              Rider proposed by Senator Ogden concerning additional FTEs,  
              increases for other operating expended such as salaries  
              professional expenses, and investment travel, was adopted  
              without objection.   
              Rider proposed by Senator Ogden on exempting travel  
              associated with the internal management of investments from  
              the travel cap was adopted. 
              Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions: 
              LBB recommend with the technical adjustment was adopted  
              without objection. 
              Senator Ogden's work group recommendation was adopted  
         without objection.   
          
         At 9:20AM the chair laid out SB529 and recognized the author,  
         Senator Bernsen, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  Senator  
         Truan moved that SB529 be left pending; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  
               
         There being no further business, at 9:37 a.m. Senator Ellis  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Amber Martin, Assistant Clerk