MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Thursday, March 15, 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 15, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Rodney Ellis None 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 John Whitmire 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 Fraser, Chairman of the Capital Budgets & State Leased Space workgroup, to review the proposed business. The Committee was provided with a packet of riders to consider. CAPITAL BUDGETS (Article II) Packet II: LBB provided a brief overview of their highlighted recommendations. The Committee adopted the recommendations without objection. Funding for the items were in the base bill whoever the committee needed to adopt the proposed new language. Senator Fraser moved the LBB recommendations for new language be adopted without objection. The following Riders were considered for Article IX: Rider page 3, By Senator Fraser - Biennial Operating Plan - Adopted without objection. Rider page 4, By Senator Fraser - Information Technology Replacement - Adopted without objection. Rider page 5, By Senator Lindsay - State Office Lease Space - Adopted without objection. Rider page 6 & 7, By Senator Lindsay - State Agency Emergency Leases - Adopted without objection. Rider page 8, By Senator Lindsay - Study on State Office Lease Space - Adopted as amended. Strike the explanation. Rider page 9, By Senator Lindsay - Study on State Personnel Costs - Adopted as amended. Strike the explanation. Rider page 10, By Senator Lindsay - Administrative Lease Consolidation - HOLD Rider page 11, Prepared by LBB - Vehicle Fleet Management - Adopted without objection. Rider page 12, Prepared by LBB - MHMR Infrastructure Improvements - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 13, Prepared by LBB - Upgrade of License Facilities - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 14 - 14V, By Senator Fraser - Actions Affecting Capital Budgets - all adopted without objection. Rider page 15 - 15D, By Senator Fraser - Related Riders on TDCJ, DPS and TNRCC - All 4 riders were adopted without objection. Rider page 16s, By Senator Fraser - Technical Corrections - Adopted without objection. Rider page 17 - 17D, By Senator Fraser - Proposed Reduction in Debt Services -Texas Public Finance Authority - Adopted handout and all others without objection. Rider page 18, By Senator Fraser - Review of Aircraft Operations Cost - Pulled down. Rider page 19, Prepared by LBB - Increase TWC appropriations by $14.4 million - Adopted without objection. Senator Ellis recognized Senator Zaffirini to lay out the Health and Human Services Special Provisions Packet. The following business was conducted: HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (Packet I Article II) Rider page 1, By Senator Zaffirini - Continency Appropriation for SB 33 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Language page 2, Adopted with corrections Rider page 3, By Senator Ellis - Business Processes Study & Transfers - Adopted in the base bill with corrections. Page 4 corrections were adopted Rider page 5, By Senator Ellis - Collocation of HHS Administrative Offices - Pulled Rider page 6, By Zaffirini - Contingent Appropriation for SB 1593 - Adopted without objection. Rider page 7, By Zaffirini - Contingency Appropriation for Senator Bill 43 - Adopted as amended without objection. Rider page 8, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingent Appropriation for SB 876 - Adopted without objection. Rider page 9, By Barrientos - Foster Care Program - Adopted without objection. Rider passed out, By Senator Zaffirini - Adopted for the base as amended. Rider page 11, By Senator Sibley carried by Senator Ogden - TCADA - Adopted for Article XI Rider page 12 & 13, By Senator Duncan - Contingency Rider for Senate Bill 1475 - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 14, By Senator Fraser - Texas Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing - Pulled Rider 15, By Senator Fraser - Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing - Adopted for Article XI. Rider page 16, By Senator Van de Putte carried by Senator Zaffirini - Department of Health - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 17, By Senator Truan - Texas Medicaid payments for air ambulance services - Adopted for Article XI. Rider page 18, By Van de Putte carried by Senator Harris - Medicaid Pilot Asthma Disease Management Program - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 19, By Senator Ellis - Expand the Use of Telemedicine to Help Disabled Children - Adopted for Article XI. Rider page 21, By Senator Fraser - Center for Rural Health Initiatives - Adopted for Article XI. Rider page 22, By Senator Madla carried by Senator Harris - Center for Rural Health Initiatives - Adopted without objection. Rider page 23, By Senator Van de Putte carried by Senator Truan - Department of Health - Adopted for Article XI Rider page 24, By Senator's Lindsay, Madla & Truan - Department of Health - Adopted for Article XI. Rider page 25, By Senator Lindsay - Department of Health - Pulled down Rider page 26, By Senator Duncan - Allocate Certain Amounts for Sickle Cell Anemia Program - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 27, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - TDH Project Redirection - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 28, By Senator Cain carried by Senator Whitmire - TDH - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 29, By Senator Zaffirini - Hepatitis C Treatment Grant Program - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 30, By Senator Moncrief carried by Senator Zaffirini - Tarrant County Hospital District - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 31, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - Medicaid Capitation & Reimbursement Rates in the Texas-Mexico Border Region - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 32, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - Financial Incentives to Physicians Who Provide Services Under Medicaid in the Texas-Mexico Border Region - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 33, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - Women & Children Health Services - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 34, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - Public School Indoor Air Quality Program - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 35, By Senator Van de Putte carried by Senator Ellis - Contingency Appropriation for Senate Bill 1152 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 36, By Senator Nelson carried by Senator Ellis - Contingency Appropriation for SB 532 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 37 - By Senator Moncrief carried by Senator Zaffirini - Contingent Appropriation for SB 859 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 38, By Senator Moncrief carried by Senator Zaffirini - Contingent Appropriation for SB 860 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 39, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - Contingent Appropriation for SB 861 -Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 40, By Senator Truan - Family Violence Services - HOLD Rider page 41, By Senator Zaffirini - TANF Separate State Program - Adopted without objection for Article XI. The Committee took a short break from the Health & Human Services packet to considered SB 679. The chair laid out SB679 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Harris moved that SB679 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. At 10:41 a.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair and moved that the committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. The Committee reconvened at 1:35 to revisit the Health & Human Services packet (Article II) and considered the following riders: Rider page 42, By Senator Zaffirini - Civil Monetary Penalty Funds - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 43, By Senator Zaffirini - Residential & Non-residential Family Violence - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 44, By Senator Zaffirini - Family Related Sanction Mitigation - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 45, By Senator Ellis - Adopted for Article XI Rider page 46, By Senator Zaffirini - TANF Resource Limit - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 47, By Senator Zaffirini - Earned Income Disregard - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 48, By Senator Harris - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 49, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 42 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 50, By Senator Zaffirini - Domestic Violence Training - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 51, By Senator Zaffirini - Independent Living Transition Medicaid Assistance - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 52, By Senator Zaffirini - Tuition Assistance for Licensed Vocational Nurses - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 53, By Senator Moncrief carried by Senator Zaffirini - Continent Appropriation for SB 1376 - Adopted as amended. Rider page 54, By Senator Fraser - Nursing Facility Survey Inspections - Adopted in the base bill. Rider page 55, By Senator West carried by Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 297 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 56, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 34 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 57, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingent upon the enactment of SB 159 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 58, By Senator Zaffirini - Amelioration of Violations - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 59-65 By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 375 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 60, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 376 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 61, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 1008 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 62, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 184 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 63, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 160 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 64, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 167 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 65, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 49 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 66, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 39 - Pulled Rider page 67, By Senator Fraser - Voluntary Medicaid Demonstration Pilot by the Rural Community Health System - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 68, By Senator Lindsay - Women's Health Care Medicaid Waiver - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 69, By Senator Harris, Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 70, By Senator West and carried by Senator Duncan - HHS to Fund Texas Information & Referral Network - Adopted as amended in the base. Rider page 71, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Zaffirini - CHIP Capitation Rates in the Texas-Mexico Border Region - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 72, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Zaffirini - Financial Incentive to Physicians Who Provide Services Under Chip - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 73, By Senator Zaffirini - TIF Grants - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 74, By Senator Zaffirini - Border Region Children's Medicaid Simplification Pilot - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 75, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 35 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 76, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingency for SB 367 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 77, By Senator's Zaffirini, Duncan & Ogden, Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 78, By Senator Zaffirini, HOLD Rider page 79, By Senator Lindsay & Fraser, Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 81, By Senator Truan - Children's Foster Care Payments - Pending Rider page 82, By Senator Harris, Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 83, By Senator Ogden - Establishing a Human Resources Management Plan - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 84, By Senator West carried by Senator Zaffirini - Transitional Room & Board - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 85, By Senator Harris -Child Protective Services Caseload Model - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 86, By Senator Fraser, Pulled Rider page 87, By Senator Fraser, Pulled Rider page 88, By Senator Fraser, Pulled Rider page 89, By Senator Zaffirini - Integrated Family Services With Specialized Child Care - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 90, By Senator Zaffirini - Infant Mortality Prevention - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 91, By Senator Ogden - Use of Personal Cellular Phones - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 92, By Senator Moncrief carried by Senator Zaffirini - Continent Appropriation for SB 1245 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 93, By Senator Harris - At-Risk Prevention Services - a Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 94, By Senator Ogden - Plan for Serving Dual Diagnosed Persons - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 95, By Senator Zaffirini - Promoting Independence - Pulled Rider page 96, By Senator Lindsay - MHMR Performance Measure Adjustment - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 97, By Senator Lindsay - MHMR New Generation Medication Selection - Adopted for the base bill as amended. Rider page 98, By Senator Lindsay - New Generation Medications - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 99, By Senator Lindsay - Performance Measure Targets - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 100, By Senator Lindsay - Indigent Mental Health Services - adopted in the base bill. Rider page 101, By Senator Lindsay - HCS Mid-Range Waiver Program - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 102, By Senator Lindsay - HCS Mid-Range Waiver Program - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 103, By Senator Harris - Home & Community-based Services Mid-Range Waiver - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 104, By Senator Harris - MHMR - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 105, By Senator Ogden - Salary Schedule for Professional Trainees & Interns - Adopted for Article XI. Rider page 106, By Senator Fraser, Pulled Rider page 107, By Senator Harris - MHMR Salary Increases - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 108, By Senator Whitmire - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 109, By Senator Lindsay - Mental Health Funding Equity - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 110, By Senator Nelson carried by Senator Zaffirini - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 111, By Senator Nelson carried by Senator Zaffirini - Amendment to Rider 14 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 112, By Senator Lindsay - Harris County Nuero-Psychiatric Center - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 113, By Senator Nelson carried by Senator Zaffirini - Denton County MHMR Center - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 114, By Senator Whitmire - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider distributed by Senator Zaffirini - TDH Border Health for Immunizations - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Senator Ellis announced the next order of business would be Packet III, General Government (Article I): GENERAL GOVERNMENT (Article I, Packet III) Rider page 2, By Senator Cain carried by Senator Barrientos - Nine West - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 3, By Senator Duncan - Water Disputes - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 5 & 6, By Senator Lucio - Oil Overcharge - Adopted without objection in the base bill. Rider page 7, By Senator Zaffirini - Comptroller of Public Accounts - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 8, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Duncan - Performance Review for University of Texas at El Paso - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 9, By Senator Haywood - Contingent on SB 1486 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 10, By Senator Duncan - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 11, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Lucio - Contingency Appropriation for SB 464 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 12, By Senator Zaffirini - Contingent of SB 311 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Senator Truan requested that a motion be made on his workgroup recommendation for the Secretary of State Budget. Senator Harris and Senator Truan moved that the Secretary of the State Budget Request be adopted. Without objection, it was so ordered. The Committee took a short recess. Senator Ellis recognized Senator Barrientos, Chairman of the State Employee Workgroup on Salaries, to lay out his workgroup recommendations. A packet was distributed for the Committee to review. There being no objection, the workgroup recommendations on State Employee Salaries were adopted with a record vote of 13 Ayes and 0 Nays. LBB made 2 technical corrections for Article XI. Without objection, the technical corrections were adopted. Senator Haywood sent up a rider - Reduction in General Revenue Appropriations. After much debate, Senator Truan moved to table the rider. With the record vote of 11 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent, the rider was tabled. The chair laid out SB180 and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Fraser moved that SB180 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. Senator Ellis recognized Comptroller Rylander to explain and answer questions on the following riders for the Texas Department of Transportation: TxDOT Riders - Packet VI Rider page 1, By Senator Lucio - Proposed Paving the Way Rider page 2, By Senator Lucio - Expand the Reach of the State Infrastructure Bank Rider page 3, By Senator Lucio - Improve Texas' Share of Federal Discretionary Funds Rider page 4, By Senator Lucio, Apply Innovative Asset Management Practices to TxDOT Owned Land and Buildings Rider page 5, By Senator Lucio - Apply Innovative Asset Management Practices to TxDOT Owned Land and Buildings Rider page 6, By Senator Lucio - Apply Innovative Asset Management Practices to TxDOT Owned Land and Buildings Senator Lucio pulled all TxDOT riders down. He decided to take the riders and propose a bill at a later date. The chair laid out SB1263 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. Comptroller Rylander was recognized as a resource witness to testified and answer questions on the bill. All other witnesses can be found on the attached list. Senator Ellis moved that SB1263 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. The Committee continued their review of Packet III, General Government (Article I). The following business was conducted: GENERAL GOVERNMENT (Article I, Packet III ) Continued: Rider page 14, Senator Duncan - Texas Online Project - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 15, By Shapiro carried by Senator Zaffirini - Continent on SB 27 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 20, performance measures, adopted in article XI supercedes. Rider page 26, By Senator Duncan - Provide Contingency funding for SB 490 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 27, By Senator Duncan. Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 28, By Senator Duncan - Texas Tech - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 30, By Senator Duncan - International Trade Center - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 32, By Senator Lindsay - Honey Bee Research - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 33, By Senator Lindsay - Honey Bee Research - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 34, By Senator Armbrister carried by Senator Ellis - Water Rescue - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 38, By Senator Duncan - Electronic Format for Court of Criminal Appeals - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 39 & 40, By Senator Ellis - Texas Indigent Defense Council - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 40A, By Senator Duncan - Assistance National Center for State Courts - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 41, By Senator Brown carried by Senator Whitmire - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 49, By Senator Whitmire - Contracted Temporary Capacity - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 50, By senator Whitmire - Adopted for the base bill. Rider page 51, By Senator Whitmire - Telephone Technology Trial - Adopted without objection for Article XI Rider page 52, By Senator Duncan - Western Regional Medical Facility - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 54, By Senator Fraser - DPS - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 55, By Senator Armbrister carried by Senator Ellis - Emergency Management Service - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 56, By Senator Armbrister carried by Senator Ellis - Contingent for HB 1748 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 58, By Senator's Zaffirini, Ogden, Whitmire & Duncan - Population Distribution Study - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 60, By Senator Ogden - Railroad Commission - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 61, By Senator Brown carried by Senator Jackson - TNRCC - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 62, By Senator Shapleigh carried Senators Duncan & Lucio- Rio Grande River Park - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 63, By Senator Duncan. Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 64, By Senator Duncan. Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 65, By Senator Lucio - Rio Grande River Park - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 66, By Senator Shapleigh carried By Senator Lucio - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 70, By Senator Lucio - Bond Refinancing - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 71, By Senator Lucio - Contingent on SB 1760 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 72, By Senator Lucio - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 73, By Senator Lucio - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 73A & 73 B, By Senator Shapiro carried by Senator's Ogden & Whitmire - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Senator Fraser voted against rider page 73A. Rider page 75, By Senator Moncrief carried by Senator Ellis - Contingent for SB 1594 or House companion - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 76, By Senator Duncan - Continent for SB 736 - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 78, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Ellis - Local Matching Funds - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 79, By Senator Duncan - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 80, By Senator Lindsay - Health Insurance Portability - Adopted for the base of the bill. Rider page 82, By Senator Ellis - Adopted for the base of the bill Riders passed out by Senator Zaffirini proposed by Senator Moncrief - Adopted without objection for Article XI. The next order of business to be considered by the Committee was a packet of riders on Crime Victim's Compensation Items. The following riders were considered: CRIME VICTIME'S COMPENSATION ITEMS (Packet IV) Page 1 laid out by LBB - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Riders page 2 & 3, laid out by LBB - Adopted without objection for base bill. Rider page 4, Senator Harris moves adoption - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 5 - Crime Victim's Compensation Program - Adopted for the base of the bill. Senator Barrientos voted against it. Rider page 6, By Senator Zaffirini - Motion that implements the workgroup recommendation - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Senator Ogden requested an Article XI additional funding for foster care. LBB will draft it up. The rider was adopted without objection. Rider By Senator's Truan, Zaffirini and Whitmire - Fund additional Specialized Foster Care Court - Adopted for the base of the bill. Rider By Senator Fraser - State Office of Risk Management - Reverse motion from earlier. Adopted without objection for the base bill. Senator Ellis announced that the end of the hearing was close at hand. The Committee was provided with the Final Rider/Motion Packet to consider the following riders: FINAL RIDER/MOTION PACKET Rider page 2, By Senator Madla carried by Senator Harris. Adopted without objection for Article XI. Pull previous rider. Rider page 4, By Senator Ellis - Office of Civil Rights' Priority Plan - Adopted without objection for the base of the bill. Rider page 6 & 7, By Senator Barrientos - Language change - Adopted as amended. Rider page 9 & 10, By Senator Ellis. Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 12, Technical adjustments - Adopted without objection. Rider page 13, By Senator Madla carried by Senator Lucio - Special Items Support - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 14 & 15, By Senator Ellis - Technical correction - Adopted without objection for the base bill. Rider page 16, By Senator Shapleigh carried by Senator Lucio - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 17, By Senator Lucio - Transportation Investment Report - Adopted without objection for Article XI. Rider page 18, Appropriation & Unexpended Balance - Higher Education Funds - Adopted for the base bill Rider page 19, By Senator Ellis - Capitol Equity & Excellence Agreement - Senator Zaffirini laid out several recommendations. Without objection they were adopted. Rider passed out By Senator Lucio. Texas Dept. of Economic Development - Previously adopted but added a language change. Without objection the rider was adopted as amended. Senator Ellis thanked the LBB and announced that the Committee would meet back on Monday, March 26th to adopted the General Appropriations Bill (Senate Bill 1). The Chair requested that following the adoption of SB1, that several members accompany him to the Senate Education Committee to answer questions about the place holder for teacher's health insurance. The General Appropriations bill will be heard on the Senate floor on March 28th. There being no further business, at 6:50 p.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, Clerk