MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING 
                              Thursday, March 29, 2001 
                                     8:30 a.m. 
                            Capitol Extension Auditorium 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate  
         Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Redistricting was held on Thursday, March 29, 2001, in  
         the Capitol Extension Auditorium at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth                  None 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
         Senator David Cain 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:50 a.m.   
         There being a quorum present, the following business  
         was transacted:   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was  
         called: 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Ken Armbrister 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
          
         Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the committee minutes  
         from the previous hearing on January 31, 2001.  There  
         being no objection, the minutes were adopted. 
  
         SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING 
         Minutes 
         Thursday, March 29, 2001 
         Page Two 
          
         The chair provided opening remarks and introduced  
         committee staff.   
          
         The chair called attention to the new Senate schedule.   
         Effective on March 29, 2001, the Senate would begin  
         meeting at 10 a.m.  The chair announced the committee  
         would take public testimony for about one hour in the  
         morning and would reconvene thirty minutes following  
         adjournment of the Senate.   
          
         Due to the large number of attendees wishing to  
         testify, the chair requested witnesses limit their  
         testimony to six minutes or less, if possible.  The  
         chair also asked witnesses to identify themselves and  
         state who they represent.  Senator Zaffirini requested  
         witnesses state the senate districts in which they  
         reside and the names of the counties they planned to  
         discuss.   
          
         There being no objection, the chair then announced the  
         committee would reconvene in a joint meeting with the  
         House Committee on Redistricting at 4 p.m. on Thursday,  
         April 5, 2001 to hear public testimony on redrawing  
         Congressional and State Board of Education district  
         lines.  The chair stressed the meeting location was  
         moved from E1.004 (Capitol Extension Auditorium) to  
         1E.030 (House Appropriations Committee Room) because of  
         the large number of committee members.  Senator  
         Zaffirini emphasized that the purpose of this meeting  
         was to hear testimony about redrawing senate lines.   
          
         Senator Zaffirini and Senator Truan provided welcome  
         comments. 
          
         Public testimony began and committee members questioned  
         witnesses.   
          
         At 9:55 a.m. the chair announced that the committee  
         would stand in recess until 30 minutes following  
         adjournment of the Senate.   
          
         At 1:09 p.m. the committee reconvened.  The chair  
         informed attendees that some committee members'  
         absences were due to simultaneous meetings of the  
         Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Committee  
         on Finance.  The chair reminded persons wanting to  
         testify to be sure to complete a witness card.   
          
         SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING 
         Minutes 
  
         Thursday, March 29, 2001 
         Page Three 
          
         Public testimony took place and committee members  
         questioned witnesses. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:25 p.m. Senator  
         Wentworth moved that the Committee stand in recess  
         subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection,  
         the motion passed.   
          
         ____________________________ 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair 
          
         ____________________________ 
         Erica Sadlon, Clerk