MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING 
                                Monday, May 28, 2001 
                                  Upon Adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.012 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to suspension of Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18, a  
         public hearing of the Senate Committee on Redistricting was  
         held on Monday, May 28, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.012, in 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 Troy Fraser 
         Senator Mario Gallegos 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 3:58 p.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was  
         transacted:   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called: 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
          
         The chair provided introductory comments.  The chair  
         referred to Governor Perry's letter sent to Lt. Governor  
         Ratliff and Speaker Laney.  The Governor requested that the  
         House and Senate begin working on Congressional and State  
         Board of Education district lines immediately after  
         adjournment.  The Governor wrote that he would call a  
         special session of the Legislature to approve Congressional  
         and State Board of Education district plans if they can  
         receive the support of both houses of the Legislature.   
          
         The chair stated that the purpose of this organizational  
         meeting was to discuss when to schedule the next committee  
         meeting.   
          
         The chair asked members if they wanted to meet the next day  
         or on Tuesday, June 5, 2001, Wednesday, June 6, 2001, or  
         Thursday, June 7, 2001.  The chair did not want to schedule  
         a meeting on the same day as Senator Haywood's son's  
         funeral, Thursday, May 31, 2001.  Committee members  
         discussed the possible dates and made recommendations.  The  
         chair requested committee members share their preferences  
         with the committee clerk.   
          
         Senator Ellis suggested that the chair schedule the meeting  
         for next week so that the Texas Congressional delegation  
         would have time to reach some consensus.   
          
         Senator Cain asked about the time frame for redistricting.   
         The chair stated he had not recently visited with the  
         Governor about the redistricting time frame.   
          
         Senator Fraser suggested workgroups be created to work on  
         redistricting.  The chair voiced his opposition to  
         formalizing workgroups that would probably meet outside the  
  
         requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act.   
          
         Senator Shapiro asked about the agenda for the next  
         meeting.  The chair announced Congressional plans created  
         by Senator Armbrister and committee staff would be  
         considered at the meeting.  Senator Shapiro and Senator  
         Armbrister discussed the Congressional plan passed by the  
         House Committee on Redistricting.   
          
         Senator Jackson suggested reviewing the State Board of  
         Education plan supported by most board members as the  
         starting point for the committee's consideration of a State  
         Board of Education plan.   
          
         Senator Armbrister asked the committee staff counsels, Jon  
         Snare and Mike Hemer, what the role of the committee as an  
         entity would be in relation to the Legislative  
         Redistricting Board's redistricting process.  The attorneys  
         stated there is no precedent for the committee as an entity  
         to be involved in the Legislative Redistricting Board's  
         activities.  The Lt. Governor and Speaker can decide what  
         Senate and House resources to use.   
          
         Senator Armbrister requested the Legislative Redistricting  
         Board staff contacts names and phone numbers be provided to  
         every member of the Senate.  Senator Gallegos asked that  
         committee staff contact numbers be distributed to him and  
         Senator Fraser.   
          
         The chair reminded committee members about the committee  
         dinner taking place at 7 p.m. that evening at the Bob  
         Bullock Texas State History Museum.   
          
         There being no further business, at 4:19 p.m., the chair  
         announced the committee would stand in recess, subject to  
         the call of the chair.  Without objection, the committee  
         recessed.   
          
         ____________________________ 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair 
          
         ____________________________ 
         Erica Sadlon, Clerk