MINUTES 
                                           
                          SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS 
                              Tuesday, April 10, 2001 
                           1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.016 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations  
         was held on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos               
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.              
         Senator Tom Haywood                      
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth                        
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chair reconvened the meeting at 1:38 p.m. and the following  
         business was transacted. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Lucio to introduce his three  
         constituents. 
          
         Senator Lucio introduced Adrian A. Arriaga, nominee to the Texas  
         Board of Criminal Justice; James R. Langabeer, nominee to the  
         Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation; and Jorge D. Perez,  
         nominee to the Texas Military Facilities Commission. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the Governing Board of the  
         Texas School for the Deaf. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Truan to introduce Lesa Von Thomas. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Charles C.  
         Estes. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by the members of the Committee. 
          
         At 2:07 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Charles C. Estes and Lesa Von Thomas be confirmed to  
         the Governing Board of the Texas School for the Deaf. 
  
         Senator Gallegos seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Haywood, Lindsay, and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominee for Justice of the Supreme Court  
         of Texas. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce Wallace B.  
         Jefferson. 
          
         The nominee made opening remarks. 
          
         The Chair called Michael J. Black who testified in favor of  
         Wallace B. Jefferson. 
          
         The nominee responded to questions by the members of the  
         Committee. 
          
         At 2:52 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Wallace B. Jefferson be confirmed as Justice of the  
         Supreme Court of Texas. 
          
         Senator Barrientos seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Haywood and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting aye.   
         Without objection, the notion carried. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that the minutes from the previous meeting  
         be approved.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the nominees to the Texas  
         Board of Criminal Justice. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Gallegos to introduce Judge Mary  
         Bacon. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce Pierce  
         Miller. 
          
         The Chair introduced Christina M. Crain. 
          
         Senator Wentworth asked unanimous consent voting with the Chair  
         on all remaining nominees before the Committee.  Without  
         objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Carona to make remarks on behalf of  
         Christina M. Crain. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by the members of the Committee. 
          
         The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees  
         would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Military Facilities  
         Commission. 
          
         The Chair introduced Sandra Paret. 
          
         Senator Lucio introduced Jorge Perry earlier in the hearing. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by the members of the Committee. 
          
         The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees  
         would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the Interagency Council on  
         Early Childhood Intervention. 
          
         The Chair introduced Marcia D. Garcia and Michael Fuhrman. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by the members of the Committee. 
          
         At 3:45, Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Michael Fuhrman and Marcia D. Garcia be confirmed to  
         the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention. 
          
         Senator Lindsay seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Pierce Miller, Mary Bacon, Adrian A. Arriaga, and Christina M.  
         Crain be confirmed to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. 
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators   
         Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Sandra Paret and Jorge D. Perez be confirmed to the Texas  
         Military Facilities Commission. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators   
         Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         At 3:47 p.m., Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the  
         full Senate that the nominees with waived appearances listed on  
         the attached agenda be confirmed to their respective boards. 
  
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators   
         Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominee to the Board of Protective and  
         Regulatory Services. 
          
         The Chair introduced Christina O. Strauch. 
          
         The nominee made opening remarks and then responded to questions  
         by members of the Committee. 
          
         At 3:55 p.m., Senator Van de Putte assumed the Chair. 
          
         The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees  
         would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Guaranteed Student  
         Loan Corporation. 
          
         The Chair announced that the appearance of Jennifer Esterline  
         and Albon Head, Jr., nominees to this board, would be waived. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Bivins to introduce Jerry Don  
         Miller. 
          
         Senator Lucio introduced James R. Langabeer earlier in the  
         hearing. 
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by Senator Barrientos. 
          
         The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees  
         would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the State Board for Educator  
         Certification and introduced John J. Beck, Jr. 
          
         The Chair announced that the nomination of Mary C. Border would  
         be left pending. 
          
         The nominee made opening remarks and responded to questions by  
         the members of the Committee. 
          
         The Chair announced that the consideration of this nominee would  
         be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominee for Commissioner of Education. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos to introduce James E.  
         Nelson. 
          
         At 4:34 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Bivins to make remarks on behalf of  
  
         James E. Nelson. 
          
         The nominee made opening remarks and then responded to questions  
         by the members of the Committee. 
          
         At 5:43 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that James E. Nelson be confirmed as Commissioner of  
         Education. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         John J. Beck, Jr. be confirmed to the State Board for Educator  
         Certification. 
          
         Senator Gallegos seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
         Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Jennifer M. Esterline, Albon O. Head, Jr., James R. Langabeer,  
         and Jerry D. Miller be confirmed to the Texas Guaranteed Student  
         Loan Corporation. 
          
         Senator Gallegos seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Christina O. Strauch be confirmed to the Board of Protective and  
         Regulatory Services. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senators  
         Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:46 p.m. Senator Van de  
         Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the  
         call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Jane Nelson, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Cheri Huddleston, Clerk