MINUTES 
                                           
                          SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS 
                              Tuesday, April 24, 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 24, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jane Nelson, Chair               
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Vice Chair      
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos               
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Jon Lindsay                      
                               Senator Jeff Wentworth                   
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chair reconvened the meeting at 2:34 p.m. and the following  
         business was transacted. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Board of Mental  
         Health and Mental Retardation. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Truan to introduce Karen Frank. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Richard  
         O'Connor. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions from members of the Committee. 
          
         At 3:05 p.m., a quorum was established. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that the appearance of Rudy Arredondo be  
         waived.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that Rudy  
         Arredondo, Richard O'Connor, and Karen Frank be confirmed to the  
         Texas Board of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. 
          
         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 voting as  
         aye.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
  
         The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas State Board of  
         Physician Assistant Examiners. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that the appearance of Margaret Bentley be  
         waived.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Lindsay to introduce Timothy Webb. 
          
         The nominee 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 Sabine River Authority of  
         Texas Board of Directors. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Bernsen to introduce Don Covington. 
          
         The Chair introduced Claudia Abney and Calvin Ebner. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by Senator Van de Putte. 
          
         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 Commission on State  
         Emergency Communications. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Ogden to introduce Dorothy Morgan. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Haywood to introduce Karen Hibbitt. 
          
         The Chair introduced John deNoyelles. 
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that the appearance of Heberto Gutierrez  
         be waived.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that the appearance of Jose Aranda,  
         Jr. be waived.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Dorothy Morgan, Jose Aranda, Jr., John deNoyelles, Heberto  
         Gutierrez, and Karen Hibbitt be confirmed to the Commission on  
         State Emergency Communications. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senator  
         Barrientos asked to be shown as voting aye.  Without objection,  
         the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Margaret Bentley and Timothy Webb be confirmed to the Texas  
         State Board of Physician Assistant Examiners. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senator  
         Barrientos asked to be shown as voting aye.  Without objection,  
         the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full Senate that  
         Claudia Abney, Don Covington, and Calvin Ebner be confirmed to  
         the Sabine River Authority of Texas Board of Directors. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senator  
         Barrientos asked to be shown as voting aye.  Without objection,  
         the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair laid out the nominee to the Texas Turnpike Authority. 
          
         Senator Haywood moved that the minutes from the previous meeting  
         be approved.  Without objection, the motion carried. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce Esperanza  
         Hope Andrade. 
          
         The nominee made opening remarks. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that Hope  
         Andrade be confirmed to the Texas Turnpike Authority.  
          
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senator  
         Barrientos asked to be shown as voting aye.  Without objection,  
         the motion carried. 
          
         Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full Senate that the  
         nominees with waived appearances listed on the attached agenda  
         be confirmed to their respective boards. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.  Senator  
         Barrientos asked to be shown as voting aye.  Without objection,  
         the motion carried. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:11 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