MINUTES
Wednesday, February 7, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Veteran Affairs & Military
Installations Committee was held on Wednesday, February 7, 2001,
in the Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin,
Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan None
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
*****
Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. The
Committee Clerk called the roll, and there being a quorum
present, the following business was transacted:
Chairman Truan called for the adoption of the Committee Rules.
Senator Shapleigh moved to adopt the Rules. With a call of the
roll, the Committee Rules were adopted with 4 ayes, 0 nays, and
1 absent. The Chairman introduced Committee staff.
Invited guest speaker, Commissioner David Dewhurst of the Texas
General Land Office, testified as a Resource Witness on the
Veterans Land Board. Commissioner Dewhurst noted legislation
authored by Chairman Truan during the 76th Session, SB 1509,
helped veterans across Texas receive more home loans by
increasing the legal lending limit. The Commissioner also
testified on the current needs of the Veterans Land Board,
including additional bonding authority and lifting the
restrictions on revenue bonds. Chairman Truan noted he was
drafting this legislation needed by the Veterans Land Board and
offered all Committee Members to cosponsor. Commissioner
Dewhurst noted his support for the Texas Veterans Coalition and
their request to obtain $150 million from the tobacco settlement
funds to create a "Millenium Health Care Bill." The $150
million would be used to create a veterans health trust fund
which would support veterans homes and cemetaries.
Chairman Truan laid out SB175, relating to parking privileges
for vehicles of certain veterans or the surviving spouses of
certain veterans, and recognized the author, Senator Lindsay, to
explain the bill. Senator Fraser moved that SB175 be reported
favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass
and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 5
ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator
Shapleigh moved that the bill be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
Chairman Truan laid out SB179, relating to exempting members of
the armed forces from the Texas Academic Skills Program, and
recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.
Senator Fraser sent up a committee substitute; Chairman Truan
recognized Senator Fraser to explain the difference between the
committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Fraser
moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,
it was so ordered. Dr. James Anderson, representing Central
Texas College, and Mr. Gary Bushell, representing the Corpus
Christi Chamber of Commerce, testified in favor of the bill.
Ms. Linda McDonough, representing The Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board, testified on the bill. Senator Shapleigh
noted Section Three of the committee substitute and suggested an
amendment to strike it from the bill. Senator Fraser requested
unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Fraser then moved that the new committee substitute be
adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser
moved that SB179 do not pass but that CSSB179 be reported back
to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. Chairman Truan announced Senator Shapleigh requested
he be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.
The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 0 absent.
Chairman Truan laid out SCR6, directing the Texas Transportation
Commission to prioritize the construction of State Highway 195,
and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the
concurrent resolution. Colonel David Hall, representing U.S.
Army, Fort Hood, and Mr. Gary Bushell, representing the Corpus
Christi Chamber of Commerce, testified in favor of the
concurrent resolution. Al Luedecke, representing Texas
Department of Transportation as Director of Transportation,
Planning and Programming, and Mr. Richard Skopik, representing
Texas Department of Transportation as District Engineer, Waco
District, testified on the concurrent resolution. Senator Van
de Putte moved that SCR6 be reported favorably to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
Chairman Truan announced Senator Shapleigh requested he be shown
voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. The motion
carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent.
There was no action taken for the following bill(s):
SB 186 by Chairman Truan was left to be laid out at a later
date.
There being no further business, at 4:25 p.m. Senator Haywood
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair
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Rhonda Pointer, Clerk