MINUTES 
                                           
                             Tuesday, October 30, 2001 
                                     1:30 p.m. 
                      Betty King 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 Tuesday, October 30, 2001,  
         in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin,  
         Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Carlos F. Truan                 None 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m.  The  
         Committee Clerk called the roll, and there being a quorum  
         present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Chairman Truan requested everyone stand and observe a moment of  
         silence in remembrance of Senator Tom Haywood. 
          
         Chairman Truan welcomed everyone to the organizational hearing,  
         and made opening remarks on the interim charges issued by  
         Lieutenant Governor William Ratliff.  Senators Shapleigh, Fraser  
         and Van de Putte also made opening remarks.  Chairman Truan laid  
         out the interim committee rules.  Senator Fraser moved to adopt  
         the rules.  With a call of the roll, the Committee Rules were  
         adopted with 4 ayes, 0 nays.  Chairman Truan introduced  
         Committee staff. 
          
         After completing the committee's organizational business,  
         Chairman Truan called Ms. Cassie Carlson-Reed, Executive  
         Director of the Texas Workforce Commission, for testimony  
         regarding the Veteran Services Program and SB 1159, relating to  
         providing state veteran services. 
          
         Chairman Truan called the following persons to provide a  
         briefing on the Texas National Guard and United States Reserves: 
              Major General Wayne Marty, Assistant Adjutant General,  
              Texas Army National Guard; 
              Brigadier General Michael Smith, Assistant Adjutant  
              General, Texas Air National Guard; 
  
              Colonel Jill Collins, Executive Officer, Texas Air National  
              Guard; 
              Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Hamilton, Mobilization Readiness  
              Officer, Texas Army National Guard; 
              Lieutenant Colonel John Stanford, State Liaison Officer,  
              Adjutant General's Department; and 
              Gary Walston, Ombudsman, Texas Committee for Employer  
              Support for Guard and Reserves. 
          
         Chairman Truan then called on Mr. Mike Olen, Veteran Services  
         Program Manager of the Texas Workforce Commission, to brief the  
         Committee on the Commission's and the United States Department  
         of Labor's role in protecting guardsmen with employment issues  
         and SB 1159. 
          
         Chairman Truan called Mr. Douglas Oldmixon, Executive Secretary,  
         and Mr. Rusty Martin, Director of Funds Management, of the Texas  
         Veterans Land Board to give testimony on HB 2453, relating to  
         conditions for issuance of certain revenue bonds by the  
         Veterans' Land Board, land and housing programs, state veteran  
         homes, and HB 310, relating to veterans cemeteries. 
          
         Chairman Truan then called Mr. James Nier, Executive Director of  
         the Texas Veterans Commission to brief the Committee on state  
         veteran homes, HB 310 and SB 1159. 
          
         Chairman Truan called on Mr. David Anderson, Managing Director  
         of Curriculum and Professional Development at the Texas  
         Education Agency, to brief the Committee on HB 2125, relating to  
         public school admission for military personnel and dependents. 
          
         Chairman Truan invited Mr. Patrick Reilly to testify on creating  
         a disabled Purple Heart license plate for veterans.   
          
         There being no further business, at 4:26 p.m. Senator Truan  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Rhonda Pointer, Clerk