The House Committee on Economic Development 
         78th Legislature 
         March 16, 2004 
         9:00 a.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E2.026 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on February 24, 2004, the House  
         Committee on Economic Development met in a public hearing and  
         was called to order by the chair, Representative Keffer, Jim, at  
         9:15 a.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Keffer, Jim; Homer; Isett; Hughes;  
                   Rodriguez; Wong (6). 
          
         Absent:   Representative Thompson (1). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Testimony was taken on interim charge topic 7:  Monitor the  
         agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction, with  
         special attention paid to the agencies' implementation of sunset  
         legislation. (See attached witness list.)  
          
         Testimony was taken on interim charge topic 5:  Study the role  
         that Texas ports have in the economic growth of the state and  
         how the state can partner with ports in developing trade, 
         business recruitment and relocation, and the transportation of  
         good and services both in domestic and foreign markets.  (See  
         attached witness list.)  
          
         Testimony was taken on interim charge topic 6:  Evaluate the  
         state's role in serving economic development interests in rural  
         Texas after the passage of SB 275, 78th Legislature, and other  
         economic development legislation from the 78th Legislature.   
         (See attached witness list.)  
          
         (Representative Homer in chair.) 
          
         (Representative Keffer, Jim in chair.) 
          
         At 12:43 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was recessed until 1:15 p.m., March 16, 2004. 
          
         The committee reconvened at 1:20 p.m. and was called to order by  
         the chair, Representative Keffer, Jim. The roll was answered as  
         follows: 
         Present:  Representatives Keffer, Jim; Homer; Isett; Hughes;  
                   Rodriguez; Wong (6). 
          
         Absent:   Representative Thompson (1). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         (Representative Homer in chair.) 
          
         (Representative Keffer, Jim in chair.) 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         At 3:20 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Keffer, Jim, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
         Ky Ash, Clerk