MINUTES 
                                           
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION 
                              Thursday, March 13, 2003 
                                     8:30 a.m. 
                                   Senate Chamber 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Education was  
         held on Thursday, March 13, 2003, in the Senate Chamber at  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Florence Shapiro                Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Royce West                      Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Kip Averitt                     Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte            Senator Tommy Williams 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:36 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair made opening remarks and began the discussion with  
         invited witnesses.  Justice Deborah Hankinson and Judge Scott  
         McCown addressed the Committee on their legal perspectives on  
         school finance cases.  Witnesses testifying and registering  
         before the Committee are shown on the attached list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 9:42 a.m. Senator Shapiro  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair                                             
                                                                Cindy  
                                                                Hodges,  
                                                                Clerk