MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Wednesday, January 29, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Teel Bivins None
Senator Judith Zaffirini
Senator Kip Averitt
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Kyle Janek
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Todd Staples
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Tommy Williams
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The Chair gave introductory remarks and welcomed the Members to
the Senate Finance Committee.
Members of the Committee introduced their staffs.
The Chair introduced Committee staff.
The Chair introduced staff from the Lieutenant Governor's
Office, Governor's Office, Comptroller of Public Accounts, State
Auditor's Office, and Legislative Budget Board.
The Chair laid out the proposed Committee Rules. Senator
Whitmire moved to adopt the rules; without objection the rules
were adopted.
The Chair recognized the following witnesses:
Billy Hamilton, Office of the Comptroller of Pubic Accounts,
gave testimony on 2003 and 2004/2005 Revenue Estimate.
James Lebas, Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts, gave
testimony on 2003 and 2004/2005 Revenue Estimate.
Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst gave his congratulations to the
Members of the Committee for co-authoring the appropriations
bill. He gave his support to the Committee and expressed how
proud he was of the Members.
Testimony from Billy Hamilton and James Lebas continued.
At 10:50 a.m. the Chair moved that the Committee stand in recess
until one hour after adjournment of the Senate. There was no
objection.
At 12:38 p.m. the Committee reconvened.
Testimony from Billy Hamilton and James Lebas continued.
John Keel, Director of the Legislative Budget Board, gave
testimony on budget overview and zero-based budgeting and the
"building blocks" approach.
At 1:27 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
At 1:37 p.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.
Ursula Parks, Manager of Public Education for the Legislative
Budget Board, gave testimony on the source of new federal
dollars available to Texas.
Anita D'Souza, General Counsel for the Legislative Budget Board,
gave testimony to clarify the estimated appropriations from the
tobacco settlement endowments.
The Chair announced the Committee would meet again on February
10, 2003.
There being no further business, at 2:20 p.m. Senator Bivins
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Teel Bivins, Chair
______________________
Stephanie Hoover, Clerk