MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                               Monday, March 3, 2003 
                                     8:00 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 Monday, March 3, 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 8:08 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Testimony was given on the following agencies with witnesses on  
         the attached list: 
          
         Texas Education Agency 
          
         At 10:14 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 10:36 a.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         At 12:00 p.m. Senator Bivins moved that the committee stand  
         recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 3:08 p.m. the committee reconvened.   
          
         Texas Education Agency, continued 
          
         At 3:24 p.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.   
          
         At 3:27 p.m. Senator Nelson assumed the chair.   
          
         At 3:28 p.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         Telecommunications Infrastructure Board 
         Teacher Retirement System 
          
         At 4:45 p.m. the chair asked that the committee stand at ease  
         for five minutes. 
          
         At 4:47 p.m. the committee reconvened. 
          
         At 5:53 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 5:55 p.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
                                                            
         Optional Retirement Program 
         Employees Retirement System 
         Group Insurance Contributions - Higher Education 
          
         There being no further business, at 7:51 p.m. Senator Bivins  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 8:00 a.m. the  
         following morning.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Teel Bivins, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Stephanie Hoover, Clerk