MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, March 27, 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 Thursday, March 27, 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 8:16 a.m. The
committee was in recess. The following business was transacted:
The Members of the Committee had a brief discussion and then
began markup.
Testimony was given on the following agencies with witnesses on
the attached list:
Article I - General Government
Workgroup presentation was given by Senator Brimer
Aircraft Pooling Board - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendation to zero out the GR but will not require the
agency to sell their assets.
Commission on the Arts - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations with one change, to authorize the appropriation
of GR dedicated funds to the Cultural Endowment Fund.
Bond Review Board - Committee adopted workgroup recommendations.
Building and Procurement Commission - Committee moved to leave
workgroup recommendations pending.
Commission of State Emergency Communications - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
Texas Ethic Commission - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Public Finance Authority - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Fire Fighter's Pension Commission - Committee moved to leave
workgroup recommendations pending.
Office of the Governor - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Trusteed Programs - Governor - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Historical Commission - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations but will leave the issue of whether to bond
court housefunds pending.
At 9:50 a.m. Senator Bivins moved that the committee stand
recessed until one hour after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:16 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Fire Fighter's Pension Commission
Senator Staples continued the presentation for Article I.
Commission on Human Rights - Committee moved to leave workgroup
recommendations pending.
Incentive and Productivity Commission - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
Department of Information Resources - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
Library and Archives Commission - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Pension Review Board - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Preservation Board - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
State Office of Risk Management - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Worker's Compensation - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Secretary of State - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Senator Brimer continued the presentation on Article I.
Office of State and Federal Relations - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
Veterans Commission - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Lease Payments - Committee moved to leave workgroup
recommendations pending.
Article IV - Judiciary
Workgroup presentation was given by Senator Duncan
Committee adopted workgroup recommendations on Article IV for
the following:
Supreme Court
Court of Criminal Appeals
Fourteen Courts of Appeal
Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council
State Prosecuting Attorney
State Law Library
Court Reporters Certification Board
Commission on Judicial Conduct
Judiciary Section, Comptroller's Department
At 2:59 the chair moved to stand at ease for five minutes.
At 3:11 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Article VI - Natural Resources
Workgroup presentation was given by Senator Averitt
Department of Agriculture - Committee moved to leave workgroup
recommendations pending.
Railroad Commission - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Animal Health Commission - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Commission of Environmental Quality - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Minutes
Thursday, March 27, 2003
page 4
Council on Environmental Technology - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
General Land Office & Veterans Land Board - Committee adopted
workgroup recommendations.
Trusteed Programs within the GLO - Committee moved to leave
workgroup recommendations pending.
Parks and Wildlife - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
River Compact Commissions - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations. Committee reconsidered the vote at the request
of Senator West; there was no objection. Committee then moved
to leave workgroup recommendations pending.
Soil and Water Conservation Board - Committee adopted workgroup
recommendations.
Water Development Board and Debt Service Payments for GO Water
Bonds - Committee adopted workgroup recommendations.
There being no further business, at 5:20 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