MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Thursday, April 10, 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 Thursday, April 10, 2003, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Teel Bivins Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Judith Zaffirini Senator Kip Averitt 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 9:10 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: Article III - Public Education Workgroup motions were given by Senator Shapiro State Board for Educator Certification - Committee adopted workgroup recommendations. Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Committee adopted workgroup recommendations. Texas School for the Deaf - Committee adopted workgroup recommendations. Article III - Higher Education Workgroup presentation was given by Senator West Higher Education Coordinating Board Higher Education Fund Available University Fund Texas Excellence Fund University Research Fund General Academic Institutions, System Office, and Two-Year Lamars Health-Related Institutions At 9:53 a.m. Senator Bivins moved that the committee stand recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. At 1:32 p.m. the committee reconvened. Senator West continued the workgroup presentation on Higher Education. Public Community/Junior Colleges Texas State Technical College System Texas Ag. Experiment Station Texas Cooperative Extension Texas Engineering Experiment Station Texas Transportation Institute Texas Engineering Experiment Station Texas Transportation Institute Texas Engineering Extension Service Texas Forest Service Texas Wildlife Damage Management Service Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab Texas Food and Fibers Commission Special Provisions Tobacco Funds for Article III At 1:54 p.m. the committee stood at ease to await a quorum. At 2:05 p.m. the committee reconvened. The following members gave a motion in writing and asked to be shown voting aye on Article III, Public Education: Senator Averitt and Senator Brimer. Senator West moved adoption of a rider that would call for a portion of the TEXAS Grants appropriation to be awarded as Tuition Equalization Grants (TEG). Without objection, the rider was adopted. Senator West moved that the full committee adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article III, Higher Education. There was a roll call vote. The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. There being no further business, at 2:12 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