MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Monday, March 31, 2003
3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations
was held on Monday, March 31, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jon Lindsay Senator John Carona
Senator Bob Deuell
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Mike Jackson
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00p.m.
The Chair acknowledged the nominees for the State Board for
Educator Certification.
The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth who introduced Ray
Haningan, nominee for the Texas Board of Health, and Judge
Phylis Speedlin, nominee with the Justice of the Court of
Appeals, Fourth Appellate District.
The Chair then introduced the nominees with the State Board for
Educator Certification, James Windham, Jr., Adele Quintana,
Cecilia Abbott, Troy Simmons and Carlen Floyd; he also asked
what each of them expect to do with the position.
Senator Deuell questioned teacher certification, the quality of
teachers, and regulation. Senator Hinojosa questioned the
teacher shortage. It was explained to him that the reason of
the shortage was retention.
The Chair announced that the consideration of the nominees would
be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro who introduced C. Daniel
Smith, Senator Hinojosa introduced Marjorie Craft, and Senator
Deuell introduced Charles Beatty and Burle Pettit. All were
nominess for the University of North Texas System Board of
Regents. Each gave their opening statements.
Senator Barrientos question each on the 10% plan for admissions
and the budget.
At 4:55p.m., a quorum was present.
At 4:55 p.m., without objection, the motioned carried to adopt
the minutes from the previous meeting.
Vice-Chair Deuell recognized Senator Duncan who introduced Burle
Pettit with the Univeristy of North Texas System Board of
Regents and George McClesky with the Texas Board of Health.
Vice Chair Deuell recognized Senator Ellis who introduced James
Fonteno nominee for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
Vice Chair Deuell recognized Senator Shapiro who introduced
Amanullah Khan with the Texas Board of Health.
Senator Barrientos continued his questioning of the University
of North Texas System Board of Regents.
Senator Harris questioned whether the Board knew about a bill
that had been filed regarding competition with the University of
Texas. They did not, but assured the Senator they would look
into it.
Senator Hinojosa and Barrientos gave their comments about the
nominees being unprepared.
Senator Deuell asked for a motion to move all the nominees to
the full Senate. Senator Barrientos asked that John Robert Ray
be pulled because he was unable to attend the hearing. There
were no objections. It was moved that the nominees be sent to
the full Senate. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, the nominees
were confirmed.
Senator Deuell recalled Carlen Floyd, nominee for the State
Board for Educator Certification. Senator Jackson commented
that there was a sunset bill in front of the Senate that would
limit those who served on the Board if their spouse worked with
certain trade associations. Floyd did not think it would be a
problem and noted that the bill said she could serve out her
term if she was appointed before the bill became law. Senator
Jackson asked for the nominee to be pulled pending further
information. There being no objection, a vote was taken on the
other nominees. There being 6 ayes and 0 nays the nominees were
passed to the full senate. Senator Harris asked to be shown
voting aye.
The Chair introduced Felipe Alanis with the Texas Education
Agency. He gave his opening remarks.
Senator Jackson questioned the TEA's operating budget, the
effects of social promotion, testing, and Robinhood.
Senator Hinojosa questioned about the Robinhood plan while
Senator Barrientos questioned school dropouts. There being no
other questions, Alanis was recommended to the full Senate with
5 ayes and 0 nays. Senator Jackson asked to be shown voting
aye.
The Chair introduced Justice of the Court of Appeals, Fourth
Appellate District, Phylis J. Speedlin, Judge of the 157th
Judicial District Court in Harris County, Randall W. Wilson and
Judge of the 80th Judicial District Court in Harris County, Kent
C. Sullivan. Senator Barrientos questioned elected versus
appointed judges. There being no other questions, the nominees
were sent to the full Senate with a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.
Senator Jackson asked to be shown voting aye.
The Chair introduced the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
nominees, James W. Fonteno, Jarvis Hollingsworth and Greg Poole.
Each gave their opening remarks. Senator Lindsay asked how they
would manage the money, and Senator Barrientos asked if Texas
performed the same with its investments as other states. He
also asked about the ethnic breakdown. After answering the
Committee's questions, a vote was taken, and the nominees were
sent to a full Senate with 6 ayes and 0 nayes. Senator Harris
and Jackson asked to be shown voting aye.
Senator Lindsay introduced Mary Ceverha, Raymond Hanningan,
Amanullah Khan, and George McCleskey, nominees to the Texas
Board of Health. The Chair then read witness cards supporting
the nominees. There being no other questions, the chair
announced that the consideration of the nominees would be left
pending the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair introduced Cary Yates with the Manufacture Housing
Board. He gave his opening remarks. There being no other
questions, a vote was taken. Witness cards were read by the
Chair showing support. There being 5 ayes and 0 nays the
nominee was sent to the full Senate. Senator Deuell asked to be
shown voting aye.
The Chair asked the Committee to send the Texas Board of Health
nominees to the full Senate. There being 4 ayes and 0 nays the
nominees were confirmed.
The Chair asked that the nominees with the State Commission on
Judicial Conduct, State Bar of Texas, Texas Board of Physical
Therapy Examiners, Finance Commission of Texas, One Call Board
and the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational
Therapy Examiners be sent to the full Senate; there being 5 ayes
and 0 nays the nominess were confirmed. Senator Deuell asked to
be shown voting aye.
There being no other business at 6:32p.m., Chairman Lindsay
announced the committee would stand in recess subject to the
call of the Chair. There being no objections, the committee
recessed.
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Jon Lindsay, Chairman
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Tanya Tillman, Committee Clerk