MINUTES 
                                           
            SENATE COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY 
                             Wednesday, April 14, 2004 
                                     9:30 a.m. 
               DPS Headquarters Bldg. A, 5805 N. Lamar Austin, Texas 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Infrastructure Development and Security was held on Wednesday,  
         April 14, 2004, at the State Operations Center Located  in the  
         DPS Headquarters Bldg. A, 5805 N. Lamar Austin, Texas 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Todd Staples                    Senator Bob Deuell 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos              Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth                  Senator Jon Lindsay 
                                                 Senator Frank Madla 
                                                 Senator Florence Shapiro 
                                                 Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.  The  
         following business was transacted: 
          
         At 9:38 a.m., the Chairman laid out Committee charge 7:   
         "Evaluate state and local efforts to enhance the security of  
         Texans and make recommendations for improving Texas' ability to  
         detect, deter, and respond to acts of terrorism, including state  
         plans and programs for addressing bio-terrorism.  Regarding,  
         bio-terrorism events, the Committee shall focus on early  
         detection of incident, reporting of information from local  
         health entities, and ability to organize and administer a mass  
         vaccination.  Make recommendations relating to improvements to  
         state and local communications networks and develop innovative  
         methods for sharing federal, state, and local information."  
         Invited testimony followed.  Witnesses registering and/or  
         testifying can be shown on the attached list. 
          
         Senator Barrientos present at 9:52 a.m. 
          
         At 11:47 a.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.   
          
         At 11:53 a.m. Chairman Staples resumed the chair.   
          
         At 12:15 a.m. the Chairman announced a short recess for lunch, returning at 12:40 a.m.. 
          
         The Chairman reconvened the hearing at 12:42 a.m. at which time  invited testimony resumed. 
  
         At 1:38 p.m. the Chairman, after hearing all invited witnesses, left charge 7 open. 
          
         At 1:39 p.m. the Chairman recessed the hearing, subject to the call of the Chair. 
          
         Chairman: Senator Staples 
          
         Clerk:  Patricia Gajda