MINUTES 
                                           
                           Committee on Veteran Affairs & 
                               Military Installations 
                                           
                              Wednesday, March 5, 2003 
            1:30 p.m. (or upon adjournment of the Senate--whichever is  
                                       later) 
                             Betty King Committee Room 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on  
         Veteran Affairs and Military Installations was held on  
         Wednesday, March 5, 2003, in the Betty King Committee Room  
         (2E.20) of the State Capitol Building, behind the Senate  
         Chamber, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair     Senator Craig, Estes,  
                                                 Vice Chair 
         Senator Troy Fraser                     Senator Frank Madla 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh                 (Estes and Madla  
                                                 arrived later) 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chair called the hearing to order at 1:43 p.m.  The  
         Clerk called the roll.  There being a quorum present, the  
         following business was transacted: 
          
         The Chair requested that the Honorable Jerry Patterson,  
         Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, lead the  
         committee, the staff, and the audience in the Pledge of  
         Allegiance to the Flag of the United States.  Commissioner  
         Patterson did so. 
          
         The Chair laid before the Committee the minutes of the  
         hearing of Wednesday, February 19, 2003.  On motion of  
         Senator Shapleigh, those minutes were approved without  
         objection. 
          
         Senator Madla now present (1:45 p.m.) 
          
         The Chair made a statement relative to the policy of the  
         Committee which prohibits the use of cellular telephones  
         during the hearing. 
         The Chair laid before the Committee Senate Bill No. 652 and  
         called upon its author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the  
         bill.  Senator Shapleigh did so. 
          
         The Chair called attention to the Fiscal Note for Senate  
         Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized the Honorable Frank J. Corte, Jr.,  
         member of the Texas House of Representatives, who testified  
         for Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         Senator Estes now present (2:05 p.m.) 
          
         The Chair recognized Commissioner Jerry Patterson, of the  
         Texas General Land Office and Veterans Land Board, who  
         testified for Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair noted that all testimony and activities in the  
         committee room are being recorded and transmitted. 
          
         The Chair recognized the Honorable Loyd Neal, Mayor, City  
         of Corpus Christi, and Chairman of the South Texas Military  
         Facilities Task Force, who testified for Senate Bill No.  
         652.  Mayor Neal also furnished written material to the  
         Committee. 
          
         The Chair recognized the Honorable Bonnie Conner, City  
         Councilwoman, City of San Antonio, and Chair of the City  
         Council's Intergovernmental Relations Committee, who  
         testified for Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         Councilwoman Conner was later physically joined by Mr. Ed  
         Davis, Economic Development Manager, City of San Antonio  
         who--in collaboration with Councilwoman Conner--continued  
         to present testimony for Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         (The Vice Chair presided in the temporary absence of the  
         Chair) 
          
         Councilwoman Conner continued her testimony for Senate Bill  
         No. 652. 
          
         (The Chair returned) 
          
         Councilwoman Conner continued her testimony for Senate Bill  
         No. 652.  Councilwoman Conner also furnished written  
         material to the Committee. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Jerry V. Sparks, BRAC Chair,  
         Texarkana Chamber, who testified for Senate Bill No. 652.   
         Mr. Sparks also furnished written material to the  
         Committee. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Ralph C. Gauer, Vice Chair, Texas  
         Strategic Military Planning Commission, who testified on  
         Senate Bill No. 652.  Mr. Gauer also furnished written  
         material to the Committee. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Dave Hall, Deputy City Manager,  
  
                                                                    Minutes 
                                                   Wednesday, March 5, 2003 
                                                                      page   3 
                                                                            
         City of Killeen, who testified on Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Lieutenant General (Retired) H. G.  
         (Pete) Taylor, Military Child Education Coalition, who  
         testified on Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Fidel Marquez, Senior Vice  
         President, City Public Service, who testified on Senate  
         Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Ms. Celia Davis, Chair, Abilene  
         Military Affairs Committee, who testified for Senate Bill  
         No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Brian Lloyd, Director-Retail  
         Market Oversight, Public Utility Commission of Texas, who  
         testified on Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized The Honorable John Fisher, Bell County  
         Commissioner, Precinct 4, who testified on Senate Bill No.  
         652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Ms. Ann Smisko, Associate  
         Commissioner, Texas Education Agency, who testified on  
         Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Ms. Janie Danhoff Haga, Manager,  
         Government Relations, Vought Aircraft Industries, who  
         testified on Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. John W. Fainter, Jr., President,  
         Association of Electric Companies of Texas, Inc., who  
         testified on Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. Wayne A. Dennis, Deputy Director  
         of Transportation Planning, Texas Department of  
         Transportation, who testified on Senate Bill No. 652.  Mr.  
         Dennis also furnished written material to the Committee. 
          
         The Chair recognized Mr. William F. Looke, Executive  
         Director, Texas Aerospace Commission, who presented himself  
         as strictly a resource witness on Senate Bill No. 652. 
          
         The Chair noted that Ms. Deborah C. Kastrin, Consultant,  
         County of El Paso, presented herself for Senate Bill No.  
         652, but did not wish to actually testify nor did she wish  
         to provide written material to the Committee in favor of  
         the bill. 
          
         The Chair noted that public testimony would be kept open  
         for Senate Bill No. 652 and the bill was then left as  
         pending business before the Committee. 
          
         There being no further business, the Chair, at 4:55 p.m.,  
         recessed the Committee subject to the call of the Chair. 
  
                                                                    Minutes 
                                                   Wednesday, March 5, 2003 
                                                                      page   4 
                                                                            
         _____________________________________________ 
         LETICIA VAN DE PUTTE, R.Ph., Chair 
          
         ______________________________________________ 
         GREGORY D. WATSON, Committee Clerk