MINUTES 
                                           
            SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS 
                           Wednesday, September 29, 2004 
                                     9:00 a.m. 
                      Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran  
         Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday,  
         September 29, 2004, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room,  
         2E.20, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte            Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Troy Fraser                     Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Kel Seliger 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 9:19 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Senator Van de Putte recognized James Nier, who led the  
         Committee in the Pledge of Allegiance.   
          
         Senator Seliger moved adoption of the Committee minutes from the  
         Committee's last hearing on August 19, 2004.  Senator Fraser  
         seconded the motion; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 9:22 a.m. Senator Seliger assumed the chair.  He recognized  
         Senator Van de Putte, who laid out the Committee's interim  
         report recommendations.   
          
         Senator Seliger asked if there were any members of the audience  
         who wished to testify on the interim report recommendations.   
         James Nier of the Texas Veterans Commission testified on the  
         cost estimates of setting up a database for the Hazlewood  
         benefit at the Commission.   
          
         Senator Fraser moved adoption of the Committee recommendations.   
         Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Seliger recognized Senator Van de Putte, who explained  
         that interim Committee rule number 12 be amended to allow the  
         Sub-Committee on Base Realignment and Closure to adopt their  
         interim recommendations without requiring the subcommittee to  
         pass their recommendations through the whole committee.   
          
         Senator Fraser moved adoption.  Without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  
          
         At 9:35 a.m. Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair.  
          
         There being no further business, at 9:36 a.m. Senator Seliger  
         moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Sara Gonzalez, Clerk