The House Committee on Appropriations 
         79th Legislature 
         March 3, 2005 
         7:00 a.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E1.030 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on February 25, 2005, and revised  
         twice on March 2, 2005, the House Committee on Appropriations  
         met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair,  
         Representative Pitts, at 8:06 a.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:   Representatives Pitts; Luna; Branch; Brown, Betty;  
                    Brown, Fred; Chisum; Crownover; Davis, John; Edwards;  
                    Gattis; Haggerty; Hamric; Hegar; Hope; Hopson; King,  
                    Tracy; Kolkhorst; McClendon; Pickett; Truitt; Turner  
                    (21). 
          
         Absent:    Representatives Berman; Dukes; Guillen; Isett;  
                    Martinez; Menendez; Pena; Smith, Todd (8). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         (Representative Guillen now present.) 
          
         Available University Fund 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Branch to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Available University Fund. 
          
         Representative Branch moved the adoption of the Legislative  
         Budget Board [hereinafter: "LBB"] recommendations. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Higher Education Fund 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Branch to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Higher Education Fund. 
          
         Representative Branch moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Increase funding to  
         restore the 5% reduction; Items for Future Consideration:  
         Increase the HEF yearly appropriation. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Research Development Fund 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Branch to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Research Development Fund. 
          
         Representative Branch moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations. 
  
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         (Representative Martinez now present.) (Representative Berman  
         now present.) (Representative Dukes now present.)  
         (Representative Menendez now present.) (Representative Isett now  
         present.) 
          
         General Academic Institutions  
          
         The chair recognized Representative Branch to lay out the  
         recommendations for the General Academic Institutions. 
          
         Representative Turner moved to add the Restoration of OCR  
         Funding as a new Item for Future Consideration.  
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Representative Branch moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Restore special item  
         funding; Decrease funding from Texas A&M University  
         Institutional Enhancement Strategy; Adjust the small institution  
         supplement; Technical adjustment to Midwestern State University  
         Rider 4, Appropriation of Special Mineral Fund; Technical  
         adjustment to Texas Tech Rider 4, Appropriation of Special  
         Mineral Fund; Technical adjustment to Sam Houston State  
         University Rider 3, Unexpended Balances, CJ-CMIT and LEMIT;  
         Technical adjustment to the Texas A&M University tuition  
         estimate; Technical adjustment to the University of Texas at San  
         Antonio performance measure Administrative Cost as a Percent of  
         Total Expenditures; Technical adjustment to Texas A&M  
         International University Tuition Revenue Bond strategy; Add  
         Midwestern State University - Appropriation, Governing Board  
         Rider; Add University of Houston - Appropriation, Governing  
         Board Rider; Adjustment to the Prairie View A&M University Rider  
         2, Texas Commitment - OCR Priority Plan; Add University  
         Interscholastic League Financial Reporting Rider; Items for  
         Future Consideration: General Academic Institutions -  
         Exceptional Items and Tuition Revenue Bond Requests and the  
         Restoration of OCR Funding. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Health Related Institutions 
          
         The chair recognized Representative McClendon to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Health Related Institutions. 
          
         Representative McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Increase funding for  
         restoration of special items; Technical adjustment to General  
         Revenue for differences in the parameters which determine the  
         HRIs 95% non-formula GR appropriations for FY 2006-07; Items for  
         Future Consideration: Small Class Supplement Issue, Health  
         Related Institutions - Exceptional Items, and Health Related  
 
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         House Committee on Appropriations 
         3/3/2005 
          
         Institutions - Tuition Revenue Bond Request. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Special Provisions Relating Only to State Agencies and  
         Institutions of Higher Education 
          
         The chair recognized Representative McClendon to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Special Provisions Relating Only to  
         State Agencies and Institutions of Higher Education. 
          
         Representative McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Update Section 30  
         General Academic Funding formula rates; Technical adjustment to  
         Section 30(2), Teaching Experience Supplement; Technical  
         adjustment to Section 32, Optional Retirement Program  
         Differential; Technical adjustment to Section 50, Report on Real  
         Property; Modify Section 52, Financial Information Reporting  
         Requirement Rider. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas State Technical College 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Guillen to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas State Technical College. 
          
         Representative Guillen moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Adjust the small  
         institution supplement formula; Technical adjustment to update  
         information regarding funds outside the General Appropriations  
         Act. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Special Provisions Relating Only to Components of Texas State  
         Technical College 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Guillen to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Special Provisions Relating Only to  
         Components of Texas State Technical College. 
          
         Representative Guillen moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations.  
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         At 9:53 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was recessed until final adjournment of the house. 
          
         The committee reconvened at 11:58 a.m. and was called to order  
         by the chair, Representative Pitts. The roll was answered as  
         follows: 
          
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         House Committee on Appropriations 
         3/3/2005 
          
         Present:   Representatives Pitts; Luna; Branch; Brown, Betty;  
                     Brown, Fred; Chisum; Crownover; Dukes; Edwards;  
                    Gattis; Hegar; Hope; Hopson; Kolkhorst; McClendon;  
                    Pena; Smith, Todd; Turner (18). 
          
         Absent:    Representatives Berman; Davis, John; Guillen;  
                    Haggerty; Hamric; Isett; King, Tracy; Martinez;  
                    Menendez; Pickett; Truitt (11). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         (Representative Isett now present.) (Representative Davis, John  
         now present.) (Representative King, Tracy now present.)  
         (Representative Pickett now present.) 
          
         Public Community/Junior Colleges 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Todd Smith to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Public Community/Junior Colleges. 
          
         Representative Todd Smith moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Reduce Community  
         College formula funding and proportionally increase the Higher  
         Education Group Insurance appropriation; Increase Floor Funding  
         for Clarendon College and Ranger College; Amend Adjustment of  
         Contact Hours Rider for Ranger College and Clarendon College as  
         laid out; Amend Rider 2, Appropriation Eligibility; Delete Rider  
         14, Trusteed Funds; Amend Rider 15, Reporting Requirement; Add  
         Financial Information Reporting Requirement Rider; Items for  
         Future Consideration: Additional Formula Funding and Special  
         Items Funding. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         (Representative Guillen now present.) (Representative Martinez  
         now present.) 
          
         Higher Education Coordinating Board 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Kolkhorst to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Higher Education Coordinating Board. 
          
         Representative Kolkhorst moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Transfer funding  
         from Advanced Technology Program to Tuition Equalization Grant  
         Program; Transfer funding from Texas B-on-Time Program to TEXAS  
         Grants Program; Transfer funding from Advanced Technology  
         Program to Baylor College of Medicine; Transfer funding from  
         Texas B-on-Time Program to Family Practice Residency Program;  
         Transfer funding from Texas B-on-Time Program to Preceptorship  
         Program; Transfer funding from Texas B-on-Time Program to  
         Primary Care Residency Program; Transfer funding from Texas  
 
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         House Committee on Appropriations 
         3/3/2005 
          
         B-on-Time Programs to Graduate Medical Education; Transfer  
         funding from Texas B-on-Time Programs to Joint Admission Medical  
          Program; Transfer funding from Texas B-on-Time Programs to  
         Teacher Education Program; Transfer funding from Texas B-on-Time  
         Programs for African American Museum Internship Program;  
         Technical adjustment to increase General Revenue funding for  
         Baylor College of Medicine Strategy; Technical adjustment to  
         Student Loan Program Rider; Adjust Number of Students Receiving  
         TEXAS Grants performance measure; Adjust Number of ATP Research  
         Projects Funded performance measure; Amend Dramatic Enrollment  
         Growth Funding for Two-Year Institutions Rider; Amend Enrollment  
         Growth Funding for General Academic Institutions Rider; Add  
         Dramatic Enrollment Growth Funding for Nursing for All  
         Institutions of Higher Education; Add African American Museum  
         Internship Rider; Items for Future Consideration: Additional  
         Funding for Student Financial Aid Programs. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         (Representative Berman now present.)  
          
         Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Higher Education Employees Group  
         Insurance Contributions. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Increase funding for  
         Pub Community / Junior Colleges Strategy. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Agricultural Experiment Station 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Cooperative Extension 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Cooperative Extension. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Engineering Experiment Station 
 
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         House Committee on Appropriations 
         3/3/2005 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Engineering Experiment Station. 
           
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Adjust Total Dollar  
         Volume of Research (Millions) performance measure target. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Transportation Institute 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Transportation Institute. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Adjust Leverage  
         Ratio of Direct State to Total Funds (Excluding Infrastructure  
         Funds) performance measure target. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Engineering Extension Service 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Engineering Extension Service. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Forest Service 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Forest Service. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Increase Number of  
         Community Assists performance measure target. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory 
          
         The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic  
         Laboratory. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Items for Future  
         Consideration: High Consequence Disease Surveillance and  
         Diagnosis. 
          
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         House Committee on Appropriations 
         3/3/2005 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Food and Fibers Commission 
          
          The chair recognized Representative Crownover to lay out the  
         recommendations for the Texas Food and Fibers Commission. 
          
         Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: Add Contingency for  
         House Bill 373 Rider; Add Contingent Funding Transfer Rider. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Higher Education Coordinating Board 
          
         The chair recognized the LBB staff to lay out a technical  
         correction for the Higher Education Coordinating Board. 
          
         Representative Kolkhorst moved the adoption of a technical  
         correction to the Nursing Enrollment Growth Strategy. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         At 1:14 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned until 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 8,  
         2005. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Pitts, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
         Cristina Self, Clerk 
          
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