MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Tuesday, February 15, 2005 
                                     8:00 a.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was  
         held on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Steve Ogden                     Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini                Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos               
         Senator Kim Brimer                       
         Senator Bob Deuell                       
         Senator Robert Duncan                    
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Royce West 
         Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Senator Zaffirini called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m.   
         There being a quorum present, the following business was  
         transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out SB 1, the General Appropriations Bill, which  
         had been left pending at a previous hearing. 
          
         Senator Zaffirini recognized James R. Huffines, Chairman of the  
         University of Texas System Board of Regents to provide  
         testimony. 
          
         At 8:04 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         Testimony was given on the following agencies, institutions, and  
         funds with witnesses on the attached list: 
          
         Higher Education Coordinating Board 
          
         Senator Ogden recognized Senator Estes as being present at the  
         Committee hearing. 
  
         University of North Texas System 
         Available University Fund 
          
         At 11:00 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until 45 minutes after adjournment of the Senate;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Committee reconvened at 1:11 p.m. 
          
         Testimony resumed on the following agencies, institutions, and  
         funds with witnesses on the attached list: 
          
         The University of Texas System 
         Texas A&M University System 
         Texas Southern University 
          
         At 2:52 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         Higher Education Fund 
         Research Development Fund 
          
         At 3:17 p.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         Senator Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:23 p.m. Senator Ogden  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Steve Ogden, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Amy Jeter, Clerk