MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                            Wednesday, February 23, 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 Wednesday, February 23, 2005, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Steve Ogden                     None 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kip Averitt                      
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Bob Deuell 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Royce West 
         Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair 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.  Witnesses  
         providing testimony are shown on the attached list.   
          
         The chair recognized Senator Williams to lay out the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article IV.   
          
         At 9:31 a.m. Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.   
          
         At 9:33 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.  
          
         Senator Barrientos moved to amend Strategy D.1.4 regarding the  
         Comptroller's Department - Judiciary Section, Public Integrity  
  
         Unit of the Article IV workgroup recommendations.  There was a  
         roll call vote.  The motion failed with a record vote of 5 ayes,  
         9 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Zaffirini  
         and Senator Whitmire requested unanimous consent to be shown  
         voting aye on the amendment; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations  
         for Article IV, with the exception of pending items.  There was  
         a roll call vote.  The motion carried with a record vote of 15  
         ayes, 0 nays,  0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator  
         Zaffirini, Senator Averitt and Senator Whitmire requested  
         unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article IV; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         The chair recognized Senator Williams to lay out the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article VIII. 
          
         At 9:50 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until 1:00 p.m.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Committee reconvened at 1:03 p.m. 
          
         Senator Williams resumed laying out the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article VIII. 
          
         Senator Staples moved to amend items 1-4 regarding the Workers'  
         Compensation Commission of the Article VIII workgroup  
         recommendations.  Senator Staples moved adoption of the  
         amendment; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt the amended workgroup  
         recommendations for Article VIII, with the exception of pending  
         items.  There was a roll call vote.  The motion carried with a  
         record vote of 14 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1  
         absent.  Senator Shapiro, Senator Duncan, and Senator West  
         requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the  
         workgroup recommendations for Article VIII; without objection,  
         it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 2:05 p.m. Senator Ogden  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 45 minutes after  
         adjournment of the Senate the following day, February 24, 2005.   
         Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Steve Ogden, Chair 
  
         _____________________________ 
         Amy Jeter, Clerk