MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Wednesday, March 2, 2005 
                     10:00 a.m. or 45 minutes upon adjournment 
                           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, March 2, 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 4:00 p.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  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 
          
         The chair recognized Senator Duncan to lay out the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article III relating to Higher Education. 
          
         Senator Duncan moved adoption of the workgroup recommendations  
         for Article III relating to Higher Education, with the exception  
         of pending items.  Senator Shapiro seconded the motion.  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.   
          
         The chair recognized Senator Shapiro to lay out the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article III regarding the Texas Education  
  
         Agency. 
          
         Senator Shapiro moved adoption of the workgroup recommendations  
         for Article III regarding the Texas Education Agency, 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 Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:49 p.m. Senator Ogden  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 8:00 a.m. the  
         following morning, March 3, 2005.  Without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Steve Ogden, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Amy Jeter, Clerk