MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
9:00 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, March 8, 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
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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:21 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
registering and testifying on the bill are shown on the attached
list.
The chair recognized Senator Duncan to lay out the workgroup
recommendations and riders for Article III.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt pages 1-4 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Public Education, regarding the
Texas Education Agency and the State Board for Educator
Certification. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the riders on pages 1-3 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the Texas Education
Agency. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the riders on pages 5-11 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the Higher Education
Coordinating Board. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 12 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the Higher Education
Coordinating Board. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 13 of the
Article III riders document, regarding Special Provisions
Relating Only to State Agencies of Higher Education. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt pages 5 and 6 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Higher Education, regarding the
Higher Education Coordinating Board. Without objection, it was
so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt page 14 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Higher Education, regarding
General Academic Institutions. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt page 17 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Higher Education, regarding
Health-Related Institutions. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 22 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the U.T. M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to pend the rider on page 23 of the Article
III riders document, regarding the U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt pages 21 and 22 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Higher Education, regarding
Public Community Colleges. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 14 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the University of Texas
System. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 15 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the Texas A&M University
at Galveston. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the riders on pages 16 and 17 of
the Article III riders document, regarding Prairie View A&M
University and Texas Southern University, respectively. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the riders on pages 18-20 of the
Article III riders document, regarding State Funding for Office
of Civil Rights Priority Plan, and Texas Southern University,
respectively. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt page 23 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Higher Education, regarding
Texas State Technical Colleges. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt pages 24-27 of the workgroup
recommendations on Article III - Higher Education, regarding
Service Agencies. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 24 of the
Article III riders document, regarding the Texas A&M University
System. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 25 of the
Article III riders document, regarding Funds for Geographic
Information System Mapping Projects. Without objection, it was
so ordered.
At 10:24 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand
recessed for 5 minutes; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Committee reconvened at 10:39 a.m.
At 10:40 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 1:38 p.m.
The Committee stood at ease.
The Committee resumed business at 1:43 p.m.
The chair recognized Senator Whitmire to lay out the workgroup
recommendations and riders regarding the Schedule C Pay Raise.
Senator Whitmire moved to adopt the recommendations and riders
regarding the Schedule C Pay Raise. There was a roll call vote.
The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 5 absent.
At 2:13 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand
recessed for 5 minutes; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Committee reconvened at 2:37 p.m.
Senator Williams moved to adopt the rider distributed to
Committee members during the hearing, regarding the Public
Utility Commission. There was an objection. There was a roll
call vote. The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 5
nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Williams moved to adopt the rider distributed to
Committee members during the hearing, regarding the Alcoholic
Beverage Commission, as amended. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Williams moved to adopt the rider distributed to
Committee members during the hearing, regarding the Railroad
Commission. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Williams moved to adopt the rider distributed to
Committee members during the hearing, regarding the Department
of Transportation, Classification of Certain Department of
Transportation Positions. Senator Ogden moved that the rider be
pended; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Williams moved to adopt the rider distributed to
Committee members during the hearing, regarding the Contingency
for Model Fines Court Collections Program. Without objection,
it was so ordered.
Senator Williams laid out the rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Comptroller's
Department, Judiciary Section. Senator Ogden moved that the
rider regarding the Comptroller's Department, Judiciary Section
be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding Supplemental Non-formula
Funding for Institutions of Higher Education. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding a Student Financial Aid
Program. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding Article III Special
Provisions. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Duncan moved to adopt the rider on page 23 of the
Article III rider document, regarding U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Averitt moved to adopt a workgroup recommendation
regarding a method of finance change relating to the issuance of
debt service on bonds for brush control. Without objection, it
was so ordered.
Senator Averitt moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Water Development
Board, Agricultural Water Conservation Account. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Averitt moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Parks and Wildlife
Department. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Averitt moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Animal Health
Commission. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Averitt moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Water Development
Board, Interstate Reservoir Study. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Staples moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Department of
Transportation, Clarify Short-term Borrowing Authority. Senator
Ogden moved to pend the rider regarding the Department of
Transportation, Clarify Short-term Borrowing Authority; without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Staples moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Department of
Transportation, Travel Information Centers. Without objection,
it was so ordered.
Senator Staples moved to adopt a rider distributed to Committee
members during the hearing, regarding the Lottery Commission.
Senator Ogden moved to pend the rider regarding the Lottery
Commission; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Averitt moved to adopt a workgroup recommendation to
increase funding for the Soil and Water Conservation Commission
regarding brush control. Senator Ogden moved to pend the
recommendation; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Staples moved to adopt a workgroup recommendation to
raise the salary cap for the Executive Director of the
Department of Transportation. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to lay out the workgroup
recommendations and riders for Article II.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations
for Article II. There was a roll call vote. The motion carried
with a record vote of 11 ayes, 3 nays, and 1 absent. Senator
Averitt, Senator Barrientos, and Senator Staples requested
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye, and Senator West and
Senator Shapleigh requested unanimous consent to be shown voting
nay; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 1 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Aging
and Disability Services, Cost Comparison Report, Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 2 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Aging
and Disability Services, Additional PACE Sites. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 3 of the
Article II riders document, regarding Promoting Community
Services for Children. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 4 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Aging
and Disability Services, Dual Diagnosis Pilot. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 5 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Aging
and Disability Services, Contingency Appropriation for SB 6.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 7 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Family
and Protective Services, Regional Funding Methodology. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 8 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Family
and Protective Services, Performance Measure Improvements.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 9 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of Family
and Protective Services, At-Risk Youth Prevention Services.
Senator Ogden moved to pend the rider regarding the Department
of Family and Protective Services, At-Risk Youth Prevention
Services. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 10 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of State
Health Services, Chronic Diseases. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 11 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of State
Health Services, Federal Funds and Capitol Budget Expenditures.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 12 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of State
Health Services, Designated Trauma Facility and EMS Account.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 13 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of State
Health Services, J-1 Visa Waiver Program. Senator Ogden moved
to pend the rider regarding the Department of State Health
Services, J-1 Visa Waiver Program. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 14 of the
Article II riders document, regarding Special Provisions
Relating to Article II. Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 15 of the
Article II riders document, regarding Local Service Area
Planning Pilot Project - Harris County. Without objection, it
was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 16 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Department of State
Health Services, Mentally Ill Offender Screening. Senator Ogden
moved to pend the rider regarding the Department of State Health
Services, Mentally Ill Offender Screening. Without objection, it
was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 17 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Health and Human
Services Commission, Air Ambulance Services. Without objection,
it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 20 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Health and Human
Services Commission, Medicaid Provider Reimbursement. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 21 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Health and Human
Services Commission, Study Regarding Uncompensated Care.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the rider on page 22 of the
Article II riders document, regarding the Health and Human
Services Commission, CHIP Outreach and Marketing. Senator Ogden
moved to pend the rider regarding the Health and Human Services
Commission, CHIP Outreach and Marketing. Without objection, it
was so ordered.
Senator Ogden moved to adopt a Committee rule regarding riders
to the Appropriations Bill, stating that all riders submitted to
the Committee from this point forward not increase the amount of
total General Revenue Funding to the bill, and if such riders
did increase the amount of total General Revenue Funding to the
bill, that an off-setting reduction or self-funded measure be
included. 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 Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 4:45 p.m. Senator Ogden
moved that the Committee stand recessed until 45 minutes after
adjournment of the Senate the following day, March 9, 2005.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Steve Ogden, Chair
_____________________________
Amy Jeter, Clerk