MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Monday, April 11, 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 Monday, April 11, 2005, in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden Senator Kyle Janek
Senator Judith Zaffirini
Senator Kip Averitt
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
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The chair laid out SB 997, relating to the taxable value of
property for school finance purposes of certain school
districts, and recognized the author, Senator Madla, to explain
the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are
shown on the attached list.
At 9:14 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
At 9:16 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.
The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden moved that SB 997
be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1334, relating to the determination of
school district property values and to the school district
property value study conducted by the comptroller of public
accounts, and recognized the author, Senator Madla, to explain
the bill. Senator Williams sent up a committee substitute; the
chair recognized Senator Madla to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden moved that
SB 1334 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 263, relating to the use of certain
information relating to tax audits; providing penalties; and
recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Williams
moved that SB 263 be reported favorably to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 5 absent. Senator Averitt requested unanimous
consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended
for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1538, relating to the creation of the
individual development account program to provide savings
incentives and opportunities to eligible low-income working
individuals, and recognized the author, Senator Barrientos, to
explain the bill. Senator Barrientos sent up a committee
substitute; the chair recognized Senator Barrientos to explain
the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are
shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the public
testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ogden moved that SB 1538 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 345, relating to the exemption from ad
valorem taxation of tangible personal property held temporarily
at a location in this state for assembling, storing,
manufacturing, processing, and fabricating purposes, and
recognized Senator Shapleigh, in the absence of the author, to
explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the
bill are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the
public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Ogden moved that SB 345 be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1484, relating to general revenue
appropriations to institutions of higher education, and
recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.
At 11:19 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
At 11:23 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Williams
moved that SB 1484 be reported favorably to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 3 absent.
The chair laid out SB 1351, relating to the appeal of certain ad
valorem tax determinations through binding arbitration, and
recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden
moved that SB 1351 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 1:16 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand
recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Committee reconvened at 4:07 p.m.
The chair laid out SB 1569, relating to audits of state agency
expenditures to recover overpayments and lost discounts, and
recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list. The chair moved that the public testimony be
closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden
moved that SB 1569 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 18, relating to the adoption of an ad
valorem tax rate by a taxing unit other than a school district,
and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the
bill, which had been left pending at a previous hearing.
Senator Williams sent up a committee substitute; the chair
recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached
list. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ogden moved that
SB 18 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 4:40 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
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Amy Jeter, Clerk