MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                               Wednesday, May 3, 2006 
                           10:00 a.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.016 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence  
         was held on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth                  Senator John Carona 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.             Senator Robert Duncan 
                                                 Senator Chris Harris 
                                                 Senator Juan Hinojosa 
                                                 Senator Royce West 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m.  The  
         following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out Interim Charge 4:  Monitor the implementation  
              of SB 1863, 79th Legislature,  
         Regular Session, specifically the Collection Improvement  
              Program, which seeks to improve the  
         collection of criminal court fees, fines and costs. Make  
              recommendations to increase the  
         effectiveness of the Collection Improvement Program and  
              determine if any statutory changes are 
         necessary.  
          
         The following witnesses testified: 
         Carl Reynolds, Administrative Director, Office of Court  
              Administration 
         Jim Lehman, Collections Program Manager, Office of Court  
              Administration 
         Mary Cowherd, Deputy Director for Research and Court Services,  
              Office of Court 
         Administration 
         The Honorable Michael Mayes, District Judge, 410th Judicial  
              District 
         David Walker, County Attorney, Montgomery County 
         Janet Marton, Senior Assistant County Attorney, Harris County 
         Leroy Nellis, Budget Manager, Travis County  
          
         At 10:56 a.m. Senator Gallegos, Jr. assumed the chair.   
  
         At 10:59 a.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair.   
          
         Jim Allison, General Counsel, County Judges and Commissioners  
              Association of Texas 
         Jeri Yenne, District Attorney, Brazoria County 
         Mark Hamlin, District Clerk, Brazos County 
          
         The chair laid out Interim Charge 6:  Review statutes,  
              regulations, guidelines, and formulas 
         relating to child support and make recommendations, if  
              necessary, to ensure adequate support, 
         including educational expenses, for children. 
          
         The following witnesses testified: 
         Alicia Key, Director - Child Support Division, Office of the  
              Attorney General 
         Karen Fabac 
         Roy Getting, Texas Fathers Alliance 
         Douglas Conley, People for Equal Parenting 
         Alan Phillips, People for Equal Parenting 
         Daniel Simon, People for Equal Parenting 
         Denise Clepper, Executive Director of It Takes Two 
          
         There being no further business, at 12:25 p.m. Senator Wentworth  
              moved that the Committee  
         stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without  
              objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Stephanie Hoover, Clerk