The House Committee on Appropriations

80th Legislature

February 26, 2007

8:00 a.m.

E1.030

 

Pursuant to a notice posted on February 19, 2007, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Chisum, at 8:21 a.m.

 

The roll was answered as follows:

 

Present:              Representatives Chisum; Guillen; Branch; Brown, Betty; Chavez; Crownover; Darby; Davis, John; England; Gattis; Harper-Brown; Hopson; Isett, Carl; Jackson, Jim; Kolkhorst; Lucio III; McClendon; McReynolds; Otto; Riddle; Taylor; Turner; Van Arsdale; Zerwas (24).

 

Absent:              Representatives Allen, Alma; Brown, Fred; Dukes; Menendez; Noriega, Rick (5).

 

A quorum was present.

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Comptroller of Public Accounts.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding to Restore Administrative Reductions, Annualize the 2007 Pay Increase, and Restructure Salary Rates.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Fiscal Programs -- Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Fiscal Programs -- Comptroller of Public Accounts.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Informational Listing of Funds Appropriated to the Comptroller for Social Security BRP

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Informational Listing of Funds Appropriated to the Comptroller for Social Security BRP.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

 

 

 

Historical Commission

 

The chair recognized Rep. Harper-Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Historical Commission. 

 

(Representative Noriega, Rick now present.)

 

(Representative Dukes now present.)

 

Rep. Harper-Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Evaluate/Interpret Resources, Preservation Trust Fund, and Archeological Heritage Protection Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Reduce GR appropriations in Evaluate/Interpret Resources Strategy; Technical Adjustment to Evaluate/Interpret Resources Strategy and Unexpended Balances and Debt Service:  National Museum of the Pacific War Rider; Amend Capital Budget, Preservation Trust Fund, Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission, and Tejano Monument Riders; Add Contingency for Civil Administrative Penalties, Unexpended Balances:  General Obligation Bonds, and Contingency Relating to the Maintenance and Management of Historical Properties Located in the Capitol Complex Riders; Item for Future Consideration:  Increase Funding for the Agency's Historical Building.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Commission on the Arts

 

The chair recognized Rep. Crownover to lay out the recommendations for the Commission on the Arts.  Rep. Crownover moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Decrease Funding for Arts Organization Grants and Arts Education Grants Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Arts Organization Grants and Arts Education Grants Strategies; Add Contingency Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Bond Review Board

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Bond Review Board.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Expanded Responsibilities; Add Contingency Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Cancer Council

 

The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Cancer Council.  Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Technical Adjustment to Coordinate Cancer Grants and Services Strategy and Appropriation of All License Plates Unexpended Balances and Receipts Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

 

 

 

Commission on State Emergency Communications

 

The chair recognized Rep. Noriega to lay out the recommendations for the Commission on State Emergency Communications.  Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Employees Retirement System

 

The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Employees Retirement System.

 

(Representative Guillen in chair.)

 

Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for End-of-Article Strategy Appropriations for Retirement Contributions and ERS Informational Rider; Technical Adjustment to Add State Contribution to the Law Enforcement and Custodial Officer Supplemental Retirement Fund (LECOS) Rider;  Technical Adjustment to End of Article Group Insurance Amounts, ERS Informational Rider, and Group Insurance Strategy. Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Ethics Commission

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Ethics Commission.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy; Add Capital Budget Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Public Finance Authority

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Public Finance Authority.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Bond Debt Service Strategy; Technical Adjustment to Contingency Funding for Agency Operations:  Additional Bond Issues Rider; Add Appropriation of Collected Fees Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Public Finance Authority -- General Obligation Bond Debt Service

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Public Finance Authority -- General Obligation Bond Debt Service.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Technical Adjustment to End of Article Debt Service Amounts and Informational Rider on GO Bonds Issued by TPFA; Technical Adjustment to Bond Debt Service Payments Strategy and Information Listing of Appropriated Funds Rider; Amend Information Listing of Appropriated Funds Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

 

Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for the Administer Pension Fund Strategy; Increase the Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Positions cap; Amend Texas Emergency Services Retirement Fund Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Office of the Governor

 

The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Office of the Governor.  Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor

 

The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor. 

 

(Representative Chisum in chair.)

 

The Chair pended the recommendations.

 

Department of Information Resources

 

The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Department of Information Resources.  Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Statewide Security, Data Center Services, Shared Services and/or Technology Centers, Network and Telecom Security Services, Capitol Complex Telephone, and Network Services Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Contract Administration of IT Commodities and Services and Texas Online Strategies; Technical Adjustment to DIR Clearing Fund Account and Texas Online Project Riders; Amend Telecommunications Revolving Account Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Library and Archives Commission

 

The chair recognized Rep. Harper-Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Library and Archives Commission.  Rep. Harper-Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Technical Adjustment to Texas Reads License Plate Appropriation  and Texas Reads License Plates:  Appropriation of All License Plate Unexpended Balances and Receipts Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

 

 

 

 

Pension Review Board

 

The chair recognized Rep. Chavez to lay out the recommendations for the Pension Review Board.  Rep. Chavez moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Preservation Board

 

The chair recognized Rep. Harper-Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Preservation Board.  Rep. Harper-Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Add Contingency Relating to the Maintenance and Management of Historical Properties Located in the Capitol Complex Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

State Office of Risk Management

 

The chair recognized Rep. Noriega to lay out the recommendations for the State Office of Risk Management.  Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Workers' Compensation Payments

 

The chair recognized Rep. Noriega to lay out the recommendations for the Workers' Compensation Payments.  Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Secretary of State

 

The chair recognized Rep. Noriega to lay out the recommendations for the Secretary of State.  Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Elections Improvement and Election/Voter Registration Funds Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Elections Improvement Strategy and General Revenue -- Dedicated Election Improvement Fund Rider; Amend General Revenue -- Dedicated Election Improvement Fund Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Office of State-Federal Relations

 

The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Office of State-Federal Relations.  Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Veterans Commission

 

The chair recognized Rep. Noriega to lay out the recommendations for the Veterans Commission.  Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Claims Representation and Counseling Strategy; Amend Capital Budget Rider; Items for Future Consideration:  Increase GR Funding for Additional Veterans Assistance Counselors and Increase Funding for Technology Replacement.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

At 11:39 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned until 8:00 a.m., February 27, 2007.

 

 

________________________

Rep. Chisum, Chair

 

 

________________________

Paul Kamprath, Clerk