The House Committee on Appropriations

80th Legislature

March 1, 2007

8:00 a.m.

E1.030

 

Pursuant to a notice posted on February 23, 2007, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Chisum, at 8:32 a.m.

 

The roll was answered as follows:

 

Present:              Representatives Chisum; Guillen; Allen, Alma; Branch; Brown, Betty; Brown, Fred; Chavez; Crownover; Darby; Harper-Brown; Hopson; Isett, Carl; Jackson, Jim; Kolkhorst; Lucio III; McClendon; McReynolds; Noriega, Rick; Otto; Riddle; Turner; Van Arsdale; Zerwas (23).

 

Absent:              Representatives Davis, John; Dukes; England; Gattis; Menendez; Taylor (6).

 

A quorum was present.

 

(Representative England now present.)

 

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Texas Education Agency

 

The chair recognized Rep. Branch to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Education Agency (TEA). 

 

At 9:56 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was recessed until 30 minutes after the House adjourns on March 1, 2007.

 

The committee reconvened at 12:49 p.m. and was called to order by the chair, Representative Chisum. The roll was answered as follows:

 

Present:              Representatives Chisum; Guillen; Allen, Alma; Brown, Fred; Crownover; Davis, John; Dukes; England; Gattis; Harper-Brown; Hopson; Jackson, Jim; Kolkhorst; Lucio III; McClendon; McReynolds; Noriega, Rick; Otto; Riddle; Taylor; Turner; Zerwas (22).

 

Absent:              Representatives Branch; Brown, Betty; Chavez; Darby; Isett, Carl; Menendez; Van Arsdale (7).

 

A quorum was present.

 

(Representative Branch now present.)

Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The Chair recognized Rep. Branch to proceed with the recommendations for TEA.

 

(Representative Brown, Betty now present.)  (Representative Darby now present.)  (Representative Van Arsdale now present.)  (Representative Isett, Carl now present.)

 

The Chair pended the recommendations for TEA.

 

School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

 

The chair recognized Rep. McClendon to lay out the recommendations for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  Rep. McClendon moved the adoption of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Related and Support Services, Central Administration, Other Support Services, and Classroom Instruction Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Classroom Instruction, Residential Program, Summer and Short-Term Programs, Related and Support Services, and Technical Assistance Strategies.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

School for the Deaf

 

The chair recognized Rep. McClendon to lay out the recommendations for the School for the Deaf.  Rep. McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Central Administration and Other Support Services Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Classroom Instruction, Related and Support Services, and Technical Assistance Strategies.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Teacher Retirement System

 

The chair recognized Rep. McClendon to lay out the recommendations for the Teacher Retirement System. 

 

(Representative Guillen in chair.) 

 

Rep. McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Teacher Retirement System--Public Education Retirement, Teacher Retirement System--Higher Education Retirement, and Administrative Operations Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Schedule of Exempt Positions; Amend Capital Budget, State Contribution to Teacher Retirement Program, and Travel Expenditures Riders; Add Contingency Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Special Provisions Relating to the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the School for the Deaf

 

The chair recognized Rep. McClendon to lay out the recommendations for the Special Provisions Relating to the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the School for the Deaf.  Rep. McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Optional Retirement Program

 

The chair recognized Rep. McClendon to lay out the recommendations for the Optional Retirement Program.  Rep. McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations. Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions

 

The chair recognized Rep. McClendon to lay out the recommendations for the Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions.  Rep. McClendon moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes:  Technical Adjustment to Decrease the General Revenue Method of Financing and Increase the State Highway Fund 006 Method of Financing.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Higher Education Coordinating Board

 

The chair recognized Rep. Kolkhorst to lay out the recommendations for the Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). 

 

(Representative Chavez now present.)

 

The Chair pended the recommendations for THECB.

 

Higher Education Fund

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Higher Education Fund.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Available University Fund

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Available University Fund.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

 

Texas Cooperative Extension

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Cooperative Extension.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Engineering Experiment Station

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Transportation Institute

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Transportation Institute.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Technical Adjustment to Transportation Studies Center Rider.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Engineering Extension Service

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Engineering Extension Service.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Forest Service

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Forest Service.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy.  Technical Adjustment to Urban Forestry License Plate Fund.  Appropriation of License Plate Unexpended Balances and Receipts Rider and Associated Funding.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

Texas Medical Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

 

The chair recognized Rep. Fred Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Medical Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.  Rep. Fred Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations, with the following changes:  Increase Funding for Indirect Administration Strategy.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.

 

(Representative Chisum in chair.)

 

At 4:31 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned until 7:30 a.m., March 2, 2007.

 

 

________________________

Rep. Chisum, Chair

 

 

________________________

Paul Kamprath, Clerk