MINUTES

 

SENATE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON

GENERAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

11:00 a.m. or 30 minutes upon adjournment of the Senate State Affairs Committee

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on General Government Issues was held on Wednesday, August 27, 2008, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT: Senator Kip Averitt, Chair Senator Jane Nelson		MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Troy Fraser Senator Chris Harris
		Senator John Whitmire

 

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Senator Averitt reconvened the Subcommittee on General Government Issues, after being in recess, at 2:45 p.m. 

 

Senator Shapiro called the Education Committee to order at 2:45 p.m.  The following business was transacted:

 

The subcommittee met jointly with the Senate Education Committee.

 

Senator Averitt and Senator Shapiro, as Co-Chairs, shared presiding duties throughout the hearing.

 

Senator Shapiro made opening remarks to the Committees.

 

Senator Shapiro called invited witnesses to provide testimony on the following charge: Review and make recommendations that address the state's facility infrastructure needs for public schools, ensuring that funding remains stable, reliable and equitable.  Examine the need for funding adjustments for factors that affect the need for facilities, such as fast growth, age and condition of facilities, adequacy of space, construction and land costs, and concentration of students requiring smaller class sizes.  Assess the impact on property taxpayers of "rolling forward" the Existing Debt Allotment (EDA) each session and the change in biennial appropriations for the Instructional Facilities Allotment (IFA).  Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown on the attached list.

 

At 4:19 p.m. Senator Averitt assumed the chair.

 

At 4:27 p.m. Senator Shapiro resumed the chair.

 

The chair called persons who registered as public witnesses to provide testimony on the interim committee charge. 

 

Senator Shapiro moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 4:39 p.m. Senator Shapiro moved that the Education Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 4:39 p.m. Senator Averitt moved that the Subcommittee on General Government Issues stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk