The House Committee on Appropriations

81st Legislature

March 27, 2009

8:00 a.m.

E1.030

 

Pursuant to a notice posted on March 20, 2009, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Pitts, at 9:19 a.m.

 

The roll was answered as follows:

 

Present:              Representatives Pitts; Raymond; Aycock; Brown, Fred; Button; Creighton; Crownover; Darby; Driver; Dukes; Edwards; Eiland; Flores; Giddings; Herrero; Hochberg; Isett; Miller, Doug; Morrison; Otto; Riddle; Zerwas (22).

 

Absent:              Representatives Chavez; Cohen; King, Susan; McClendon; Villarreal (5).

 

A quorum was present.

 

(Representative Villarreal now present.)

 

Commission on the Arts

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Commission on the Arts.

 

(Representative King, Susan now present.)

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Historical Commission

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Historical Commission.

 

(Representative Chavez now present.)

 

Representative Edwards moved to amend the pended rider for the Juneteenth monument.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Edwards moved the adoption of the rider as amended.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Department of Information Resources

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of Information Resources.

 

Representative Otto moved to change Rider 9 (Statewide Technology Account) from pending to not adopted.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Article X – The Legislature

 

The chair laid out the Legislative Budge Board recommendations for Article X.

 

Representative Raymond moved the adoption of the Legislative Budget Board recommendations for Article X.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Department of Aging and Disability Services

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of Aging and Disability Services.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

(Representative McClendon now present.)

 

Representative Zerwas moved to amend the subcommittee recommendations to correct the number of Full-time Equivalents. The motion was adopted without objection

 

Representative Herrero moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations as amended.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.

 

Representative Zerwas moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Department of Family and Protective Services

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of Family and Protective Services.

 

Representative Dukes moved to move Item 14a (Provide recruitment and retention bonuses) to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Dukes moved to the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations as amended.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Department of State Health Services

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of State Health Services.

 

Representative Villareal moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Health and Human Services Commission

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Health and Human Services Commission.

 

Representative Eiland moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Dukes moved the adoption of the rider for the expansion of community based programs into Article II.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Isett moved the adoption of the rider for Sunrise Canyon Hospital into Article II.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Dukes moved the adoption of the rider for Other At-Risk Prevention Programs and Services into Article II.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Herrero moved the adoption of the rider for the Child Care Development Account and the transfer of $4 million from CCDF stimulus funds from TWC to DFPS within Article XII.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Eiland moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations on riders for Article II as amended.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

At 11:20 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was recessed until 1:00 p.m., March 27, 2009.

 

The committee reconvened at 1:22 p.m. and was called to order by the chair, Representative Pitts. The roll was answered as follows:

 

Present:              Representatives Pitts; Raymond; Aycock; Brown, Fred; Button; Creighton; Crownover; Darby; Driver; Dukes; Edwards; Herrero; Hochberg; Isett; King, Susan; McClendon; Miller, Doug; Otto; Riddle; Villarreal; Zerwas (21).

 

Absent:              Representatives Chavez; Cohen; Eiland; Flores; Giddings; Morrison (6).

 

A quorum was present.

 

Article XII – American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Article XII.

 

(Representative Giddings now present.)

 

(Representative Chavez now present.)

 

(Representative Morrison now present.)

 

(Representative Eiland now present.)

 

Representative Crownover moved the adoption of the rider for quarterly reporting requirements as amended.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Crownover moved that funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act previously adopted by the committee or recommended to Article XI be moved to Article XII.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Represenative Morrison moved that General Revenue obligations rendered unnecessary because of the receipt of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds be accounted for in Article XII and unobligated General Revenue is appropriated elsewhere in the bill.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Isett moved that all Riders in Article XII be adopted.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The General Government subcommittee moved the adoption of the budget as introduced by the Legislative Budget Board.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Dukes moved the adoption of the rider for film incentive funds.

 

Representative Villarreal moved the adoption of the rider for the Capital Access Program.

 

Representative Otto moved to accept the subcommittee recommendations on the Office of the Governor Trusteed Programs and the presented riders.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved to amend the adopted Legislative Budget Board recommendations for the Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor by placing Items 6a through 6e (Homeland Security) in Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the riders for Article IX.

 

Representative Riddle moved to amend the rider for a state employee bonus payment.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of all Article IX riders discussed and those recommended for Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Public Utility Commission

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the System Benefit Fund under the Public Utility Commission.

 

Representative Giddings moved to adopt the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

General Academic Institutions

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for General Academic Institutions.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations as amended to include a technical correction for the University of Texas - Permian Basin and the addition of the three riders for System Centers.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Health Related Institutions

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Health Related Institutions.

 

Representative Morrison moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Public Community/Junior Colleges

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Public Community/Junior Colleges.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the riders for Article III.

 

Representative Villarreal moved the adoption of the subcommittee recommendations on the education riders for Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out amendments to previously adopted riders.

 

Representative Raymond offered an amendment to the rider for additional border security funds in Article V.

 

Representative Raymond moved the adoption of this rider as amended.  The chair put the motion to a vote.

 

The motion prevailed by the following record vote:

 

Ayes:                             Representatives Pitts; Raymond; Aycock; Brown, Fred; Button; Chavez; Creighton; Darby; Driver; Dukes; Giddings; Herrero; Hochberg; McClendon; Miller, Doug; Morrison; Otto; Villarreal; Zerwas (19).

 

Nays:                             Representatives King, Susan; Riddle (2).

 

Present, Not Voting:     None  (0).

 

Absent:                          Representatives Cohen; Crownover; Edwards; Eiland; Flores; Isett  (6).

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of amendments to two riders (Technology Literacy Assessment Pilot Project and Texas Virtual School Network) previously adopted to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the riders that had not previously been reviewed by the subcommittees.

 

The chair moved to place the rider for Weatherford Office Building for DPS in Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved to adopt the rider for the Emergency Response Center in Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative McClendon moved to adopt the rider for Regional Planning Commissions in Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Zerwas moved to adopt the rider for chronic disease prevention at DSHS in Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Zerwas moved to adopt the rider for the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke in Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Zerwas moved the rider for air ambulance reimbursement funding be not adopted.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of all riders for Article III, except the rider for Higher Education Group Insurance for Central Texas College, to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Riddle moved to adopt the rider for TCLEOSE technology performance review to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the contingency rider for HB 1090 and the contingency rider for HB 2811 to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair withdrew the rider for relocation of utility facilities.

 

Representative Raymond moved the adoption of all Article IX riders to Article XI, with the exception of those previously adopted.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the rider for appropriation of receipts out of the General Revenue-Dedicated Game, Fish and Water Safety Account No. 9 to Article VI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the contingency rider for HB 1358 to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

(Representative Raymond in chair.)

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Zerwas moved the adoption of the rider for payment for compensatory time to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Zerwas moved the adoption of the rider for rate limitations and reporting requirements and the rider for enterprise support services to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Eiland moved the adoption of the rider for Medicaid transfer authority to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the contingency rider for SB 100 and the rider for the University of Texas Health Science Center to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Zerwas moved the adoption of the rider for appropriations related to Frew to Article II.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the rider for high school counselors for at-risk students to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the rider for higher education group insurance to Article III.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the rider for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler and the the rider for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Giddings moved the adoption of the contingency rider for HB 1715 to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Giddings moved the adoption of the rider for the rail relocation and improvement fund to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of the amended rider for student success initiative to Article III.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Villarreal moved the adoption of the rider for the Frew Strategic Spending Plan to Article II.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Zerwas moved the adoption of the rider for one pay group increase at DSHS to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the rider for the Texas Maritime Museum to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the riders that were not recommended for adoption by the subcommittees.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of all riders listed under Article I to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Eiland moved the adoption of the rider for UT Brownsville-Lease of Facilities to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Villarreal moved the adoption of the rider for financial literacy in adult education, the rider for the dropout program at TEA, and the rider for Kilgore College to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Eiland moved the adoption of the rider for TRS FTE cap exemption on intern positions to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Riddle moved the adoption of all riders listed under Article V, except the previously adopted rider for TCLEOSE FTE funding restoration, to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of all riders listed under Article VI to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Driver moved the adoption of the rider for plan/design/manage staffing at TxDOT to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Creighton moved the adoption of the rider for Los Fresnos Boys and Girls Club to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Giddings moved the adoption of the rider for office regulatory best practices to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Morrison moved the adoption of the rider for travel meals and lodging expenses to Article XI.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Otto moved the adoption of the rider for children's advocacy centers to Article I.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

(Representative Pitts in chair.)

 

Texas State University System

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas State University System.

 

Representative Darby moves to adopt the Legislative Budget Board recommendations for the Texas State University System.  The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Department of Information Resources

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of Information Resources.

 

Representative Otto moves to adopt the amount needed to fund current obligations for Data Center Services in the amount of $34,074,360 General Revenue-Related ($43,006,697 all funds).

 

The chair issued final directives to the Legislative Budget Board staff.

At 7:28 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

________________________

Rep. Pitts, Chair

 

 

________________________

Courtney Reid, Clerk