The House Committee on Appropriations

82nd Legislature

March 9, 2011

7:00 a.m.

E1.030

Pursuant to a notice posted on March 3, 2011, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Pitts, at 7:13 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Pitts; Turner; Aycock; Button; Chisum; Crownover; Darby; Giddings; Gooden; Hochberg; King, Susan; Margo; Martinez, "Mando"; Miller, Doug; Morrison; Otto; Patrick, Diane; Schwertner; Shelton; Torres; Villarreal; and Zerwas.

A quorum was present.

(Representative McClendon now present.)

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

Texas Education Agency

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Education Agency.

(Representative Riddle now present.)

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

(Representative Eiland now present.)

(Representative Dukes now present.)

(Representative Turner in chair.)

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Education Agency pending.

School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, School for the Deaf and Special Provisions for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired/School for the Deaf

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the School for the Deaf.

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Special Provisions for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired/School for the Deaf.

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

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired pending.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the School for the Deaf pending.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Special Provisions for the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired/School for the Deaf pending.

Teacher Retirement System and Optional Retirement Program

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Teacher Retirement System.

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Optional Retirement Program.

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

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Teacher Retirement System pending.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Optional Retirement Program pending.

At 9:54 a.m., on the motion of Representative Turner and without objection, the meeting was recessed until final adjournment or if permission is granted during the reading and referrals of bills.

The committee received permission to meet during the reading and referral of bills on March 9, 2011, and reconvened at 1:51 p.m. and was called to order by the chair, Representative Pitts.

The quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Pitts; Turner; Aycock; Button; Chisum; Crownover; Dukes; Eiland; Giddings; Hochberg; Johnson; Margo; Martinez, "Mando"; Miller, Doug; Morrison; Otto; Patrick, Diane; Riddle; Shelton; and Torres.

A quorum was present.

Teacher Retirement System

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Teacher Retirement System.

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

(Representative Gooden now present.)

(Representative Martinez, "Mando" now present.)

(Representative Crownover now present.)

(Representative Villarreal now present.)

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Teacher Retirement System pending.

(Representative Hochberg in chair.)

(Representative Turner in chair.)

Higher Education Employees Group Insurance

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Higher Education Employees Group Insurance.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Higher Education Employees Group pending.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

The chair laid out subcommittee recommendations for the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

(Representative Pitts in chair.)

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

(Representative King, Susan now present.)

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Higher Education Coordinating Board pending.

Available University Fund

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Available University Fund.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Available University Fund pending.

Higher Education Fund

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Higher Education Fund.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Higher Education Fund pending.

General Academic Institutions/Texas State Technical Colleges/Lamar State Colleges/System Offices

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the General Academic Institutions/ Texas State Technical Colleges/Lamar State Colleges/System Offices.

(Representative Turner in chair.)

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

(Representative Schwertner now present.)

(Representative Pitts in chair.)

(Representative Darby now present.)

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the General Academic Institutions/ Texas State Technical Colleges/Lamar State Colleges/System Offices pending.

Health Related Institutions

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

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Health Related Institutions pending.

Public Community / Junior Colleges

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

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Public Community/Junior Colleges pending.

Texas AgriLife Research

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Texas AgriLife Research.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for Texas AgriLife Research

pending.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service pending.

Texas Engineering Experiment Station

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Engineering Experiment Station.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Engineering Experiment Station pending.

Texas Transportation Institute

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Transportation Institute.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Transportation Institute pending.

Texas Engineering Extension Service

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Engineering Extension Service.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Engineering Extension Service pending.

Texas Forest Service

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Forest Service.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Forest Service pending.

Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory pending.

Special Provisions Relating only to State Agencies of Higher Education

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the Special Provisions Relating only to State Agencies of Higher Education.

The chair left the subcommittee recommendations for the Special Provisions Relating only to State Agencies of Higher Education pending.

(Representative Zerwas now present.)

At 5:27 p.m., on the motion of Representative Pitts and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

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Rep. Pitts, Chair

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Jonathon Storms, Clerk