MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Monday, March 24, 1997
9:30 am
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Monday, March 24, 1997 in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator David Sibley
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Royce West
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:35 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
The Chair laid out SJR 31 and recognized the author, Senator
Ogden, to explain the bill. Senator Truan moved to refer SJR
31 to a subcommittee for further consideration. The motion
carried with 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1
absent. Senator Armbrister requested unanimous consent to be
shown voting aye on the previous motion; there being no
objection, the final vote was 13 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent. The Chair will appoint members of the
subcommittee at a later date.
The Chair laid out SB 105 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill.
Fran Colby, representing Self, testified in favor of the
bill.
Pat Crow, representing Self, testified in favor of the
bill.
Ann Fickel, representing Texas Classroom Teachers
Association, testified on the bill.
Alice Louise Foster, representing Self, testified in
favor of the bill.
Brock Gregg, representing Association of Texas
Professional Educators, testified in opposition to the
bill.
Lester VanPelt, III, representing Republican Party of
Texas, testified in favor of the bill.
Weston W. Ware, representing Texas Baptist Christian Life
Commission, testified in opposition to the bill.
James E. Foster, representing Self, registered in favor
of the bill but did not testify.
Murlene D. Johnston, representing Self, registered in
favor of the bill but did not testify.
Lillian Little, representing Self, registered in favor of
the bill but did not testify.
Thelma Litton, representing Self, registered in favor of
the bill but did not testify.
Deana Ricks, representing Self, registered in favor of
the bill but did not testify.
James Rinn, representing Texas Lottery Commission,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Truan moved to refer SB 105, and all bills relating to
the dedication of lottery funds, to a subcommittee for further
consideration; without objection it was so ordered. The Chair
referred SB 105, SB 76, SB 180, and SB 1093 to the
Subcommittee on Dedication of Lottery Funds for further
consideration. The Chair appointed Senator Bivins as Chair of
the subcommittee and Senators Lucio, Jr., Moncrief, Nelson,
and Wentworth as members of the subcommittee.
The Committee recessed at 10:50 am until 30 minutes after
adjournment of the Senate.
The Committee reconvened at 12:35 pm.
The Chair laid out SB 850 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Rob Killen, representing The University of Texas at San
Antonio,
testified in
favor of the
bill.
Sam Kirkpatrick, representing The University of Texas at
San Antonio, testified in favor of the bill.
Thomas E. Brown, Jr., representing The University of
Texas at San Antonio, registered in favor of the bill but
did not testify.
Dr. Bobbie Hernandez-Walker, representing The University
of Texas at San Antonio, registered in favor of the bill
but did not testify.
Judy A. Juarez, representing The University of Texas at
San Antonio, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Senator Wentworth moved that SB 850 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Brown requested
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the previous
motion; without objection, the final vote was 13 ayes, 0 nays,
0 present not voting, and 0 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 126 and recognized the author, Senator
Bivins, to explain the bill. Senator Bivins sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Bivins to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. Senator Bivins moved adoption of the
committee substitute, without objection, it was so ordered.
David Garlick, representing Railroad Commission,
testified on the bill.
Gerald Higgins, representing Comptroller of Public
Accounts, testified on the bill.
Alex MIlls, representing North Texas Oil & Gas
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Ben Sebree, representing Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Stephanie Stromberg, representing Coastal Corporation,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Lindsey Dingmore, representing Texas Independent
Producers & Royalty Owners, registered in favor of the
bill but did not testify.
Senator Bivins moved that SB 126 do not pass but that CSSB 126
be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with 7 ayes, 0
nays, 1 present not voting, and 5 absent. Senators
Barrientos, Brown, Lucio, Wentworth, and Zaffirini requested
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the previous
motion. Without objection, the final vote was 12 ayes, 0
nays, 1 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Bivins
requested that the Committee reconsider the vote and leave SB
126 pending, subject to completion of a revised fiscal note;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1012 and recognized the author, Senator
Ogden, to explain the bill. Senator Sibley sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Ogden to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. Senator Sibley moved adoption of the
committee substitute, without objection, it was so ordered.
Judge Cecil N. Neely, representing Madison County,
testified in favor of the bill.
Senator Bivins moved that SB 1012 do not pass but that CSSB
1012 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.
Senators Barrientos, Brown, Lucio, Jr., and Zaffirini
requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the
previous; without objection, the final vote was 13 ayes, 0
nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator Armbrister
requested unanimous consent to certify the bill for Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 591 and recognized the author, Senator
Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill.
Dr. Max Castillo, representing University of Houston -
Downtown, testified on the bill.
Dr. Linda Gratch, representing Self, registered on the
bill but did not testify.
William P. Hobby, representing University of Houston
System, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator West moved that SB 591 be reported favorably to the
full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 5 absent. Senators Barrientos, Brown,
and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting
aye on the previous motion; without objection, the final vote
was 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 918 and recognized the author, Senator
Patterson, to explain the bill.
Pat Cole, representing Texas Council on Family Violence,
testified in opposition to the bill.
Amy Wong Mok, representing Texas Association Against
Sexual Assault, testified in opposition to the bill.
Vincent Torres, representing Self, testified in
opposition to the bill.
D'An Archer, representing Self, registered in opposition
to the bill but did not testify.
Commander Marshall Caskey, representing Department of
Public Safety, registered on the bill but did not
testify.
Will Crais, representing Department of Public Safety,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Chandler Gray, representing Texas CASA, Inc., registered
in opposition to the bill but did not testify.
Jill A. Hargrove, representing Bell County District
Attorney's Office, registered in opposition to the bill
but did not testify.
Reita Hill, representing MADD - Bell County Chapter,
registered in opposition to the bill but did not testify.
Joan C. Hogan, representing Self, registered in
opposition to the bill but did not testify.
Ms. Laurel Kelly, representing Attorney General's Office,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Laura Lyons, representing Texas Association Against
Sexual Assault, registered in opposition to the bill but
did not testify.
Carol Townsend, representing Self, registered in
opposition to the bill but did not testify.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 918 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 485 and recognized the author, Senator
Brown, to explain the bill.
David Garlick, representing Railroad Commission,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Tim S. Wooten, representing Comptroller of Public
Accounts, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Brown moved that SB 485 be reported favorably to the
full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 1
present not voting, and 5 absent. Senators Armbrister,
Barrientos, West, and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to
be shown voting aye on the previous motion; without objection,
the final vote was 11 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and
1 absent. Senator Brown requested unanimous consent to
certify the bill for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 893 and recognized the author, Senator
Moncrief, to explain the bill.
Senator Moncrief sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Douglas Harman, representing Fort Worth Convention
Bureau, testified in favor of the bill.
Joe Paniagua, representing City of Fort Worth, testified
in favor of the bill.
Dan Wattles, representing Texas Department of Commerce,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Diana Cummings, representing Comptroller of Public
Accounts, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 893, as amended, be reported
back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and
be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 1 nay,
0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 781 and recognized the author, Senator
West, to explain the bill. Senator West sent up a committee
substitute; the Chair recognized Senator West to explain the
difference between the committee substitute and the bill as
filed. Senator West moved adoption of the committee
substitute, without objection, it was so ordered.
Ray Bonilla, representing Comptroller of Public Accounts,
testified on the bill.
Patrick Bresette, representing Center For Public Policy
Priorities, testified in favor of the bill.
Lela Dyson, representing Texas Workforce Commission,
testified on the bill.
Rick Levy , representing Texas AFL-CIO, testified in
favor of the bill.
Cindy Alexander, representing Comptroller of Public
Accounts, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Jessica Shahin, representing Department of Human
Services, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Sibley moved that CSSB 781 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 926 and recognized the author, Senator
Sibley, to explain the bill. Senator Sibley sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Sibley to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. Senator Sibley moved adoption of the
committee substitute, without objection, it was so ordered.
Phil Diebel, representing University of North Texas,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
David Drum, representing The University of Texas,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
James Vick, representing The University of Texas at
Austin, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Sibley moved that SB 926 do not pass but that CSSB 926
be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. There being objection, the motion
carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,
and 6 absent. Senators Armbrister, Barrientos, Bivins, West,
and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting
aye on the previous motion; without objection, the final vote
was 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The Committee recessed at 2:40 pm and reconvened at 3:20 pm.
The Chair laid out SB 1018 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Gilbert Hutchins, representing Texas Veterinary Medical
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 1018 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 848 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Shirley Armstrong, representing Texas Court Clerk's
Association, testified in favor of the bill.
Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, representing Travis County
District Clerk, testified in favor of the bill.
R. Brad Burger, representing County and District Clerk's
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Rosie L. Caballero, representing Texas Court Clerks
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Dana DeBeauvoir, representing County Clerk Legislative
Committee, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Winnie B. Kocot, representing Texas Court Clerks
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Hilda Phariss, representing Texas Court Clerks
Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not
testify.
Quentin Porter, representing City of San Antonio,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Vicki Smith, representing Texas Court Clerks Association,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Susan Wendel, representing Texas Association of Counties,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Ron Zimmerman, representing Austin Court Clerks,
registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 848 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 861 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill.
Wade Anderson, representing Comptroller of Public
Accounts, registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 861 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Armbrister
requested unanimous consent to certify the bill for Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 862 and recognized the author, Senator
Armbrister, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Armbrister
to explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Armbrister requested unanimous consent
to incorporate amendments into the committee substitute.
Senator Armbrister then moved that the new committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Karey Barton, representing Comptroller of Public
Accounts, testified on the bill.
Ray Bonilla, representing Comptroller of Public Accounts,
registered on the bill but did not testify.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 862 do not pass but that CSSB
862 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a
vote of 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
Senator Armbrister requested unanimous consent to certify the
bill for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it
was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 3:50 pm Senator Ratliff
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk