MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS
AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
Monday, April 12, 1999
11:30 am
Lt. Governor's Committee Room
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate
Rule 11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on
Monday, April 12, 1999 in Lt. Governor's Committee Room,
at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan Senator Gregory Luna
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chair called the hearing to order at 11:30 am.
Chairman Truan laid out SCR 7, memoralizing Congress to
provide lifetime healthcare for military retirees over
the age of 65. Senator Moncrief, the author, was
recognized to explain the bill. Testifying as a
resource witness was Mr. James A. Endicott, Jr., from
the Texas Council Chapter of the Retired Officers
Association. There being no further testimony, the Chair
closed the hearing on SCR 7.
The Clerk called the roll at 11:45 a.m. A quorum was
present.
Senator Fraser moved that SCR 7 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass and
be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0
nays, and 1 absent. By unanimous consent, SCR 7 was
certified for the Local & Uncontested Calendar.
Chairman Truan turned the gavel to Senator Shapleigh to
preside at the hearing at this time. Senator Shapleigh
laid out SB 1509, relating to the maximum number and
amount of certain veteran's loans, and recognized its
author, Senator Truan, to explain the bill.
Commissioner David Dewhurst and Mr. David Gloier of the
General Land Office of Texas and Mr. Glen Gardner of the
Texas Coalition of Veterans Organization, were called as
witnesses to testify on the bill. Senators Fraser and
Ogden were recognized for questions. There being no
further testimony or questions, on motion by the chair,
testimony on SB 1509 was closed.
Senator Truan moved that SB 1509 be reported favorably
out of committee with the recommendation that it do pass
and be printed and an Amendment will be worked on to be
passed on the floor. The motion carried with a vote of
3 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent, and 1 present not voting.
Senator Shapleigh turned the gavel back to Chairman Truan
to preside at the hearing. Chairman Truan laid out SCR
59, relating to conferring the Texas Legislative Medal
of Honor on First Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn Knight, and
recognized its author, Senator Sibley, to explain the
bill. Captain Dennis E. Spillman, from the Adjutant
General's Department, was recognized as a resource
witness testifying for SCR 59. There being no questions
or objections, on motion by the Chair, testimony was
closed.
Senator Fraser moved that SCR 59 be reported favorably to
the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and
be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, no
nays, and 1 absent. Senator Fraser requested unanimous
consent to certify the bill for the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out pending SB 655, relating to the
creation of a defense base development authority;
validating certain acts of a defense base development
corporation; granting the right to issue bonds, and
recognized Mr. Harold Oliver from the Legislative staff
of Senator Madla, and Mr. Chris Shields from the City of
San Antonio, as resource witnesses for the bill.
Senator Ogden was recognized for questions.
Chairman Truan moved that SB 655 remain pending and be
heard at the next committee
meeting with resource witnesses who can answer specific
questions regarding the bill. There being no objections,
it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 1066, relating to certain
proceedings under the Texas Code of Military Justice, and
recognized its author, Senator Fraser, to explain the
bill. Colonel Jack L. Slayton , from the Adjutant
General's Office was recognized as a resource witness to
testify on the bill.
Chairman Truan announced that HB 670 would not be heard
as we had a full Agenda, but would be brought up at the
following committee meeting.
There being no further testimony and questions on SB
1066, on motion by the Chair, the hearing was closed.
Senator Fraser moved that SB 1066 be reported favorably
out of committee with the recommendation that it do pass
and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 3
ayes, 0 nays, and 2 absent. Senator Fraser requested
unanimous consent to certify that the bill be placed on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it
was so ordered.
Chairman Truan laid out SB 1379, relating to a study on
the use of Fort Bliss for Texas National Guard
training, and recognized its author, Senator Shapleigh,
to explain the bill. Resource witnesses Mr. Bill Goodwin
and Mr. George Brinegar, from the Texas Army National
Guard were recognized to testify. There being no
questions or further testimony,
on motion by the chair, the hearing was closed.
Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 1379 be reported
favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote
of 3 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 absent. Senator Shapleigh
requested unanimous consent to certify that the bill be
placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SCR 38, relating to showing the
Legislature's support for the renewal of the McGregor
Range Military Land Withdrawal (P.L. 99-606), and
recognized its author, Senator Shapleigh to explain the
bill. There being no testimony or questions, on
motion by the chair, the hearing was closed on SCR 38.
Senator Shapleigh moved that SCR 38 be reported
favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it
do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote
of 3 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 absent. Senator Shapleigh
requested unanimous consent to certify the bill for the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objections, it was
so ordered.
The Chair laid out SCR 45, urging the Veteran's Land
Board to establish a veterans home in El Paso County, and
recognized its author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the
bill. Senator Fraser was recognized for questions.
There being no testimony or further questions, on motion
by the chair, the hearing was closed.
Chairman Truan moved that SCR 45 be left pending in
committee, there being no objections, it was so ordered.
Senator Shapleigh moved for adoption of the minutes from
March 29, 1999. There being no objections, the minutes
were unanimously approved.
There being no further business, at 12:46 p.m., Senator
Fraser moved the committee stand recessed subject to call
of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________________
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman
_____________________________________
Emma Dibbles, Committee Clerk