MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair		Senator Kel Seliger
Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair
Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Brian Birdwell
Senator Kelly Hancock
Senator Joan Huffman
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Carlos Uresti
Senator Kirk Watson
Senator Royce West
Senator John Whitmire

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:03 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Senator Nelson made opening remarks. 

 

The Legislative Budget Board gave an update on the Hurricane Harvey Relief and Recovery charge.

Testimony was heard on the following interim charges:

 

Alamo Historical Site Renovation: Monitor the expenditures of state funds appropriated to the General Land Office for the preservation, maintenance, and operation of the Alamo historical site. Ensure the funds are spent to emphasize the architectural design and the historical impact the battle had on the development of Texas as a nation and as a state.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair. 

 

Adult and Juvenile Corrections Funding: Examine the funding patterns used to fund the juvenile justice system and adult probation departments. Develop recommendations to ensure the Texas Juvenile Justice Department budget does not dis-incentivize the use of cost-effective best practices such as diverting youth from the juvenile justice system, providing services to youth in their community, and keeping youth closer to home. In addition, review funding to adult probation departments and ensure it provides for an equitable distribution to all Texas Probation Departments.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of the following funding initiative:

-          CPS Critical Needs - Monitor the impact of salary increases and additional caseworkers allocated to Child Protective Services last interim.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

Senator Nelson resumed the chair.

 

Witnesses registering and testifying are on the attached list.

 

Senator Nelson closed public testimony.

 

There being no further business, at 6:09 PM Senator Nelson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk