MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Monday, February 17, 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, February 17, 1997 in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
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 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
none.
The Chair laid out SCR 3 and recognized the author, Senator
Patterson, to explain the bill.
Richard Parker, representing Helen Li., M.D., testified
in favor of the bill.
Michael H. Corley, representing University of Texas
System, testified on the bill.
Allison Eccles, representing Office of the Attorney
General, testified on the bill.
Senator Sibley moved that SCR 3 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. After the vote was
recorded, Senator Barrientos 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 laid out SB 95 and recognized the author, Senator
Patterson, to explain the bill.
Bob Green, representing Trinity Church, testified in
favor of the bill.
Robert Holbrook, representing Restoration Christian
Fellowship, testified in favor of the bill.
Walter Stoneham, representing Self, testified on the
bill.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 95 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 328 and recognized the author, Senator
Brown, to explain the bill. Senator Brown sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator Brown sent up Committee
Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator Wentworth sent up Committee
Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator West sent up Committee
Amendment 4 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted.
David West, representing Texas Association of State
Judges, testified in favor of the bill.
Marilyn Aboussie, representing Self, testified on the
bill.
Thomas R. Phillips, representing Self; Supreme Court,
Judicial Department, testified on the bill.
Ray D. Anderson, representing Self, registered, but did
not testify on the bill.
Senator Brown moved that SB 328, 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 12 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent. After the vote was recorded,
Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 laid out SJR 20 and recognized the author, Senator
Brown, to explain the bill.
David West, representing Texas Association of State
Judges, testified in favor of the bill.
Marilyn Aboussie, representing Self, testified on the
bill.
Thomas R. Phillips, representing Self; Supreme Court,
Judicial Department, testified on the bill.
Ray D. Anderson, representing Self, registered, but did
not testify on the bill.
Senator Brown moved that SJR 20 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. After the vote was
recorded, Senators Lucio, Jr. and Sibley 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 laid out SB 310 and recognized the author,
Senator Brown, to explain the bill.
Ray D. Anderson, representing Self, testified on the
bill.
Thomas R. Phillips, representing Self; Supreme Court,
Judicial Department, testified on the bill.
David West, representing Texas Association of State
Judges, testified in favor of the bill.
R. Paul Yetter, representing Alliance for Judicial
Funding, Inc., testified in favor of the bill.
Senator Ratliff moved that SB 310 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SJR 22 and recognized the author, Senator
Harris, to explain the bill.
David Luther, representing Jasper County Appraisal
District, testified on the bill.
Senator Moncrief moved that SJR 22 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 3 absent. After the vote was
recorded, Senators Truan, Brown, and Zaffirini 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 laid out SB 344 and recognized the author, Senator
Harris, to explain the bill.
Bart Freeman, representing Pantego Christian Academy,
testified in favor of the bill.
Steven R. Newby, representing Pantego Christian Academy,
testified in favor of the bill.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 344 be reported favorably to
the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be
printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 3 absent. After the vote was
recorded, Senators Truan, West and Zaffirini 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. 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 11:55 am 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