MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, February 20, 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 Thursday, February 20, 1997 in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Carlos Truan Senator David Sibley
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Royce West
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:30 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The Chair laid out SB 128 and recognized the author, Senator
Haywood, to explain the bill. Senator Truan sent up a
committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Haywood to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed.
Dr. Louis J. Rodriguez, President, representing
Midwestern State University, testified on the bill.
Senator Moncrief moved that SB 128 do not pass but that CSSB
128 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation
that it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote
of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 6 absent. After
the vote was recorded, the Chair announced that Senators
Armbrister, Bivins, Brown, Lucio, and West 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 Chair laid out SB 503 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill.
Ed Bloom, representing Texas Association for the
Education of Young Children, testified in favor of the
bill.
Spencer T. Oldham, Jr., representing Self, testified in
favor of the bill.
Michele Vinet, Ph.D., representing Self, testified in
favor of the bill.
Patrick Bresette, representing Center for Public Policy
Priorities, registered but did not testify in favor of
the bill.
Charles Martin, representing Texas Workforce Commission,
testified on the bill.
Carol McDaniel, representing Texas Workforce Commission,
testified on the bill.
Senator Truan moved that SB 503 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 Moncrief requested
unanimous consent to certify the bill for Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 95, left pending from a previous
hearing, and recognized the author, Senator Patterson, to
answer questions.
Dan Wilson, representing Comptroller's Property Tax
Division, testified on the bill.
Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 95 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, the Chair announced that Senator Bivins requested
unanimous consent to be shown voting aye, and Senator West
requested unanimous consent to be shown voting present not
voting on the previous motion; without objection, the final
vote was 11 ayes, 0 nays, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent.
Senator Truan requested unanimous consent to certify the bill
for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 460 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapiro, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up
Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted.
Jim Bisson, representing Texas Department of
Transportation, testified on the bill.
Jane Quentan Piper, representing Texas CASA, registered
but did not testify in favor of the bill.
Senator Nelson moved that SB 460, 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 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0
present not voting, and 4 absent. After the vote was
recorded, the Chair announced that Senators Bivins, Lucio,
Jr., and West 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.
There being no further business, at 10:20 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