MINUTES
         
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
                             Tuesday, March 11, 1997
                                     9:00 am
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
         
                                      *****
         
         
         
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 
         11.11, an open meeting of the Senate Committee on Finance was 
         held on Tuesday, March 11, 1997 in the Capitol Extension, Room 
         E1.036, at Austin, Texas.  
         
                                      *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Bill Ratliff                     None
         Senator Carlos Truan
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
         Senator Mike Moncrief
         Senator Jane Nelson
         Senator David Sibley
         Senator Jeff Wentworth
         Senator Royce West
         Senator Judith Zaffirini
         
         
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:  
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister
         Senator Teel Bivins
         Senator J.E. Brown
         
                                      *****
         
         
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:20 am.  There being 
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.  
         
         The Committee resumed its markup session on the General 
         Appropriations Bill (S.B. 5) and discussed agency budget 
         issues falling under Articles VI through VII.
         
         Committee members called on Legislative Budget Board staff to 
         answer questions.
         
         
              Leonard Olson, representing the Texas Water Development 
              Board, testified on specific budget items included in the 
              markup documents.
         
              Bill Burnet, representing the Texas Department of 
     
          
         





              Transportation, testified on specific budget issues 
              included in the markup documents.
         
         The Committee recessed at 10:40 am.
         
         The Committee resumed its markup session on the General 
         Appropriations Bill at 12:50 pm and discussed agency budget 
         issues falling under Articles VII through IX.
         
         Senator Ratliff appointed a subcommittee to address emoluments 
         for state employees.  The following members were appointed to 
         the subcommittee:  Senator Barrientos, Chair; and Senators 
         Moncrief and Nelson, members.
         
         Senator Ratliff discussed with Committee members a revised 
         schedule for the General Appropriations Bill; and requested 
         members to submit proposed amendments to the base bill to 
         Committee staff by Thursday, March 13. 
         
         There being no further business, at 2:35 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