MINUTES
         
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL
                          RELATIONS, TRADE & TECHNOLOGY
                           Wednesday, January 29, 1997
                                     1:00 pm
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.028
                                 Public Hearing
         
                                      *****
         
         
         
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 
         11.11, a meeting of the Senate Committee on International 
         Relations, Trade & Technology was held on Wednesday, January 
         29, 1997 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, 
         Texas.  
         
                                      *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman     Senator Kenneth 
         Armbrister
         Senator John Carona, Vice-Chairman    Senator Teel Bivins
         Senator Jon Lindsay                   Senate District 5
         Senator Bill Ratliff
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh
         Senator David Sibley
         
                                      *****
         
         Chairman Truan called the public hearing to order at 1:00 p.m.  
         There being a quorum present, the following business was 
         transacted.  
         
         Chairman Truan proposed an amendment to Committee Rule number 
         seven (7), regarding fiscal notes, so that it conforms with 
         existing Senate Rules.  The rule, as amended, allows a bill to 
         be heard in Committee without a fiscal note, but in no event 
         can the bill be reported out without a fiscal note attached.  
         Vice-Chairman Carona moved to amend the Committee Rules as 
         proposed.  Senator Shapleigh seconded the motion.  The Clerk 
         called the roll.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 
         nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.
         
         The Chair made brief remarks regarding the briefing by the 
         Texas General Services Commission and the Texas Department of 
         Information Resources on their report entitled "Statewide 
         Inventory of Interactive Video Telecommunications Resources 
         and Services, Final Report to the Texas Senate Committee on 
         International Relations, Trade and Technology (IRTT)."  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown 
         on the attached list.
         
 
         





         
         Carolyn Purcell, Executive Director of the Texas Department of 
         Information Resources, briefly outlined the Report for the 
         Committee.  A discussion followed.  The Chair then recognized 
         Tom Treadaway, Executive Director of the General Services 
         Commission, to address questions from the members regarding 
         the types of video-conferencing services available to the 
         State of Texas.  A discussion followed.
         
         Chairman Truan recognized Mr. C.J. Brandt, General Counsel for 
         the Department of Information Resources, to answer legal 
         questions regarding use of the state facilities by business 
         clients.  A discussion followed.
         
         Chairman Truan recognized Mr. Jose Camacho, Special Assistant 
         to Lt. Governor Bob Bullock,  in attendance at today's 
         hearing, and Ms. Kateri Arag n, with the Consulado General de 
         Mexico office in Austin, Texas also in attendance.
         
         There being no further business, at 1:35 p.m. Senator Lindsay 
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of 
         the Chair.  There being no objection, the motion carried.
         
         
         
         
         ______________________                       
         Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair
         
         ______________________
         Carla Buckner, Clerk