MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Tuesday, March 9, 1999
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Tuesday, March 9, 1999 in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator John Carona
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Royce West
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senators Barrientos, Carona, Duncan, Fraser and Gallegos.
The Committee resumed its markup session on the General
Appropriations Bill (Senate Bill 2) and worked on the
following:
Board of Professional Land Surveying
Department of Licensing and Regulation
Structural Pest Control Board
Board of Plumbing Examiners
Racing Commission
Real Estate Commission
Department of Insurance
Public Insurance Counsel
Public Utility Commission
Public Utility Counsel
Funeral Service Commission
Workers' Compensation Commission
Research and Oversight Council on Workers' Compensation
The Committee adopted specific items included in the
Legislative Budget Board (LBB) markup document for each
agency. Final action will be taken on adopted items at the
end of the markup process.
Action taken on items not included in the LBB markup document
included the following:
During the markup session on the Department of Licensing
and Regulation:
Senator Barrientos sent up and moved adoption of an
amendment to increase funding and add 8 additional
FTEs for the enforcement of the Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration License Law under strategy
A.1.1.Inspection/Investigation. Without objection,
it was so ordered.
Senator Carona sent up and moved adoption of an
amendment to increase the appropriations to the
Resolve Complaints strategy by $250,000 a year and
to add 4 FTEs. Without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Carona then moved to reconsider
the vote. There was no objection. Senator Carona
moved to add his language to Senator Barrientos'
amendment. Without objection, it was so ordered.
During the markup session on the Public Utility
Commission:
Senator Barrientos sent up and moved adoption of a
contingency rider addressing the enactment of SB 7
or similar legislation on restructuring the electric
industry in Texas. There being 8 ayes and 1 nay,
the rider was adopted.
Witnesses called on to answer questions of the Committee are
shown on the attached list.
There being no further business, at 3:05 p.m. Senator Ratliff
announced that the Committee would stand recessed until 9:00
a.m., Wednesday, March 10, 1999. Without objection, it was so
ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk