MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Friday, April 9, 1999 
                                    8:00 a.m. 
                         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 Friday, April 9, 1999 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 John Carona 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Mike Moncrief 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Royce West 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senators Barrientos, Gallegos and Ogden. 
          
         The Committee conducted public hearings on Articles IX, X and  
         XII and resumed its markup session on Senate Bill 2 (General  
         Appropriations Bill). 
          
         Public Hearing on Article IX 
          
         The Chair laid out the Subcommittee Report on Exempt Salaries  
         and recognized Senator Lindsay to explain the subcommittee's  
         recommendations.  Senator Lindsay explained the committee  
         report and the State Auditor's Office recommended  
         classification plan changes for the 2000-2001 biennium.   
         Senator Lindsay sent up an addendum to the report on the  
         salary of the Administrative Director of the Office of Court  
         Administration and moved its adoption; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Lindsay then moved adoption of the  
         subcommittee report as amended and the recommended  
  
         classification system.  The motion carried without objection. 
          
         The Committee recessed for session at 8:58 a.m. and reconvened  
         at 11:25 a.m. to continue the public hearing on Article IX. 
          
         The Chair called on witnesses wishing to testify on Article IX  
         issues.  Witnesses testifying on Article IX are shown on the  
         attached list. 
          
         The Committee adopted specific items riders and funding  
         proposals submitted by members of the Committee.  Action  
         requiring a record vote under Article IX included the  
         following: 
          
              Senator West moved adoption of a revised rider to add a  
              section on contingent fee legal contracts to the current  
              section on Court Representation and Outside Legal  
              Counsel.  The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 1  
              nay, 0 present not voting and 1 absent. 
          
         Senator Truan assumed the Chair at 11:40 a.m. 
          
         Senator Ratliff moved adoption of Article IX as amended;  
         without objection it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Ratliff resumed the Chair at 11:45 a.m. 
          
         Public Hearing on Article X 
          
         The Chair laid out Article X markup issues for discussion by  
         the Committee. 
          
         The Chair called on witnesses wishing to testify on Article X.   
         No witnesses appeared to testify for, against, or on Article X  
         issues. 
          
         Senator Moncrief moved to adopt Article X with one technical  
         adjustment laid out by LBB staff; without objection it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         Public Hearing on Article XII 
          
         The Chair called on witnesses wishing to testify on Article  
         XII (appropriation of tobacco proceeds).  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on Article XII are shown on the attached list. 
          
         Consideration of Article XII funding proposals was left  
         pending until later during the day. 
          
         Pending Markup Issues 
          
         The Chair laid out the Subcommittee Report on Drought Issues  
         and recognized Senator Ogden to explain the committee's  
  
         recommendations. 
          
         Senator Ogden explained the report and moved its adoption  
         along with Riders 2 through 5; without objection, it was so  
         ordered. 
          
         The Committee adopted various riders and funding proposals  
         submitted by members of the Committee for Articles I through  
         VII and XII.  Action requiring a record vote included the  
         following: 
          
              Senator Ratliff moved adoption of a  funding item to  
              increase  the Commissioner of  Education's discretionary  
              fund under Article III, Strategy B.3.2.:   
              Deregulation/School Restructuring by $500,000 in  2000  
              and $500,000 in 2001.  The motion carried with a vote of   
              9 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 
          
              Senator Ogden moved adoption of a rider specifying that  
              the Department of Health may distribute funds for  
              medical, dental, psychological or surgical treatment  
              provided to a minor only if consent to treatment is  
              obtained pursuant to Chapter 32 of the Texas Family Code.   
              The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 5 nays, 0  
              present not voting, and 0 absent. 
          
              Senator Gallegos moved to appropriate an additional $50  
              million of tobacco proceeds to the M.D. Anderson Cancer  
              Center.  The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 3  
              nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 
          
              Senator Moncrief moved to approve all previously adopted  
              markup items for submission to the LBB for the drafting  
              of the general appropriations bill committee substitute.   
              The motion carried with 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
              voting, and 0 absent. 
          
         There being no further business, at 7:20 p.m. 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