MINUTES 
          
                           SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Tuesday, April 27, 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 Tuesday, April 27, 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 
                                      ***** 
         At 8:05 a.m. Senator West assumed the chair.  (Senator Ratliff  
         assumed the chair at 9:30 a.m. during the roll call vote on  
         all bills.) 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 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 Chair laid out HB 873 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Lindsay, to explain the bill.   
          
         No witnesses were present to testify for, against or on HB  
         873. 
          
         The Chair moved that HB 873 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Lindsay moved that HB 873 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 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 8:10 a.m. Senator Lindsay assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1253 and recognized the author, Senator  
         West, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair moved that SB 1253 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator West moved that SB 1253 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 2 absent.   
          
         At 8:15 a.m. Senator West resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SJR 29 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair moved that SJR 29 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Moncrief moved that SJR 29 be reported back to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion failed by a vote of 4 ayes, 3 nays, 2  
         present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1283 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ratliff  moved that SB 1283 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1402 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Lindsay sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Lindsay moved adoption of the committee substitute, without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that SB 1402 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1722 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.   
  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair moved that HB 1722 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Moncrief moved that HB 1722 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 2 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1117 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Armbrister, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Ratliff  moved that SB 1117 be left pending to await  
         the arrival of  the House companion bill; without objection,  
         it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 859 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Shapleigh, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Barrientos sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Barrientos moved adoption of the committee substitute, without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The were no witnesses present who wished to testify for,  
         against, or on SB 859. 
          
         The Chair moved that SB 859 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator West moved that SB 859 do not pass but that  
         CSSB 859 be reported back to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting,  
         and 2 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 723 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Zaffirini, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair moved that SB 723 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Truan moved that SB 723 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 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1804 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Barrientos, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Barrientos sent up a committee substitute; the Chair  
         recognized Senator Barrientos to explain the difference  
         between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.   
         Senator Barrientos moved adoption of the committee substitute,  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair moved that SB 1804 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Barrientos moved that SB 1804 do not pass  
         but that CSSB 1804 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 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Barrientos moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1229 and recognized Senator Gallegos,  
         Jr., in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair moved that SB 1229 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator West moved that SB 1229 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 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 848 which had been left pending during a  
         previous hearing.   
          
         Senator Moncrief moved that SB 848 be reported favorably 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 2 absent.   
          
         There being no further business, at 9:45 a.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