MINUTES 
          
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                             Monday, March 29, 1999 
                                     3:00 pm 
                          Old Supreme Court Room 3N.3  
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Jurisprudence was held on Monday, March 29, 1999 in Old  
         Supreme Court Room 3N.3, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Gregory Luna 
         Senator Chris Harris                    Senator Jeff Wentworth 
         Senator J. E. Brown 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
          
         The Jurisprudence Committee met in a special joint session  
         with the House Committee on Civil Practices. 
          
         Senator Ellis welcomed the Committee Chair and members.  The  
         Chair then welcomed all guests.  Senator Ellis introduced  
         Chief Justice Tom Phillips of the Supreme Court of Texas.   
         Chief Justice Phillips addresses the Joint Committees on the  
         State of the Judiciary.  A question and answer period  
         followed. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:55 pm Senator Ellis  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Kenneth Besserman, Clerk