MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS
Tuesday, January 11, 2000
10:00 a.m.
TX A&M International University, Laredo, Tx
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs
was held on Tuesday, January 11, 2000, at TX A&M International
University, Laredo, TX
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Florence Shapiro Senator David Bernsen
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator J. E. Brown
Senator David Cain
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Drew Nixon
Senator Jeff Wentworth
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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Shapleigh and Senator Cain.
The chair made opening remarks and then asked Senator Lucio and
other Senators for their opening remarks.
The chair called Ms. Elizabeth G. Flores, Mayor of Laredo
forward to make welcoming remarks on behalf of the city as well
as begin the invited testimony part of the hearing.
Those witnesses testifying and registering on State Affairs
Committee Charge number 1 are shown on the attached list.
At 12:30 p.m. Senator Shapiro moved that the committee stand
recessed until 1:15 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.
The meeting was reconvened at 1:20 pm and continued taking
invited testimony.
Senator Lucio requested that the LBB provide information
regarding how much Texas has paid in penalties for failure to
comply with certain highway provisions such as clean air
compliance and safety.
The chair requested that TxDot address the following issues
which the LBB report entitled "Highway Construction in the Texas
Border Region" did not address. These issues are in relation to
the methodology which TxDot uses to dertermine allocations of
funds, the adequacy of the proposed funds and the assumptions
that were made in the course of the analysis.
The chair and Senator Shapleigh requested that there be a panel
available at the next hearing to discuss rail issues.
Specifically, using rail as opposed to truck traffic.
At 6:30 p.m. Senator Lucio, Jr. assumed the chair.
Public testimony was heard and those witnesses are listed on the
attached list. Public testimony was closed.
There being no further business, at 6:50 p.m. Senator Lucio, Jr.
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair Cindy R
Nottingha
m, Clerk