MINUTES 
          
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS 
                          Wednesday, February 17, 1999 
                                    1:00 p.m. 
                          Capitol Building, Room 2E.20 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations  
         was held on Wednesday, February 17, 1999, in the Capitol  
         Building, Room 2E.20, Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman        None 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Vice Chairman 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator David Bernsen 
         Senator J.E. Brown 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chairman called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         Senator Gallegos moved that the Minutes from the previous  
         meeting be approved.  There being no objection, the Minutes  
         were adopted. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth announced that consideration of Alberto R.  
         Gonzales, nominee for Justice of the Texas Supreme Court,  
         would be postponed one week, due to his being out of town on  
         state business and unable to return in time for his scheduled  
         appearance. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Member of  
         the Texas State Board of Education, District 6 (Chair). 
          
         Senator Ellis introduced the nominee, Chase Untermeyer. 
          
         Mr. Untermeyer made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee.  
          
         At 2:07 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the  
         full Senate that Chase Untermeyer be confirmed as Member of  
         the Texas State Board of Education, District 6 (Chair). 
          
         Senators Gallegos and Bernsen seconded the motion. 
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. 
  
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner  
         of Education. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Dr. Michael A.  
         Moses. 
          
         Dr. Moses made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee.  
          
         At 2:35 p.m., Chairman Wentworth welcomed Senator Bivins to  
         the Committee. 
          
         At 3:09 p.m., Senator Bernsen moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Dr. Michael A. Moses be confirmed as Commissioner  
         of Education. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner  
         of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. 
          
         Senator Barrientos introduced the nominee, Robert Huston. 
          
         Mr. Huston made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee.  
          
         At 3:33 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Robert Huston be confirmed as Commissioner of the  
         Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner  
         of the Texas Public Safety Commission. 
          
         Senator Truan introduced the nominee, M. Colleen McHugh. 
          
         Ms. McHugh made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         At 3:52 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that M. Colleen McHugh be confirmed as Commissioner of  
         the Texas Public Safety Commission. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Executive  
         Director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community  
         Development. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Daisy A. Stiner. 
          
         Ms. Stiner made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         The Committee heard testimony in favor of Daisy A. Stiner's  
         confirmation from Rowan Smith of Houston, Texas. 
          
         At 4:11 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Daisy A. Stiner be confirmed as Executive Director  
         of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. 
          
         Senator Barrientos seconded the motion. 
          
         The motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Judge of the  
         Third District Court of Appeals. 
          
         Senator Barrientos introduced the nominee, Earl L. Yeakel,  
         III. 
          
         Judge Yeakel made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         At 4:16 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the  
         full Senate that Earl L. Yeakel, III, be confirmed as Judge of  
         the Third District Court of Appeals. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:20 p.m. Senator Brown  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chairman.  Without objection it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman 
          
         Jennifer Ahrens, Clerk