MINUTES 
          
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS 
                          Wednesday, February 24, 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 24, 1999, in the Capitol  
         Building, Room 2E.20, Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman        Senator Gonzalo  
                                                 Barrientos 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Vice Chairman 
         Senator David Bernsen 
         Senator J.E. Brown 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         Senator Brown moved that the Minutes from the previous meeting  
         be approved.  There being no objection, the Minutes were  
         adopted. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth announced that Senator Barrientos was  
         absent from the Committee due to a death in his family. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Justice of  
         the Supreme Court of Texas. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Alberto R.  
         Gonzales. 
          
         Justice Gonzales made an opening statement and then responded  
         to questions by members of the Committee.  
          
         At 1:18 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Alberto R. Gonzales be confirmed as Justice of the  
         Supreme Court of Texas. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees for the Texas  
         Parks and Wildlife Commission. 
          
         Senator Ellis introduced Alvin L. Henry. 
          
         Senator Shapiro introduced Katherine Armstrong Idsal. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth introduced Mark E. Watson, Jr. 
          
         Nominees made opening statements and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee.  
          
         At 1:48 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Alvin L. Henry, Katherine Armstrong Idsal and Mark  
         E. Watson, Jr. be confirmed as Commissioners of the Texas  
         Parks and Wildlife Commission. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees for the  
         University of Texas System Board of Regents. 
          
         Senator Ellis introduced Charles Miller. 
          
         Senator Shapleigh introduced Woody L. Hunt. 
          
         Senator Brown introduced Raul R. Romero. 
          
         Nominees made opening statements and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee.  
          
         The Committee heard testimony against the confirmation of  
         Charles Miller, Woody L. Hunt and Raul R. Romero as Members of  
         the University of Texas System Board of Regents from Felicia  
         Enuha, representing the Anti-Racist Organizing Committee. 
          
         At 2:22 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Charles Miller, Woody L. Hunt and Raul R. Romero  
         be confirmed as Members of the University of Texas System  
         Board of Regents. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the names of the nominees to the Texas  
         Workforce Commission. 
          
         Senator Shapiro introduced Terrence P. O'Mahoney. 
         Chairman Wentworth introduced Ron Lehman. 
          
         Nominees made opening statements and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         At 2:33 p.m., Senator Bernsen moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Terrence P. O'Mahoney and Ron Lehman be confirmed  
         as Commissioners of the Texas Workforce Commission. 
  
         The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner  
         of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Don Allen Gilbert. 
          
         Mr. Gilbert made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         At 3:00 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Don Allen Gilbert be confirmed as Commissioner of  
         the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. 
          
         The motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays. 
          
         The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Member of  
         the Board for Lease--Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, William Gammon,  
         III. 
          
         Mr. Gammon made an opening statement and then responded to  
         questions by members of the Committee. 
          
         At 3:05 p.m., Senator Haywood moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that William Gammon, III, be confirmed as Member of the  
         Board for Lease--Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays. 
          
         Chairman Wentworth announced that the nominees to the Texas  
         State Affordable Housing Corporation Board of Directors would  
         be left pending. 
          
         At 3:06 p.m. Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full  
         Senate that Sheila Bailey Taylor be confirmed as the Chief  
         Administrative Law Judge of the State Office of Administrative  
         Hearings, that Ernest C. Garcia be confirmed as Judge of the  
         126th Judicial District Court, Travis County, and that Elsa  
         Alcala be confirmed as Judge of the 338th Judicial District  
         Court, Harris County. 
          
         The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:07 p.m. Senator Haywood  
         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