MINUTES 
          
                       SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS 
                           AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS 
                             Monday, March 15, 1999 
                                    12:00 pm 
                          Lt. Governor's Committee Room 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran  
         Affairs & Military Installations was held on Monday, March 15,  
         1999 in Lt. Governor's Committee Room, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Carlos F.  Truan                Senator Eliot  
                                                 Shapleigh 
         Senator Gregory Luna 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 12:05  pm.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The following member arrived after the roll was called: 
         Senator Ogden 
          
         A Briefing from the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse  
         on how their programs address the needs of Texas Veterans was  
         held.  Registered for testimony from the Commission were:   
         Beverly Barron, Vice-Chairman, Terry Bleier, Executive  
         Director,  and John Keppler.   Senator Truan recognized  
         Colonel Chet Brooks,  former Dean of the Texas Senate,  to  
         testify as a resource witness.  There being no questions,   
         testimony was closed. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 525 and recognized its sponsor, Senator  
         Luna, to explain the bill.  Senator Luna announced that no  
         action would be taken on SB 525.  Senator Truan moved that SB  
         525 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 526 and recognized its sponsor, Senator  
         Luna, to explain the bill.  Senator Luna sent up a committee  
         substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Luna to explain the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Ogden was recognized for questions on  the  
         committee substitute for SB 526.    Chairman Truan moved SB  
         526 be removed from the pending list and testimony was opened  
  
         on the bill.   
          
         The Chair recognized  Mr. O. M. Little with the Reserve   
         Officers  Association,  to testify against the committee  
         substitute for SB 526.  Colonel Brooks was recognized for  
         testimony.  The Chair recognized Adjutant General James as a  
         resource witness for the bill.  There being no further  
         testimony for or against the committee substitute, the hearing  
         was closed. 
          
         Senator Luna moved that the committee substitute for SB 526 be  
         reported favorably to the Senate with a recommendation that it  
         do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with 3 ayes, no  
         nays, and 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Ogden moved to approve the minutes.  There being no  
         objections, the minutes were unanimously approved. 
          
         There being no further business, at 12:40 pm,  Senator Luna  
         moved that the committee stand recessed subject to call of the  
         chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         __________________________________________ 
         Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman 
          
         ___________________________________________ 
         Emma Dibbles, Committee Clerk 
          
         Attachments