The House Committee on Appropriations 
         77th Legislature 
         March 8, 2001 
         7:00 a.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E1.030 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on March 2, 2001, the House  
         Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was  
         called to order by the chair, Representative Junell, at 7:01  
         a.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;  
                   Delisi; Giddings; Glaze; Gutierrez; Hamric; Heflin;  
                   Hochberg; King, Tracy; Luna, Vilma; Maxey; McReynolds;  
                   Moreno, Paul; Mowery; Pickett; Puente; Smith; Turner,  
                   Sylvester (20). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives Coleman; Eiland; Farrar; Flores;  
                   Gallego; Janek; Pitts (7). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         School for the Deaf 
          
         (Representative Farrar now present.) 
          
         Representative Gutierrez moved the adoption of LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: 
          
         Appropriations: Add funding for construction of dorm. 
          
         Technical: Modify strategy C.1.1., Educator Professional Salary  
         Increases to reflect updated information from the Austin  
         Independent School District.   
          
         Rider: Capital Budget rider (Gutierrez #1) and Facility  
         Construction Project rider (Gutierrez #2). 
            
         Article XI: School Safety; Technology in the Curriculum; and  
         School to Work training for students.  
          
          Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired 
          
         Representative Gutierrez moved the adoption of LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: 
         Appropriations: Funds for the reclassification of the school's  
         House parent series to the new Residential Specialist series;  
  
         Funds for the construction of a new dormitory. 
          
         Technical: Modify strategy C.1.1., Educator Professional Salary  
         Increases to reflect updated information from the Austin  
         Independent School District.  
          
         Performance Measure: Number of participants in video  
         conferencing events, to reflect a shift in the way the agency  
         delivers services to remote locations.   
          
         Rider: Capital Budget (Gutierrez #1).   
          
         Article XI:  Growing Demand for Services; Maintenance and  
         Renovation; Campus Facilities Upgrades; Additional services.   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         State Board for Educator Certification 
          
         Representative Hochberg moved the adoption of LBB  
         recommendations with the following changes: 
          
         Rider: Capital Budget rider (Hochberg #1) and Integrated  
         Reporting System rider (Hochberg #2) and Texas Beginning  
         Educator Support System rider (Hochberg #3), Test Development  
         rider (Hochberg #4), Communication of New Rules rider (Hochberg  
         #5). 
          
         Article XI:  Expansion of the beginning teacher induction  
         program; national criminal history background check on  
         certification applicants; professional conduct staff increase;  
         computer-assisted testing at secure sites; customer service  
         enhancement; educator preparation program reporting system.   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Teachers Retirement System 
          
         Representative Mowery moved adoption of LBB recommendations with  
         the following changes: 
          
         Appropriations: Funds for enhancement of the benefits division,  
         investment personnel, and support services.  Raise the travel  
         cap. 
          
         FTE: Increase for benefits division, investment personnel and  
         support services. 
          
         Rider: Capital Budget rider (Mowery #1).   
          
         Performance: Average customer hold time for calls received on  
         toll-free number. 
          
         Article XI: Difference between Teacher Retirement System  
         estimates and LBB recommendations for Teacher Retirement System  
         Card; Health insurance reserve; Teacher Retirement System Care  
         open enrollment for Teacher Retirement System members who did  
         not elect coverage or who chose lower coverage at retirement and  
         now want to get or upgrade their coverage.   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted.   
          
         Optional Retirement Program 
          
         Representative Mowery moved the adoption of LBB recommendations.   
         Without objection, the motion was adopted.   
          
         Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions 
          
         Representative Mowery moved the adoption of LBB recommendations,  
         with the following changes: 
          
         Appropriations: Same rate increases as were adopted for ERS. 
          
         Article XI: A 60 day reserve. Employees Retirement System  
         requested premium and rates increases above LBB recommendations. 
          
         Technical: Increase in enrollees previously uncounted for Texas  
         Agricultural Experiment Station. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         At 10:10 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was recessed until adjournment of the House Floor,  
         March 8, 2001. 
         The committee reconvened at 11:38 a.m. and was called to order  
         by the chair, Representative Junell. The roll was answered as  
         follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;  
                   Flores; Gutierrez; Hamric; Heflin; Hochberg; King,  
                   Tracy; Moreno, Paul; Mowery; Pickett; Puente; Turner,  
                   Sylvester (14). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives Coleman; Delisi; Eiland; Farrar;  
                   Gallego; Giddings; Glaze; Janek; Luna, Vilma; Maxey;  
                   McReynolds; Pitts; Smith (13). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         Fourteen Courts of Appeals 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to consider the budget for the  
  
         appellate courts. 
          
         (Representative Giddings now present.)(Representative Coleman  
         now present.)(Representative Gallego now  
         present.)(Representative Smith now present.) 
          
         Founding for Fourteen Courts of Appeal are pending. 
          
         (Representative West, George "Buddy" in chair.) 
          
         Office of Court Administration 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Increase general revenue funding for the  
         Judicial Committee on Information Technology Strategy   
          
         Rider: Capital Budget rider (S. Turner #1), Information Services  
         for the Trial Courts rider (S. Turner #2). The Committee pended  
         Interim Report. 
          
         FTE: Increase for various projects. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Department of Public Safety 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Increase seized funds for additional recruit  
         school. 
          
         Rider: Additional Capital Budget Authority rider (Gallego #1),  
         Restoration of Existing Rider Sale of Vehicles rider (Gallego #  
         2), Automobile Emission Inspections rider (Gallego #3) and  
         Modification of Existing Rider Firearms Training Facility rider  
         (Gallego #4).   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Juvenile Probation Commission 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Pending. 
          
         Representative S. Turner adopted: Subcommittee recommend keeping  
         number of new TYC commitments as a key-measure. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
  
         Military Facilities Commission 
          
         (Representative McReynolds now present.) 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Performance Measure: Percent of needed routine or preventive  
         maintenance completed and Percent of facilities that comply with  
         Texas Accessibility Standards. 
          
         Article XI: Funds to purchase land of construction of Joint  
         Reserve Facility in Houston area.   
          
         Rider: Additional Travel Limitation rider (S. Turner #1).  
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted.   
          
         Texas Youth Commission 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Performance Measures: Revisions to Strategy A.1.1.  Correctional  
         Programs, Strategy B.1.1.  Education and Workforce.   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Office of the Attorney General 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Performance Measures: Revision to number of payments processed  
         by SDU Vendor, Amount of Title IV-D Child Support Collected (in  
         millions), Ratio of total dollars collected per dollar spent,  
         Amount of crime victim compensation awarded, Total dollars  
         awarded to sexual assault programs, total number of children  
         served by Court-appointed Volunteers and Total number of  
         counties served by CASA Programs. 
          
         Technical Adjustments: Revision to average cost per legal hour,  
         percent of IV-D cases with arrears due in which any amount is  
         paid toward arrears. 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Supreme Court of Texas 
          
         Rider: Unclaimed Property Held by an Attorney rider (Gallego  
  
         #1), left pending. 
          
         Court Reporters Certification Board 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Rider: Contingent Appropriation of General Revenue rider (S.  
         Turner #1). 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Performance Measures: Revision to strategy B.1.1. Average Cost  
         per License/Permit Processed; Strategy C.1.1. Average Cost Per  
         Inspection, Analysis, and Compliance Activity; and Strategy  
         C.2.1. Number Of Alcoholic Beverage Containers and Cigarette  
         Packages Stamped.  
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Department of Criminal Justice 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
           
         Article XI: Contingency Appropriation Rider for House Bill 1617.   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Commission on Fire Protection 
          
         Representative S. Turner moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Rider: Contingency Payment of Lawsuit Judgement rider (S. Turner  
         #1).   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Teachers Retirement System 
          
         Representative Gutierrez moved the adoption of the following:  
          
         Performance Measure:  Average Customer Hold Time for Calls  
  
         Received on the Toll-Free Number.   
          
         Rider: Travel Expenditures rider (Gutierrez #1) 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         (Representative Junell in chair.) 
          
         (Representative Farrar now present.) 
          
         Texas Real Estate Commission 
          
         Representative T. King moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Funding in 2002 and 2003 for increased lease  
         expenses, funding in 2003 to move FTEs out of Austin, funding in  
         2002 for Modular furniture to reconfigure space needed for  
         downsizing.   
          
         Rider: Additional Legislative Intent rider (T. King #1),  
         Legislative Directive rider (T. King #2) and Contingent Revenue  
         rider (T. King #3).   
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted.  
          
         Texas Appraisal Licensing and Certification Board 
          
         (Representative Delisi now present.) 
          
         Representative T. King moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Funding to upgrade computers and software in  
         2002 and 2003. 
          
         Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King#1) 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Board of Architectural Examiners 
          
         Representative T. King moved the to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
         Appropriations: Funding for Admin Tech II for implementation of  
         HB 1248 in 2002 and 2003, funding for an increase in  
         Investigator II, funding for an increase in office space in 2002  
         and no funding in 2003.   
          
         Performance Measurers: Increase Percent of Complaints Resulting  
         in Disciplinary Action , Increase Complaints Resolved for FY2002  
         by ten and FY 2003 by 15.  
           
          Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King#1).   
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Board of Medical Examiners 
          
         Representative Allen moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Funding: Increased funding for continuation of participation in  
         the Health Professions Council, funding for Increase Admin Tech  
         II and Investigator II for processing physician applications and  
         profiles.   
          
         Rider: Contingent Appropriation of General Revenue rider  
         (Allen#1).    
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         State Board of Barber Examiners 
          
         Representative Hamric moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Funding in 2002 to co-locate with the  
         Cosmetology Commission in the Frank Joseph Cosmetology Building;  
         funding in 2002 for telephone handsets to be compatible with  
         Cosmetology Commission's new telephone system; funding in 2002  
         to upgrade computer hardware and software. 
          
         Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (Hamric #1).    
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Board of Public Accountancy 
         Representative T. King moved to add the following changes to  
         previously adopted recommendations: 
          
         Appropriations: Funding for local area network upgrades. 
          
         Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (T. King #1) and Capital Budget  
         rider (T. King #2). 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation 
          
         Representative T. King moved the adoption of LBB recommendations  
         with the following changes:  
          
         Appropriations: Funding in 2002 and 2003 for an Engineer Tech IV  
         and increased capital budget authority for 2003 (Amount is above  
  
         approved Biennial Operating Plan). 
          
         FTE : Increase FTE cap Engineer Tech IV serve as a Boiler  
         Inspector. 
          
         Performance Measures: Increase Inspection Coverage Rate and  
         Percentage of boilers inspected form certification with  
         appropriate time lines. 
          
         Rider: Contingent Revenue  rider (T. King #1) and Capital Budget  
         rider (T. King #2). 
          
         Without objection, the motion was adopted 
          
         Board of Plumbing Examiners 
          
         Representative Hamric moved the adoption of LBB recommendations  
         with the following changes:   
          
         Appropriations: Funding for 1 Program Specialist II. 
          
         Performance Measures: Change Number of Job Sites Monitored 
          
         Rider: Contingent Revenue rider (Hamric #1) and Capital Budget  
         rider (Hamric #2).  Without objection, the motion was adopted 
          
         At 1:00 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Junell, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
         Darshoel Willis,  Chief Clerk