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