MINUTES 
                                           
                             SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Tuesday, January 23, 2001 
                                      8:00 a.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
                                           
                                        ***** 
                                           
    Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public  
    hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Tuesday, January 23,  
    2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
     
                                        ***** 
                                           
    MEMBERS PRESENT:                             MEMBERS ABSENT: 
    Senator Rodney Ellis                         Senator Chris Harris 
    Senator Robert Duncan                         
    Senator Troy Fraser                           
    Senator Mike Jackson                          
    Senator Jon Lindsay                           
    Senator Carlos Truan 
    Senator John Whitmire 
    Senator Judith Zaffirini 
                                         .   
                                        ***** 
                                           
    The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  There being a quorum  
    present, the following business was transacted:   
     
    The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
    Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
    Senator Tom Haywood 
    Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
    Senator Steve Ogden 
     
    The Chair recognized the following witnesses to provide testimony regarding  
    Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommendations: 
     
         Department of Agriculture 
         Jeff Scarpelli, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Susan Combs, Commissioner 
              Thanked the LBB for the continued recommendation of  the  
              eradication of the boll weevil program.  Spoke to the exceptional  
              items in the proposed budget request.  Answered many questions  
              from the Committee. 
     
         Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission 
         Tom Lambert, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Joe Walraven, Sunset Commission 
         Christian Ninaud, Sunset Commission 
         Jeff Saitas, Executive Director 
              Spoke to the cap on FTE's and retention and hiring of employees  
              in critical areas.  Answered  many questions from Committee.      
         Robert Huston, Chairman 
  
              Spoke to the TNRCC Priority Funding items that were not included  
              in SB 1.  Stressed the Human Resource requests.  Answered many  
              questions from Committee members. 
         Ralph Marquez, Board Members 
              Answered questions from Committee members. 
         Machelle Pharr, Chief Financial Officer 
              Answered questions from members. 
          
         Registering, but not testifying 
         John Baker, Commissioner 
     
         Public Testimony: 
         Dwayne "Sparky" Anderson, Program Director, Clean Water Action 
              Spoke about the views of A C T, Alliance For A Clean Texas. 
     
    At 10:40 a.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand recessed until  
    30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so  
    ordered.  
     
    The Committee reconvened at 12:22.  The Chair stated that the Committee  
    would continue with the next agencies on the agenda.  When a quorum of the  
    committee are present testimony on TNRCC  would continue. 
     
         River Compact Commission 
         Tom Lambert, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Hermon Settemeyer, Interstate Compacts Coordinator 
              Gave a very brief statement on some of the issues the Commission  
              is facing.  Answered  questions. 
          J.W. Thrasher, Jr., Commissioner 
              Gave overview of proposed budget. 
         Tom Bohl, Attorney with the Atty. General's Office 
              Discussed a law suit that is pending.  Answered questions from  
              Committee.                     
     
         Texas Animal Health Commission 
         Jeff Scarpelli, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Rob Brown, Chairman 
              Spoke about the new Executive Director and the importance of the  
              continuation of the surveillance of bovine tuberculosis. 
     
         Romulo Rangel, Jr., D.V.M,, Board Member 
              Spoke to the qualifications of the newly hired Executive Director  
              and the need for a salary increase. 
         Dr. Linda Logan, Executive Director      
              Gave overview of the Commission and spoke to the exceptional  
              items in the proposed budget.    Answered questions from the  
              Committee. 
         Bruce Hammond, Director/Admin.-Finance 
              Answered questions from the Committee about FTE's. 
         Max E. Coats, Jr., D.V.M, Board Member 
              Answered specific questions asked by Senator Truan concerning  
              brucellosis and other questions from the Committee. 
          
         Registering, but not testifying 
         Dale Jaroszewski, Self 
         Angela Lucas, Director of Financial Services 
          
    The Chair called the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the  
  
    above witnesses, already sworn in, to continue answering questions from the  
    Committee. 
     
         Texas Parks and Wildlife Department      
         Zelma Smith, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Steve Hopson, Sunset Commission 
         Andrew Sansom Executive Director 
              Gave an overview of what the department had concentrated on in  
              the past decade and what they hope for in the future.  Spoke  
              specifically to the exceptional items in the proposed budget  
              request. Answered questions from Committee. 
         Mark E. Watson, Jr., Commissioner 
              Spoke briefly about the future and what needs to be done to  
              insure that all citizens will be able to enjoy our parks and  
              wildlife areas. 
         Alvin L. Henry, Board Member 
              Spoke of his enjoyment in serving on the Board and his  
              involvement with urban issues.  Answered questions from the  
              Committee. 
     
         Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board 
         Tom Lambert, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Robert G. Buckley, Executive Director 
              Introduced the Chairman of the Board.  Spoke to the exceptional  
    items in the requested budget.               Answered questions from the  
    Committee. 
         Edward Albecht, Chairman of the Board 
              Introduced board members in attendance: 
              Wayne Register, Vice Chair         Dayton Elam, Member 
              Donald Swann, Member               James K. Brite, Member 
              Spoke to the overall budget requests and the salary increase for  
              the Executive Director.  Answered questions from Committee. 
     
         Registering, but not testifying: 
         James M. Moore, Asst. Executive Director, Conservation Programs 
                         
         Texas Water Development Board 
         Tom Lambert, LBB Budget Analyst 
         Karen Latta, Sunset Commission 
         Craig Pedersen, Executive Administrator 
              Spoke to the exceptional items in the proposed budget.  Answered  
    questions from the Committee.   
         Noe Fernandez, Vice-Chair 
              Spoke to the overall and specific  programs of  the Board.  He  
              addressed the need for a salary increase of 10% for the Executive  
              Administrator.  Spoke of the increased difficulty in competing  
              with private industry for all employees.  Answered questions from  
              Committee. 
     
         Registering, but not testifying: 
         Bill Meadows, Board Members 
     
    The Chair re-called  Jeff Saitas, TNRCC, to answer specific questions from  
    Senator Ogden pertaining to poultry contamination.  Answered questions  
    about the definition of a point source and other issues relating to that  
    subject. 
     
    There being no further business, at 4:46 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the  
    Committee stand recessed until 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 24, 2001.   
  
    Without objection, it was so ordered.   
     
    ______________________ 
    Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
     
    ______________________ 
    Myra  J. Schmitt, Clerk