MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, January 24, 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 Wednesday, January
24, 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 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 Troy Fraser
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:
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Val Shepperd, LBB Budget Analyst
Wayne Scott, Executive Director
Gave a brief update on the capture, in Colorado, of the escaped
prisoners. Spoke to the 18 exceptional items they are
requesting in the proposed budget. Answered many questions from
the committee members. The members requested additional
information from TDCJ.
David McNutt, Director, Financial Services
Answered questions from committee members.
Correctional Managed Health Care
Allen Hightower, Executive Director
Gave an overview of the exceptional items being requested
in their budget.
Allen D. Sapp, Jr., Asst. Director
Answered questions.
Dr. Ben G. Rainmer, Chairman, CMHCC & V.P., Community Relations
UTMB
Answered questions.
Dee Kifourt, Director, Texas Council on Offenders with Mental
Disabilities
Answered question.
Public Testimony, TDCJ & Correctional Managed Health Care:
Penny Rayfield, Independent Sales Rep, Self
Dana J. Hendrick, Director, San Patricio Community Services,
Probation Officer, Self
Eva DeLuna-Castro, Budget Analyst, Center for Public Policy
Priorities (Written testimony)
Bree Buchanan, Public Policy Director, Texas Council on Family
Violence
Bobbi Neyland, Director of Family Violence, Lifeworks
Joe Lovelace, Advocacy Chair & volunteer with NAMI (National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill)
Maurice G. Dutton, Ph.D., NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill)
Registering, but not testifying:
Cyndie Schmitt, Legislative Liaison, Texas Council of Community MHMR
Center, Inc.
At 10:46 a.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand recessed until
30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 1:49 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Val Shepperd, LBB Budget Analyst
Terry Julian, Executive Director
Introduced members in attendance. Submitted the proposed no
growth budget. Answered questions.
H. T. Montgomery, Commissioner
Spoke for a salary increase for the Executive Director and to the
excellent work done by the commission.
Registering, but not testifying:
Terry Box, Commission Member
Vincent Houston, Budget Officer for Commission
Leticia M. Kappel, Accountant, TCJS
Public Testimony:
Maurice G. Duffon, PhD.
Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Cindy Noble, LBB Budget Analyst
Vicki Spriggs, Executive Director
Introduced board members present and others in attendance to show
support of their budget request. Went through their prepared
presentation including exceptional items.
Linda Brooke, Director of Education, TJPC
Registering, but not testifying:
Ashley V. Barrera, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
Mike Cantrell, TJPC Board Member & County Commissioner
Mary Craft, TJPC Board Member & Judge
Betsy Lake, Vice-Chair
Keith H. Kuttler, TJPC Board Member
Estela P. Medina, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Travis County
Tim Mohan, Juvenile Probation Officer
Thomas Morris, Juvenile Probation Officer, Midland County
William E. (Bill) Miller, TJPC Board Member
Ronald Powell, Chief Juvenile Officer, 33rd Judicial Dist.
Public Testimony:
Mark S. Williams, Chief Probation Officer, Tom Green & 7 other
counties
Earl E. Lloyd, Bell County Juvenile Probation Officer
Orlando Torres, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Aransas, Bee, Live
Oak, McMullen & San Patricio
Counties
Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education
Dominic Giarratani, LBB Budget Analyst
Jim Dozier, Executive Director
Introduced members in attendance. Spoke to the issues of salary
compensation, turnover rate,
and other exceptional items. Answered questions.
Joe A. Stivers, Board Member
Spoke to the improvement of the Commission in the past 5 years.
Training is the key to having excellent law enforcement. Salary
increase for the Executive Director.
Lilia Escajeda, Board Member
Spoke to the excellence of the commission and her pleasure in
serving on the commission.
Registering, but not testifying:
Edward T. Lane, Chief, Professional Standards and Operations
Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Tina Beck, LBB Budget Analyst
John "Jake" Soteriou, Division Director
Spoke to the exceptional items in the proposed budget. Answered
questions.
Carl D. Wren, Commissioner
Spoke to the need of salary increases.
Registering, but not testifying:
Juan J. Adame, Fire Chief, City of Corpus Christi
Ana R. Munoz, Director of Support Services
Texas Commission on Private Security
Cindy Noble, LBB Budget Analyst
Ben C. Nix, Chairman
Jerry L. McGlasson, Executive Director
Spoke to the proposed, no increase, budget. Discussed fees. No
exceptions listed but would like the Committee to consider
returning some of the funds from GR funds for salary increases,
and additional FTE's. Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
George B. Craig, Commissioner
Cliff Grumbles, Deputy Director, TCPS
Toni Kanetzky, Chief, License Division, TCPS
Joan Neuhaus, Commissioner
Bonnie Pratt, Chief of Administration, TCPS
Michael Samulin, Commissioner
Larry Shimek, Chief, Criminal Investigation Division
There being no further business, at 4:05 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the
Committee stand recessed until 8:00 a.m., Thursday, January 25, 2001.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk