MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Tuesday, January 30, 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
30, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Chris Harris
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Robert Duncan Senator John Whitmire
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. There being a quorum
present, the following business was transacted:
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to provide testimony
regarding Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommendations:
Office of the Attorney General
Stephanie Coates, LBB Budget Analyst
Amanda Jones, LBB Analyst, Federal issue on Child Support
John Cornyn, Attorney General of Texas
Introduced staff. Spoke to the exceptional items, all of which
have to do with children. Gave an overview of performance in the
past biennium. Answered many questions from the committee.
Public Testimony
Pat Cole, Texas Legal Services, Crime Victim Relief Fund
Spoke to funding for legal services.
Sherry Boles, Executive Director, Texas Assoc. Against Sexual
Assault
Cassandra R. Thomas, Houston Area Women's Center
Spoke in favor of more funding for survivors of sexual
assault.
Linda K. Castoria, Executive Director, Brazos Co. "Rape Crisis
Center," Bryan-College Station
Need increased funding and volunteers.
Jim Rigby, Minister
Spoke to the need for increased funding for programs to
help victims of incest, abuse, etc.
Julie Oliver, Executive Director, Texas Lawyer's Care
Her organization is the pro-bono legal services support
project of the State Bar of Texas. Spoke in favor of
additional appropriations in funding from the Crime Victim's
Comp Fund for legal services to the poor.
Sheryl Cates, Executive Director, Women's Battered Intervention,
Spoke to the increased funding for the AG's office for
victims of violence.
David Montague, Tarrant County DA, Children's Advocacy Center of
Texas
Increased funding for crime victims fund.
Registering, but not testifying:
Howard Baldwin, Deputy Attorney General, Child Support
Jeffrey S. Boyd, Deputy Attorney General, Litigation
Krista DelGallo, Case Manager, Safe Place
Maggy McGiffert, Social Worker
Jane Piper, CEO, Texas CASA
Penny Beaumont, Board Member, Texas CASA
Renee Perez, Student
Christopher Watson, Sexual Assault Prevention Educator,
Hays-Caldwell Women's Center
Linda Hunter, Director, Sexual Assault Program, Hays-Caldwell
Women's Center
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Jess Calvert, LBB Budget Analyst
Carole Keeton Rylander, Comptroller of Public Accounts
Spoke to the proposed budget. (Testimony attached) Answered
questions from committee
Billy Hamilton, Deputy Controller
Answered questions regarding contract employees and other
questions from committee.
Morris X. Winn, Manager of Human Resources
Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Robert T. Chapa, Budget Manager
Mike Doyle, Director, Treasury Operations
Ed McCabe, Fund Accounting Manager
Mike Reissig, Director, Fiscal Management
Senator Truan assumed the chair.
At 10:45 a.m. Senator Truan moved that the committee stand recessed until
45 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 12:34 p.m. the committee reconvened.
Social Security Benefit Replacement Pay
Stephanie Coates, LBB Budget Analyst
Comptroller of Public Accounts Fiscal Program
Jess Calvert, LBB Budget Analyst
Sarah Foster, LBB Budget Analyst
Texas Energy Coordination Council
Chris Ninaud, LBB Budget Analyst
Jerry Mathews, Executive Director
Answered questions as to what the Texas Energy Coordination
Council did.
Aircraft Pooling Board
Jeff Scarpelli, LBB Budget Board
Sunset Advisory Commission, Ken Levine
Billy Clayton, Chairman
Spoke to the new facilities at Austin Bergstrom International
Airport. The fleet is aging and needs
to be upgraded. Talked about the usage of the old Mueller
airport to the film industry. Answered questions.
Jerry Daniels, Executive Director
Spoke to the proposed budget and the need to upgrade the fleet.
Registering, but not testifying
Scott Rozzell, Board Member
Roy Minton, Attorney, Board Member
Tom Camp, Admin. Officer
Commission on the Arts
Sarah Foster, LBB Budget Analyst
Tony Chauveaux, Chairman of the Board
Thanked the Governor and Legislature for their generosity.
Acknowledged the great success of
the Commission. Spoke to the
salary increases for the Executive
Director. Answered questions.
John Paul Batiste, Executive Director
Talked briefly of some of the achievements of the Commission and
the challenges for the future.
Thanked the LBB for their help.
Ricardo Hernandez, Deputy Director
Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Mary Beak, Asst. Director of Finance
Bobbe Crawford, Commissioner
Gaye McElwain, Director of Marketing
George F. Pond, Executive Director, Texas Cultural Trust Council
Fred Snell, Director of Finance
Mary Hardie Teeple, Commissioner
Connie Ware, Commissioner
Bond Review Board
Marva Fleming, LBB Budget Analyst
Jim Buie, Executive Director
Spoke to the proposed budget and exceptional items. Answered
questions.
Wayne Roberts, Board Member
Spoke to exceptional item # 2, salary increase for Executive
Director.
Texas Ethics Commission
Jeff Scarpelli, LBB Budget Analyst
Tom Harrison,Executive Director
Spoke to the proposed budget and the high cost of the electronic
filing system. Introduced members of the Board. Answered
questions.
Lem B. Allen, Chairman of the Board
Commended the staff and the great job they do.
Registering, but not testifying:
Ernestine Glossbrenner, Commissioner
Mickey Jo Lawrence, Commissioner
Public Finance Authority
Zelma Smith, LBB Budget Analyst
Kimberly K. Edwards, Executive Director
Agreed with the LBB recommendations. Answered questions.
Daniel H. Branch, Chairman
Gave a brief statement and overview of the past biennium.
Answered questions.
Fire Fighter's Pension Commissioner
Stephanie Coates, LBB Budget Analyst
Morris Sandeler, Commissioner
Introduced the Board members. Gave an overview of what the
Commission does and it's financial standing. Spoke to the
exceptional items in proposed budget. Answered questions.
Helen Campbell, Executive Director, State Fireman's & Marshal's Assoc.
Speaking for the 20,000 members of her association. Supporting
the proposed exceptional items.
Registering, but not testifying:
Robert Weiss, Self
Joe Rice, Chairman, Pension Board
H. Robert Epley, Actuarial Business Consultant
Commission on State Emergency Communications
Zelma Smith, LBB Budget Analyst
Dorothy Turner, SAO
James Goerke, Agency Director
Gave an overview of what the Commission does and spoke to the
exceptional items in proposed budget. Answered questions.
Dorothy Morgan, Chair of Commission
Introduced other Board members in attendance. Spoke to the
exceptional item of the Executive Director's salary.
Cary F. Spence, Deputy Director
Answered many questions from the committee.
Public Testimony:
Doug Borys, Director, Central Texas Poison Center, Scott & White
Hospital
Dr. Chris Keyes, Medical Director of Poison Center, Associate
Professor
Tom Aday, Commissioner for 911 Services, Pharmacist
Betty Voights, Executive Director, Capital Area Planning Council
Registering, but not testifying:
Michael Ellis, Director, South East Texas Poison Center
John DeNeyelles, Commissioner
General Services Commission
Stanton Korn, LBB Budget Analyst
Ken Levine, Sunset Commission
Cindy Reid, SAO
Gene Shull, Commissioner
Spoke to the problems with keeping and hiring an Executive
Director. Spoke to the exceptional items in proposed budget.
Answered questions.
Ann Dillon, Acting Executive Director
Ms. Dillon has been the attorney for the General Services
Commission and currently serving as the Acting Executive
Director. Answered questions.
Paul Schlimper, Purchasing Director
Answered questions
Sam Valdez, Deputy Director Support
Answered questions on HUB's (Historically Underutilized Business)
Henry W. Johnson, Division Director
Answered questions on HUB's (Historically Underutilized
Business)
Frank Mayes Director, Vehicle Management
Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Dorothy Sinclair, Fiscal Director
There being no further business, at 5:02 p.m. Senator Truan moved that the
Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk
.