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 
      
     .