MINUTES 
                                            
                             SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                              Tuesday, February 13, 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,  
      February 13, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin,  
      Texas. 
       
                                        ***** 
                                            
      MEMBERS PRESENT:                           MEMBERS ABSENT: 
      Senator Rodney Ellis                       None 
      Senator Chris Harris 
      Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
      Senator Robert Duncan 
      Senator Troy Fraser 
      Senator Tom Haywood 
      Senator Mike Jackson 
      Senator Jon Lindsay 
      Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
      Senator Steve Ogden 
      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 Chair recognized the following witnesses to give testimony on the  
      Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommendations: 
       
           Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse 
           Paul Priest, LBB Analyst 
           Sandra Vice, SAO 
           Jay Kimbrough, Executive Director 
              Answered question.  Spoke to many of the problems he encountered  
              when he took the job as Executive Director a little over a year  
              ago.  The agency has made significant progress and gave an  
              overview of some of that progress.    
           James Oberwetter, Chairman of the Board 
              Expressed his great relief at Mr. Kimbrough's arrival.  His  
              feels are that Mr. Kimbrough brings a true vision for the agency  
              which, in his opinion, the agency has never had.  Answered  
              questions. 
       
           Beverly Barron, Vice Chairman of the Board    
              Understands that once confidence has been lost it's hard to get  
              that confidence back.  She has served on Board four years and it  
              is now a pleasure to serve.  Has great confidence in Mr.  
              Kimbrough and his staff.   
  
      The Chair called the following witnesses to provide PUBLIC TESTIMONY:  
       
           Patrick Clancey, Executive Director, Association of Substance Abuse 
           Patricia M. Green, Counselor, Texas Association of Addiction  
      Professionals 
           Sharon Lichtenstein, Deputy Director, Texas Council on Problem &  
      Compulsive Gambling 
           Cathy Brown, Executive Director, Rainbow Days, Inc. 
           Sharon Shook, Executive Director, San Antonio Council on Alcohol &  
      Drug Abuse  
           Penny Rayfield, self, Founder of C-Cubed Institute 
           Surrena Schreiber, Director, Austin/Travis County MHMR Substance  
      Abuse Center 
           M.D. "Dexter" Eaves, District Attorney,  
           Bill Brown, self 
            
           Texas Rehabilitation Commission 
           Greg Markley, LBB Analyst 
           Melitta Bustamante, LBB Performance Analyst 
           Jerry Kane, Chairman of the Board 
              Gave an overview of Commission.  Spoke to the need for an  
              increase in salary for the Commissioner.   
           Vernon M. (Max) Arrell, Commissioner 
              Gave a brief overview of the Commission and especially to the  
              high turnover rate they have  experienced in personnel.   
              Advocated an increase in salaries for all state employees.   
              Spoke to the exceptional items in budget request.    
           Beverly Stribling, Board Member 
                Expressed her confidence in Commissioner Arrell.        
       
      At 10:43 a.m. Senator Truan moved that the committee stand recessed  
      until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it  
      was so ordered.   
       
      At 1:15 p.m. the committee reconvened.  
            
      Testimony from the Texas Rehabilitation Commission     continued with  
      the following: 
       
           Vernon M. Arrell, Commissioner 
                Continued with exceptional items in requested budget.   
      Answered questions.  
       
      The Chair called the following witnesses to provide PUBLIC TESTIMONY:   
       
           Jonas Schwartz, Employment Specialist, Advocacy, Inc. (Written) 
       
           Court of Criminal Appeal 
           Sharon Keller, Presiding Judge 
              Answered questions.   
       
                Registering, but not testifying: 
                D'Ann Johnson, Executive Director, Criminal Defense Lawyer's  
      Project 
  
      At 2:18 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand recessed for  
      30 minutes, without objection, it was so ordered. 
       
      At 3:00 p.m. the committee reconvened. 
       
           Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services 
           Nancy Millard, LBB Analyst 
           Greg Markley, LBB Performance Analyst 
           Adriana Buford, SAO 
           Mike Mericle, SAO 
           Babette Laibovitz, SAO 
           Catherine Mosbacher, Chairman of Board 
              Spoke to exceptional items of increased salary for case workers,   
              establishment of a new classification for workers and provide  
              additional substance abuse treatment.  Answered questions.     
           James R. (Jim) Hines, Executive Director 
              Answered questions.  Introduced board members in attendance.   
              Gave an overview of the agency and many of the problems they are  
              facing. Spoke to some of the new programs such as; PACE, DASH,  
              WBAT, CAPS and FAD.  Spoke to exceptional items in proposed  
              budget request.  
           Karen Eells, Deputy for Programs 
                Answered questions. 
           Drew Thigpin, Deputy Director for Finance 
                Answered questions and explained specific items in budget  
      request. 
       
      The chair recognized the following witnesses to provide PUBLIC  
      TESTIMONY:      
           David Woodberry, Site Director 
           Sherelle Ervin, CIS student and spoke about how CIS schools have  
      changed her life and attitude 
           Brian Foster, CIS  (Communities in School) student  
           Dr. Kathryn Dittman, self and family 
           Mark F. Dittman, self and family 
           A.R. (Babe) Schwartz, Attorney, Big Brothers/Big Sisters 
           Lynn Thompson, Texas Association of Big Brothers/Big Sisters 
           Joe D. Morales, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Central Texas       
           Julie Bradshaw, Program Director of Big Brothers /Big Sisters-Waco     
           F. Scott McGown, Judge, 345th District Court 
           Brady Harris, self 
           Brenda Harris, Robertson County CPS Board & Child Fatality Team,  
      Robertson Co. 
           Madeline McClure, Child Therapist, Dallas Child Abuse Prevention &  
      Women Advocacy (Written) 
           Jesse Acosta, self 
           David (Gus) Kennedy, Director, Communities in Schools, Texas Rio  
      Grande Valley-Hildalgo 
           George Nixon, Ph.D., Child Psychologist, Foundation for Texas  
      Children 
           Joe Torres, Communities in Schools-Perium Basin (Written) 
           Marian Shiflett, volunteer, Tarrant County CPS Board (Written) 
           Nikki Hatley, Chair, Tarrant County CPS Board (Written) 
           Curtis Mooney, President, DePelchio Children's Center 
           Eva DeLuna, Budget Analyst, Center for Public Policy Priorities 
           Aaryce Hayes, Social Worker, Advocacy, Inc.   
           Susan Marshall, Policy Analyst, The ARC of Texas 
           Theresa Tod, Texas Network of Youth Services, STAR Program 
       
                Registering, but not testifying: 
                Ted Blevins, Executive Director, Lena Pope Home  
                Susan Bomalaski, Executive Director, STPJ's Children's Home 
                Susan Hopkins Craven, Executive Director, Texans Care for  
      Children 
                Pat Foster, Executive Director, Caring Family Network 
                Mike Foster, Foster Families & children for central Texas 
                Rebecca Ghose, self,  Pediatric healthcare 
                Susybelle Gossless, League of Women Voters-Dallas 
                Richman S. Hoffman, Board Member, Texas Dept. of Protective &  
      Regulatory Services 
                Jane B. Metzinger, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas 
                Jane Piper, CEO, Texas CASA 
                Cara Rudwick, STPJ's Children's Home 
                Cristina "Ommy" Strauch, Board Member, Texas Dept. of  
      Protective & Regulatory Services 
                 
      There being no further business, at 6:36 p.m. Senator Ellis 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