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