MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, February 28, 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, February 28, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Gonzalo
Barrientos
Senator Chris Harris
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 8:04 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The Committee continued its markup session on the General
Appropriations Bill (Senate Bill 1).
Senator Ellis recognized Senator Truan, Chairman of the Natural
Resources workgroup, to present the workgroup recommendation.
LBB was present to answer questions and offer their
recommendation on Natural Resources (Article VI).
NATURAL RESOURCES (Article VI):
Department of Agriculture:
LBB provided a brief overview of their recommendation. 3
technical adjustments were proposed by LBB:
Technical adjustment #1 - Modify Rider 10.
Technical adjustment #2 - Reinstate rider language
indication that appropriations out of the GO TEXAN
Partner Program.
Technical adjustment #3 - Adjust Rider 1.
Without objection the Committee adopted all three technical
adjustments proposed by the LBB. Senator Truan's workgroup
recommendation was adopted without objection.
Senator Ellis suggested the Committee review the Boll Weevil
workgroup recommendation. Senator Duncan, Chairman of the Boll
Weevil workgroup, provided a brief overview of the workgroup's
recommendation.
BOLL WEEVIL RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Committee adopted the workgroup recommendation without
objection. LBB base bill.
Senator Ellis then recognized Senator Truan to continue his
workgroup recommendation starting with Animal Health Commission.
Animal Health Commission:
Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was adopted
without objection.
Trusteed Programs within the General Land Office:
Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was adopted
without objection.
Natural Resources Conservation Commission:
LBB proposed 2 technical adjustments.
Technical adjustment #1 - Add estimate of additional
appropriations out of the Watermaster Administration.
Technical adjustment #2 - Modify selected measure
targets.
Both technical adjustments were adopted without objection.
Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was adopted
without objection.
Rider page 24, By Senator Lindsay - Career Ladder Funding.
The rider was adopted without objection for Article XI.
Rider language page 13, proposed by LBB. The rider was
adopted without objection for Article XI.
Rider page 22 of the LBB summary - Fee Appropriation for
Watermaster Offices. The rider was adopted without
objection.
Parks & Wildlife Department:
LBB proposed 4 technical adjustments:
Technical adjustment #1 - Decrease appropria6tion from
General Revenue-Dedicated Account No. 506.
Technical adjustment #2 - Adjust appropriation to
Strategy B.1.2, Local Parks.
Technical adjustment #3 - Adjust cost of Rider 17.
Technical adjustment #4 - Increase cost of Rider 13.
The technical adjustments were adopted without objection.
The workgroup recommendation was adopted without objection.
The Committee was provided with a packet of Member Riders
to be considered.
Rider page 15, By Senator Duncan - Leases of State-Owned
Oyster Beds. The rider was left pending until "Rider Day".
Rider page 12, By Senator Whitmire - Funding for the
completion of the National Museum of the Pacific War. The
rider was adopted without objection for Article XI
Rider page 16, By Senator Lucio & Truan - World Birding
Center. The rider was adopted without objection for
Article XI.
Rider page 13, By Senator Jackson - San Jacinto State Park.
The rider was adopted without objection for Article XI.
Railroad Commission:
LBB proposed 2 technical adjustments:
Technical adjustment #1 - Adjust Rider 1.
Technical adjustment #2 - Adjust Rider 2.
The LBB technical adjustments were adopted without
objection. Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was
adopted without objection.
Texas River Compact Commission:
Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was adopted
without objection
Soil & Water Conservation Board:
Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was adopted
without objection along with one technical adjustment rider
by LBB.
Technical adjustment #1 - Modify selected measure
targets.
Water Development Board:
LBB proposed one technical adjustment.
Technical adjustment #1 - Revise selected measure
targets based on discussions between LBB and the
agency.
The technical adjustment was adopted without objection.
Rider page 4, By LBB - Water Assistance Fund.
Rider page 12, By Senator Lucio - South Texas Border Water
Initiative.
Senator Truan's workgroup recommendation was adopted
without objection.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
There being no further business, at 9:41 a.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 Schmitt, Clerk