MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                            Wednesday, February 26, 2003 
                                     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 26, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Teel Bivins                     None 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Royce West 
         Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Testimony was given on the following agencies with witnesses on  
         the attached list:   
          
         Department of Agriculture 
         General Land Office and Veterans' Land Board 
         Railroad Commission 
          
         At 9:52 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 10:00 a.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         At 10:43 a.m. Senator Bivins moved that the committee stand  
         recessed until one hour after adjournment of the Senate; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         At 2:05 p.m. the committee reconvened.   
          
         Comptroller of Public Accounts 
  
         Parks and Wildlife Department 
          
         At 3:19 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 3:25 p.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         Animal Health Commission 
          
         At 4:08 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 4:49 p.m. Senator Duncan assumed the chair.   
          
         Water Development Board 
         Texas Department of Economic Development Board 
         Texas Lottery Commission 
         Department of Transportation 
          
         At 6:00 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         Texas Workforce Commission 
          
         There being no further business, at 8:17 p.m. Senator Zaffirini  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 8:00 a.m. the  
         following morning.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Teel Bivins, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Stephanie Hoover, Clerk