MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, December 16, 2004

9:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, December 16, 2004, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                      MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Steve Ogden                                                              Senator Kim Brimer

Senator Judith Zaffirini                                                             Senator Jane Nelson

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Gonzalo Barrientos

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Todd Staples

Senator Royce West

Senator John Whitmire

Senator Tommy Williams

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The Committee considered the adoption of 78th Legislature Interim Reports as follows:

 

The chair recognized Senator Whitmire to lay out the General Government, Public Safety, and Economic Development Interim Report.  Senator Whitmire then recognized the following members to lay out each section of the report as follows:

 

Senator Staples was recognized to lay out the Fund 006 portion of the report, and the Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Fund 006 portion of the report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Staples was recognized to lay out the Homeland Security portion of the report, and the Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Homeland Security portion of the report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Williams was recognized to lay out the Fees at State Regulatory Agencies portion of the report, and the Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Fees at State Regulatory Agencies portion of the report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Whitmire to lay out the Enterprise Fund portion of the report, and the Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Zaffirini sent up an amendment to the report to include a geographic distribution map as an addendum to the report.  Senator Shapiro sent up an amendment to the amendment to the report by including the most updated geographic distribution map.  Senator Ogden moved that an updated geographic distribution map be included as an addendum to the Enterprise Fund portion of the report; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Enterprise Fund portion of the report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Whitmire was recognized to lay out the Adult and Juvenile Corrections Populations portion of the report, and the Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Adult and Juvenile Corrections Populations portion of the report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

This completed the adoption of the General Government, Public Safety, and Economic Development Interim Report.

 

The chair recognized Senator Barrientos to lay out the Health and Human Services Interim Report.  The Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Health and Human Services Interim Report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that Committee members be allowed to submit letters to include in the final printing of the Interim Reports; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Duncan to lay out the Higher Education Interim Report.  The Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Zaffirini sent up an amendment to  recommendation #13 to include the words "consider" and "with similar goals."  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the amendment; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the Higher Education Interim Report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Averitt to lay out the General Budget and Tax Issues Interim Report.  Senator Averitt laid out the following portions of the report:  the Rainy Day Fund, Pension Fund Review, State and Local Debt, and the Endowment Fund.  The Committee discussed the recommendations.  Senator Ogden moved adoption of the General Budget and Tax Issues Interim Report; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

There being no further business, at 12:15 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk