MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Monday, February 10, 2003
3:00 p.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations
was held on Monday, February 10, 2003, in the Capitol Extension
Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jon Lindsay Senator John Carona
Senator Bob Deuell
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Mike Jackson
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 3:22 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Barrientos
Senator Harris
Senator Harris moved to adopt the minutes from the previous
meeting. Without objection, the minutes were adopted with 5
ayes and 0 nays.
With a quorum not present, Chairman Lindsay laid out the
nominees to the following entities: Aircraft Pooling Board,
Texas Animal Health Commission, State Board of Barber Examiners,
Coastal Coordination Council ( Jeb Boyt standing to show he was
present to answer any questions), Texas Cosmetology Commission,
Crime Stoppers Advisory Council, Commission on State Emergency
Communications, Texas Board of Professional Engineers (pulling
down Shannon K. McClendon -Dripping Springs, Expiration Date
09/26/2003), Finance Commission of Texas and the Fire Fighter's
Pension Commission.
Chairman Lindsay asked whether there was any objection on each;
there being none when a quorum was present, each nominee was
voted upon and approved.
The Chair then took up Diane Rath from the Texas Workforce
Commission and asked the Committee if there were any questions.
Senator Hinojosa was concerned about Local Control in Hidalgo
County regarding general public monies.
Senator Wentworth was present at 3:35 p.m. for a late
introduction of Chairman Rath, giving her background and
acknowledging the countless years of friendship the two had,
asking the Committee to vote her nomination in unanimously.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos who inquired about the
Commission's budget including where the money is distributed.
Senator Barrientos also asked how the Commissioner intends to
comply with the 7 percent budget cut requested by the Governor.
Chairman Rath answered the questions with how much was in her
budget, how much the federal government matched, how much money
went into child care and the skills/training program, the
proprietory schools and how everything was cut except for the
skills development program.
Senator Barrientos requested a copy of a breakdown of the number
of employees and ethnicity of each.
Chairman Rath gave the figures verbally and stated she will send
them in writing to Senator Barrientos.
Chairman Lindsay asked how many Boards the commission had and
how much money was contributed locally.
Chairman Rath replied with there being twenty-eight Boards,
requiring eleven million dollars in child care, and there was
twenty-four million raised last year in revenue. The state
matched the funds which come from local charitable funds.
Chairman Lindsay then referred to the three letters of
recommendation sent on behalf of Chairman Rath.
The Chair then asked if there were any other questions; there
being none the vote was taken.
There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, Chairman Rath's nomination was
confirmed.
There being no other business at 3:56 p.m., Chairman Lindsay
announced the committee would stand in recess subject to the
call of the chair. There being no objections, the committee
recessed.
__________________
___________________________
Jon Lindsay, Chairman
Tanya Tillman, Committee Clerk