MINUTES 
                                           
                          SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS 
                               Monday, March 31, 2003 
                           3:00 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                           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, March 31, 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 4:00p.m. 
          
         The Chair acknowledged the nominees for the State Board for  
         Educator Certification. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth who introduced Ray  
         Haningan, nominee for the Texas Board of Health, and Judge  
         Phylis Speedlin, nominee with the Justice of the Court of  
         Appeals, Fourth Appellate District. 
          
         The Chair then introduced the nominees with the State Board for  
         Educator Certification, James Windham, Jr., Adele Quintana,  
         Cecilia Abbott, Troy Simmons and Carlen Floyd; he also asked  
         what each of them expect to do with the position.   
          
         Senator Deuell questioned teacher certification, the quality of  
         teachers, and regulation. Senator Hinojosa questioned the  
         teacher shortage.  It was explained to him that the reason of  
         the shortage was retention.   
          
         The Chair announced that the consideration of the nominees would  
         be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum. 
          
         The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro who introduced C. Daniel  
         Smith,  Senator Hinojosa introduced Marjorie Craft, and Senator  
  
         Deuell introduced Charles Beatty and Burle Pettit.  All were  
         nominess for the University of North Texas System Board of  
         Regents. Each gave their opening statements.   
          
         Senator Barrientos question each on the 10% plan for admissions  
         and the budget. 
          
         At 4:55p.m., a quorum was present. 
          
         At 4:55 p.m., without objection, the motioned carried to adopt  
         the minutes from the previous meeting.  
          
         Vice-Chair Deuell recognized Senator Duncan who introduced Burle  
         Pettit with the Univeristy of North Texas System Board of  
         Regents and George McClesky with the Texas Board of Health. 
          
         Vice Chair Deuell recognized Senator Ellis who introduced James  
         Fonteno nominee for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.   
         Vice Chair Deuell recognized Senator Shapiro who introduced  
         Amanullah Khan with the Texas Board of Health.  
          
         Senator Barrientos continued his questioning of the University  
         of North Texas System Board of Regents.   
          
         Senator Harris questioned whether the Board knew about a bill  
         that had been filed regarding competition with the University of  
         Texas.  They did not, but assured the Senator they would look  
         into it.   
          
         Senator Hinojosa and Barrientos gave their comments about the  
         nominees being unprepared.   
          
         Senator Deuell asked for a motion to move all the nominees to  
         the full Senate. Senator Barrientos asked that John Robert Ray  
         be pulled because he was unable to attend the hearing.  There  
         were no objections. It was moved that the nominees be sent to  
         the full Senate.  There being 5 ayes and 0 nays, the nominees  
         were confirmed.   
          
         Senator Deuell recalled Carlen Floyd, nominee for the State  
         Board for Educator Certification.  Senator Jackson commented  
         that there was a sunset bill in front of the Senate that would  
         limit those who served on the Board if their spouse worked with  
         certain trade associations.  Floyd did not think it would be a  
         problem and noted that the bill said she could serve out her  
         term if she was appointed before the bill became law.  Senator  
         Jackson asked for the nominee to be pulled pending further  
         information.  There being no objection, a vote was taken on the  
         other nominees.  There being 6 ayes and 0 nays the nominees were  
         passed to the full senate.  Senator Harris asked to be shown  
         voting aye. 
          
         The Chair introduced Felipe Alanis with the Texas Education  
         Agency.  He gave his opening remarks.    
          
         Senator Jackson questioned the TEA's operating budget, the  
         effects of social promotion, testing, and Robinhood.  
          
         Senator Hinojosa questioned about the Robinhood plan while  
         Senator Barrientos questioned school dropouts.  There being no  
         other questions, Alanis was recommended to the full Senate with  
         5 ayes and 0 nays.  Senator Jackson asked to be shown voting  
         aye.   
          
         The Chair introduced Justice of the Court of Appeals, Fourth  
         Appellate District, Phylis J. Speedlin, Judge of the 157th  
         Judicial District Court in Harris County, Randall W. Wilson and  
         Judge of the 80th Judicial District Court in Harris County, Kent  
         C. Sullivan.   Senator Barrientos questioned elected versus  
         appointed judges.  There being no other questions, the nominees  
         were sent to the full Senate with a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.   
         Senator Jackson asked to be shown voting aye.   
          
         The Chair introduced the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  
         nominees, James W. Fonteno, Jarvis Hollingsworth and Greg Poole.   
         Each gave their opening remarks.  Senator Lindsay asked how they  
         would manage the money, and Senator Barrientos asked if Texas  
         performed the same with its investments as other states.  He  
         also asked about the ethnic breakdown.  After answering the  
         Committee's questions, a vote was taken, and the nominees were  
         sent to a full Senate with 6 ayes and 0 nayes.  Senator Harris  
         and Jackson asked to be shown voting aye.   
          
         Senator Lindsay introduced Mary Ceverha, Raymond Hanningan,  
         Amanullah Khan, and George McCleskey, nominees to the Texas  
         Board of Health.  The Chair then read witness cards supporting  
         the nominees.  There being no other questions, the chair  
         announced that the consideration of the nominees would be left  
         pending the arrival of a quorum.   
          
         The Chair introduced Cary Yates with the Manufacture Housing  
         Board.  He gave his opening remarks.  There being no other  
         questions, a vote was taken.  Witness cards were read by the  
         Chair showing support.  There being 5 ayes and 0 nays the  
         nominee was sent to the full Senate.  Senator Deuell asked to be  
         shown voting aye.   
          
         The Chair asked the Committee to send the Texas Board of Health  
         nominees to the full Senate.  There being 4 ayes and 0 nays the  
         nominees were confirmed.   
          
         The Chair asked that the nominees with the State Commission on  
         Judicial Conduct, State Bar of Texas, Texas Board of Physical  
         Therapy Examiners, Finance Commission of Texas, One Call Board  
         and the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational  
         Therapy Examiners be sent to the full Senate; there being 5 ayes  
         and 0 nays the nominess were confirmed.  Senator Deuell asked to  
         be shown voting aye. 
          
                                                                                                                    
         There being no other business at 6:32p.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