MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Monday, May 19, 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, May 19, 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
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
The Chair recognized Senator Nelson who introduced Marti Morgan,
nominee to the State Board of Dental Examiners.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos, who introduced Thomas
Kirksey, nominee to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners.
The Chair introduced Patricia Blackwell, Roberta Kalafut, Eddie
Miles, Elvira Pascua-Lim, nominees to the State Board of Medical
Examiners. He also introduced non-appearing nominee John Pate.
The Chair recognized Senator Madla, who introduced Jesse Adams,
nominee to the Texas Racing Commission.
Nominees to the State Board of Medical Examiners gave their
opening remarks.
The Chair recognized Senator Lucio, who introduced Juan
Villarreal and Oscar Garcia, nominees to the State Board of
Dental Examiners. Senator Lucio also introduced Stephen
Rosales, nominee to the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini, who also introduced
Stephen Rosales. She introduced Eddie Miles, nominee to Texas
State Medical Examiners, and Charles Wetherbee, nominee to the
State Board of Dental Examiners.
The Chair recognized Senator Deuell, who questioned the Medical
Examiner nominees regarding their budget, complaint ratio, and
lack of funding.
Senator Hinojosa questioned pending cases.
The Chair recognized Senator Williams, who introduced Gary
McDonald nominee to the Board of Dental Examiners.
Senator Barrientos resumed questioning of the nominees to the
Board of Medical Examiners.
A quorum was present at 4:55 pm.
A motion passed to accept the minutes from the previous hearing.
There being no other questions for the nominees to the Board of
Medical Examiners, a motion passed to send appearing and
non-appearing nominees to the full Senate with 6 ayes and 0
nays. Senator Harris and Senator Deuell asked to be shown voting
aye.
The Chair introduced nominees to the State Board of Dental
Examiners. They were non-appearing nominee Tammy Allen and
appearing nominees: Oscar Garcia, Norman Mason, Gary McDonald,
Helen McKibben, Marti Morgan, Phyllis Stine, George Strunk, Paul
Stubbs, Juan Villarreal, and Charles Wetherbee.
The Chair recognized Sen. Barrientos, who introduced Paul Stubbs
and Norman Mason. The Board gave their opening remarks. Sen.
Barrientos questioned the Board of their goals and challenges.
There being no other questions, a motion passed to send all
nominees to the full Senate with 6 ayes, 0 nays. Senator Harris
and Senator Deuell asked to be shown voting aye.
The Chair introduced the nominees to the Texas Racing
Commission. They were appearing nominee Jesse Adams, and
non-appearing nominee Comer Cottrell. Senator Barrientos
questioned pending lay-offs and budgets. Senator Jackson
questioned them regarding horse slaughtering plants. There
being no further questions, a motion passed to send both
nominees to the full Senate with 5 ayes, 0 nays. Sen. Harris
asked to be shown voting aye.
The Chair introduced Stephen Rosales, nominee to the Board of
Pardons and Paroles.
Senator Barrientos requested that he review the parole process,
fees, and jurisdiction in half-way houses. The Chair read
witness cards. There being no other questions, a motion passed
to send Stephen Rosales to the full Senate with 6 ayes, 0 nays.
Senator Harris and Senator Hinojosa asked to be shown voting
aye.
At 5:45 the Chair asked that a motion pass the non-appearing
nominees of the following entities to the full Senate:
Commission of Licensing and Regulation, Municipal Retirement
System, Statewide Health Coordinating Council, Coastal
Coordination Council, On-Site Wastewater Treatment Research
Council, Board of Nurse Examiners, Structural Pest Control
Board, Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers, Workers'
Compensation Commission, Private Sector Prison Industries
Oversight Authority, Appraiser Licensing and Certification
Board, Public Finance Authority, Commission for the Blind, and
Council on Environmental Technology. The motion passed with 6
ayes, 0 nays. Senator Harris and Senator Hinojosa asked to be
shown voting aye.
There being no further business, Chairman Lindsay adjourned the
committee at 5:50 pm.
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Jon Lindsay, Chairman
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Tanya Tillman, Committee Clerk