MINUTES 
                                           
            SENATE COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY 
                              Tuesday, April 13, 2004 
                                     1:00 p.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.028 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on  
         Infrastructure Development and Security was held on Tuesday,  
         April 13, 2004, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Todd Staples                    Senator Frank Madla 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos              Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Bob Deuell                       
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The Chairman called the meeting to order at 1:03 p.m.  Chairman  
         Staples made opening remarks and announced the purpose of the  
         meeting was to consider the committee rules and to receive  
         testimony on interim committee charges 8 and 9, issued by  
         Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. 
          
         The Chairman recognized committee staff, namely, Lori Friedman  
         General Counsel; Patricia Gajda, Committee Clerk; Matt Ogden,  
         Policy Analyst, and Jeremiah Kuntz, Policy Analyst. 
          
         At 1:07 p.m. the Chairman laid out interim committee charge 8, "  
         Study the issue of interoperable communications for first  
         responders.  The Committee shall assess the status of this  
         capability and evaluate available technology and costs.  In  
         addition, the Committee shall explore pilot programs and  
         proposals by entities such as DPS and the Sheriff's Association,  
         who have been working to assess new technologies and the cost of  
         implementation of systems to assist in effective communication  
         between all parts of the state." Invited  followed by public  
         testimony was heard.  Witnesses registering and/or testifying  
         are shown on the attached list. 
          
         At 1:27 p.m. roll call for Senate Committee on Infrastructure  
         Development and Security was taken.  Having established a quorum  
         the Chairman asked if there were any objections to adopting the  
  
         interim committee rules.  Hearing no objection, the interim  
         committee rules were adopted. 
          
         Invited testimony resumed. 
          
         Senator Jeff Wentworth present at 1:34 p.m. 
          
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos present at 1:45 p.m. 
          
         The Chairman asked if anyone else present wished to testify on  
         charge 8.  There being no one else present wishing to testify,  
         charge 8 was left open. 
          
         At 2:15 p.m. the Chairman laid out interim committee charge 9,  
         "Study the issues associated with consular identification cards  
         ("Matricula Consular"), with particular attention to security  
         and verifiability, banking access, local law enforcement  
         relations, and driver's license issuance.  Review current FBI  
         reports on security and verifiability.  Consider the  
         implications that acceptance of the card on a state or local  
         level would have on federal immigration policy and homeland  
         security."  Invited followed by public testimony was heard.   
         Witnesses registering and/or testifying are shown on the  
         attached list. 
          
         The Chairman asked if anyone else present wished to testify on  
         charge 9.  There being no one else present wishing to testify,  
         charge 9 was left open.   
          
         At 3:50 p.m. the Chairman recessed the hearing until April 14 at  
         9:30 a.m., when the committee would convene at the State  
         Operations Center located at DPS Headquarters Building A, 5805  
         N. Lamar Austin, Texas,  and take invited testimony on interim  
         committee charge 7.            
          
         Chairman: Senator Staples 
          
         Clerk: Patricia Gajda