MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                            Thursday, February 24, 2005 
                           10:00 a.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         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, February 24, 2005, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Steve Ogden                     None 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Bob Deuell 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Royce West 
         Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 11:52 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out SB 1, the General Appropriations Bill, which  
         had been left pending at a previous hearing.  Witnesses  
         providing testimony are shown on the attached list. 
          
         The chair recognized Senator Williams to lay out the workgroup  
         recommendations for Article I. 
          
         At 1:37 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 1:40 p.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair recognized Senator Williams to lay out the workgroup  
         recommendations report on Article I, Employee Compensation. 
  
         At 1:51 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until 2:00 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Committee reconvened at 2:04 p.m. 
          
         Senator Nelson moved to not adopt the rider relating to the  
         Office of the Attorney General Reallocation and Increased  
         Appropriation of Compensation to the Victims of Crime Fund.   
         Senator Nelson moved to withdraw the motion to not adopt;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations  
         for Article I, with the exception of pending items. Senator West  
         seconded the motion. There was a roll call vote.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 15 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting, and 0 absent.   
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 1 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to leave Item 1A of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation pending.   
         Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to leave Items 1B and 1C of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation pending.   
         Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 2 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 7 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 8 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 11 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 12 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 13 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 15 of the Article I  
  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Senator  
         Williams moved to withdraw the motion for adoption; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Item 16 of the Article I  
         workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Williams moved to adopt Items 17, 19, 21 and 23 of the  
         Article I workgroup recommendations on Employee Compensation.   
         Senator Williams moved to withdraw the motion to adopt Items 21  
         and 23; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Williams  
         moved to adopt Items 17 and 19 of the Article I workgroup  
         recommendations on Employee Compensation.  Without objection, it  
         was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 2:50 p.m. Senator Ogden  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 9:00 a.m., Monday,  
         February 28, 2005.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Steve Ogden, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Amy Jeter, Clerk