MINUTES 
                                           
            SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS 
                             Wednesday, March 16, 2005 
                           1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                      Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran  
         Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, March  
         16, 2005, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte            None 
         Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Kel Seliger 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 12:42 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The following member arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Troy Fraser 
          
         The chair recognized Senator Shapleigh, who led the Committee in  
         the Pledge of Allegiance. 
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the minutes from the  
         previous hearings held on March 2, 2005, and March 7, 2005;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair recognized witnesses testifying on Base Realignment  
         and Closure.  Witnesses testifying on Base Realignment and  
         Closure are listed on the attached witness list.     
          
         At 1:12 p.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 580 and recognized the author, Senator Van  
         de Putte, to explain the bill.  
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 580 be left pending; without  
  
         objection, it was so ordered.    
          
         The chair laid out SB 581 and recognized the author, Senator Van  
         de Putte, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte sent up a  
         committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte  
         to explain the difference between the committee substitute and  
         the bill as filed.  Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the  
         committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 581 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The chair laid out SB 776 and recognized the author, Senator Van  
         de Putte, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 776 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 101 and recognized the author, Senator Van  
         de Putte, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Van de Putte sent up a committee substitute; the chair  
         recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference  
         between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Van de Putte moved adoption of the committee substitute; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.    
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.  The chair moved that the public testimony be  
         closed; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 101 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 774 and recognized the author, Senator Van  
         de Putte, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte sent up a  
         committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte  
         to explain the difference between the committee substitute and  
         the bill as filed.  Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the  
         committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         At 2:32 p.m. Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair.   
          
         At 2:33 p.m. Senator Van de Putte moved that the committee stand  
         recessed until 2:45 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 3:15 p.m. the committee reconvened.   
          
         At 3:16 p.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair.   
          
         Public testimony on SB 774 resumed. 
          
         The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 774 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 3:42 p.m. Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair.   
          
         There being no further business, at 3:43 p.m. Senator Van de  
         Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the  
         call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Sara Gonzalez, Clerk