The House Committee on Appropriations
80th Legislature
February 27, 2007
8:00 a.m.
E1.030
Pursuant to a notice posted on February 19, 2007, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Chisum, at 8:20 a.m.
The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Chisum; Guillen; Allen, Alma; Branch; Brown, Fred; Chavez; Crownover; Darby; Dukes; England; Harper-Brown; Hopson; Isett, Carl; Lucio III; McClendon; McReynolds; Menendez; Riddle; Taylor; Turner; Zerwas (21).
Absent: Representatives Brown, Betty; Davis, John; Gattis; Jackson, Jim; Kolkhorst; Noriega, Rick; Otto; Van Arsdale (8).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
Texas Workforce Commission
The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Workforce Commission.
(Representative Otto now present.) (Representative Jackson, Jim now present.) (Representative Gattis now present.) (Representative Van Arsdale now present.)
Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Recommendations with the following changes: Increase Funding for the Skills Development Program; Amend Capital Budget Rider; Item for Future Consideration: Increase Funding for Project RIO and Increase Funding for the Career Schools and Colleges Regulatory Program. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Reimbursements to the Unemployment Compensation Benefit Account
The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Reimbursements to the Unemployment Compensation Benefit Account. Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Building and Procurement Commission
The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Building and Procurement Commission.
(Representative Noriega, Rick now present.)
Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes: Increase Funding for Facilities Operations and Building Design and Construction Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Texas Building and Procurement Commission's Revolving Account Rider; Amend Capital Budget and Unexpended Balances of Bond Proceeds for Deferred Maintenance and Facilities Renovation of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission Riders; Item for Future Consideration: Increase Funding for Salaries and Other Operating Expenses. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Revenue Bonds for Lease Payments
The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Revenue Bonds for Lease Payments. Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Housing and Community Affairs
The chair recognized Rep. Noriega to lay out the recommendations for the Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
At 9:56 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was recessed until 1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment of the House, whichever occurs later, on February 27, 2007.
The committee reconvened at 1:30 p.m. and was called to order by the chair, Representative Chisum. The roll was answered as follows:
Present: Representatives Chisum; Guillen; Allen, Alma; Branch; Brown, Betty; Brown, Fred; Crownover; Darby; Harper-Brown; Isett, Carl; Jackson, Jim; Kolkhorst; Lucio III; McReynolds; Menendez; Noriega, Rick; Otto, Van Arsdale (18).
Absent: Representatives Chavez; Davis, John; Dukes; England; Gattis; Hopson; McClendon; Riddle; Taylor; Turner; Zerwas (11).
A quorum was present.
Testimony was taken. (See attached witness list.)
The Chair recognized Rep. Noriega to proceed with the LBB Recommendations for TDHCA.
(Representative McClendon now present.) (Representative Taylor now present.) (Representative Hopson now present.) (Representative Riddle now present.) (Representative Gattis now present.) (Representative England now present.)
Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations for TDHCA with the following changes: Increase Funding for Technical Assistance to Rural Homeless Coalitions; Amend Conversions of Executory Contracts Rider.
Rep. Riddle objected.
Rep. Noriega withdrew the motion.
Rep. Noriega moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes: Increase Funding for Technical Assistance to Rural Homeless Coalitions; Amend Conversions of Executory Contracts Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Lottery Commission
The chair recognized Rep. Isett to lay out the recommendations for the Texas Lottery Commission. Rep. Isett moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes: Technical Adjustments to Increase Funding for Lottery Operator Contract and Bingo Prize Fee Allocations Strategies; Technical Adjustments to Local Bingo Prize Fees and Appropriation of Increased Revenues and Unexpended Balances Riders; Amend Increased Revenues and Unexpended Balances Rider; Add Adjustment to Appropriated Amounts Rider; Item for Future Consideration: Amend Operate Lottery Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Office of Rural Community Affairs
The chair recognized Rep. Betty Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Office of Rural Community Affairs. Rep. Betty Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes: Amend Capital Budget, Colonia Set-Aside Program Allocation, and Rural Physician Relief Program Riders; Item for Future Consideration: Increase Funding for Central Administration and Information Resources Strategies. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Department of Transportation
The chair recognized Rep. Harper-Brown to lay out the recommendations for the Department of Transportation. Rep. Harper-Brown moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes: Amend Contracted Planning and Design and Right of Way Acquisition Strategies; Increase Funding for Transportation Construction, Routine Maintenance, and Registration and Titling Strategies; Technical Adjustment to Auto Theft Appropriation Rider; Amend Clothing Provision, Auto Theft Prevention, and Federal Funds Reporting Requirement Riders; Delete Tourist Information Center, Tejano Monument, Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural and Historical Commission Memorial Monument, and Texas Museum of Music History Riders; Add Aircraft Pooling Board Services Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
Texas Public Finance Authority -- General Obligation (GO) Bond Debt Service
Rep. McReynolds moved to reconsider the vote by which the LBB Recommendations for the Texas Public Finance Authority -- General Obligation (GO) Bond Debt Service were adopted. Rep. McReynolds moved the adoption of the LBB Recommendations with the following changes: Technical Adjustment to End of Article Debt Service Amounts and Informational Rider on GO Bonds Issued by TPFA; Technical Adjustment to Bond Debt Service Payments Strategy and Information Listing of Appropriated Funds Rider; Amend Information Listing of Appropriated Funds Rider. Without objection, the motion was adopted.
At 6:45 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned until 8:00 a.m., February 28, 2007.
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Rep. Chisum, Chair
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Paul Kamprath, Clerk