MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
9:00 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
|
MEMBERS PRESENT: |
|
MEMBERS ABSENT: |
|
Senator Mike Jackson Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Jane Nelson Senator Robert Nichols Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Kirk Watson |
|
None |
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Hegar and Senator Shapleigh.
Senator Jackson moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on April 25, 2007, and May 11, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Jackson called Mark Bivins, nominee to the Parks and Wildlife Commission, to the table. Senator Seliger recognized former Senator Teel Bivins to introduce his brother to the committee. The committee members expressed their appreciation and respect for Senator Bivins. At 9:12 a.m., the committee stood at ease.
At 9:14 a.m. the committee reconvened.
Chairman Jackson and Bivins discussed the funding that the legislature has given to the Parks and Wildlife Commission. Bivins would like to see the appropriation cap lifted. In response to a question from the chair, Bivins explained that the maintenance and attractiveness of state parks is currently the number one priority at the commission.
Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Shapleigh. Senator Shapleigh and Bivins discussed the current priorities at the Parks and Wildlife Commission and the funding necessary to achieve those goals.
Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Nichols. Senator Nichols questioned Bivins regarding the Texas State Railroad.
Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson and Bivins discussed the audit report. Bivins told the committee of a new computer system at the commission which will calculate park attendance.
Senator Nelson moved that the nomination of Mark Bivins be confirmed by the committee. At 9:33 a.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend Mark Bivins to the full Senate for confirmation.
Chairman Jackson called Reverand Charles Lewis Jackson, Tom Mechler, and Leopoldo R. Vasquez, III, nominees to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, to the table.
Senator Ellis introduced Vasquez to the committee. The chair recognized the nominees for opening comments.
Chairman Jackson and the nominees discussed the agendas and issues that come up during the Texas Board of Criminal Justice board meetings. Vasquez explained that the board is involved in policy rather than day-to-day issues. The nominees said that they will welcome any and all resources that the legislature is able to provide them.
The chair recognized Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson and the nominees discussed the number of prisoners who are in prison due to their involvement with drugs. Mechler explained that around 80% of Texas prisoners are in prison due to some type of involvement with drugs. The nominees and Senator Nelson discussed treatment programs and ways to prevent drug-addicted inmates from resuming the same behavior when released.
The chair recognized Senator Nichols. Senator Nichols thanked the nominees and asked that they make good decisions in order to positively effect the state.
Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Shapleigh. Senator Shapleigh questioned the nominees about the re-write of the penal code. Senator Shapleigh and the nominees discussed illegal aliens in the prison system and the way in which to handle Mexican prisoners.
The vote on the nominations of Rev. Charles Lewis Jackson, Tom Mechler, and Leopoldo R. Vasquez, III were left pending subject to the arrival of a quorum.
Chairman Jackson called Samuel E. Bassett and Alan L. Levy, nominees to the Texas Forensic Science Commission, to the table. The chair explained that Dr. Sridhar Natarajan would be unable to appear before the committee.
Senator Wentworth introduced Bassett to the committee. The chair recognized the nominees for self-introductions and opening comments.
Chairman Jackson and the nominees discussed problems in forensic labs due to a lack of scientific rigor, training, and manpower. The nominees explained that the commission is currently unfunded and they are looking to the legislature for help.
The vote on the nominations of Samuel Bassett, Alan Levy, and Dr. Sridhar Natarajan was
left pending subject to the arrival of a quorum.
The vote on the nominations of the non-appearing nominees was left pending subject to the arrival of a quorum.
There being no further business, at 10:22 a.m. Senator Jackson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
At 4:30 p.m. the committee reconvened at Senator Jackson's desk on the Senate floor. A quorum being present, the following votes were taken:
Senator Shapleigh moved that the nominations of Rev. Charles Lewis Jackson, Tom Melcher, and Leopoldo R, Vasquez be confirmed by the committee. At 4:30 p.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.
Senator Watson moved that the nominations of Samuel Bassett, Alan Levy, and Dr. Sridhar Natarajan be confirmed by the committee. At 4:31 p.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.
Senator Nichols moved that the committee vote on the non-appearing nominees to the following entities: Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners, Texas Affordable Housing Corporation Board of Directors, Aging and Disability Services Council, Texas Agricultural Finance Authority Board of Directors, Angelina and Neches River Authority Board of Directors, Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Council, Automobile Theft Prevention Authority, Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Coastal Coordination Council, Upper Colorado River Authority, Credit Union Commission, Texas Diabetes Council, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council, Finance Commission of Texas, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Board of Directors, Health and Human Services Council, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services, Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying, Texas State Board Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists, TDCJ Advisory Committee on Medical and Mental Impairments, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors, One Call Board, Texas Optometry Board, Texas Board of Orthotics and Prosthetics, Pecos River Compact Commissioner, Texas Physician Assistant Board, Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, Texas Public Finance Authority, Presiding Officer of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Texas Racing Commission, Sabine River Authority of Texas, State Seed and Plant Board, Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, Soil and Water Conservation Board, State Board of Trustees of the Texas Emergency Services Personnel Retirement Fund, Sulpher River Basin Authority Board of Directors, Texas Woman's University Board of Regents. At 4:32 p.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.
There being no further business, at 4:33 p.m. Senator Jackson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Mike Jackson, Chair
_____________________________
Katherine Chapman, Clerk