MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, March 16, 2009

8:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Monday, March 16, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Steve Ogden

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Chris Harris

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator Jane Nelson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Royce West

Senator John Whitmire

Senator Tommy Williams

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:40 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 1 as pending business.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to lay out the remaining workgroup recommendations for Article I.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article I, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article I, Comptroller of Public Accounts; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article I, Employees Retirement System; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article I, Facilities Commission; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article I, Office of the Governor - Trusteed Programs; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved to amend the Contingency Rider for Senate Bill 1548, relating to the Pension Review Board, by adding 11 FTEs; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the amended workgroup recommendations for Article I, Pension Review Board; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations on the All Remaining Items - Article I document; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the Contingency Rider for Senate Bill 362, relating to the Secretary of State.  There being objection, a record vote was taken.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 3 nays, 2 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to lay out the remaining workgroup recommendations for Article IV.

 

Senator Duncan moved that Item 4 of the workgroup recommendations for Article IV, relating to the Supreme Court of Texas, be moved to Article XI; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the amended workgroup recommendations on the All Remaining Items - Article IV document; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the Special Provisions Rider, relating to Appellate Court Salary Limits; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt a provision to reduce by $2.1 million a previously adopted block grant in the workgroup recommendations for Article IV, relating to the 14 Appellate Courts; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Averitt to lay out the remaining workgroup recommendations for Article VI.

 

Senator Ogden moved to amend Item 10 of the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, relating to the Department of Agriculture, by adopting $10 million and moving $30 million to Article XI; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved to pend the GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities, which had been rejected at a previous hearing as Item 7 of the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, relating to the Department of Agriculture; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the amended workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Department of Agriculture; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Animal Health Commission; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Parks and Wildlife Department; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Railroad Commission; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Soil and Water Conservation Board; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Averitt moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VI, Water Development Board; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to lay out the remaining workgroup recommendations for Article VIII.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VIII, Board of Chiropractic Examiners; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VIII, Department of Insurance; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VIII, Board of Nurse Examiners; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VIII, Racing Commission, with the exception of the Contingency Rider for SB 1013; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the Contingency Rider for SB 1013, relating to the Racing Commission.  There being objection, a record vote was taken.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the workgroup recommendations for Article VIII, Public Utility Commission.  There being objection, a record vote was taken.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.

 

Senator Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 10:29 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed until 9:00 a.m., March 17, 2009.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk