MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Monday, March 23, 2009

11:30 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 23, 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 11:35 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 the State Auditor, John Keel, to present a follow-up report on Preliminary Findings at the Adjutant General's Department.

 

 

 

Senator Ogden laid out the recommendations for Article XI.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the recommendations for Article XI, as amended, by deleting any contingency riders, and adding 4 additional program amounts; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized the Legislative Budget Board to lay out the recommendations for Article XII.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the recommendations for Article XII.  There being objection, a record vote was taken.  The motion carried with a record vote of 13 ayes, 1 nay, 1 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Ogden laid out amended Rider 57, regarding Article VII, Texas Department of Transportation - Clarifying Intent of Engineering Staff Rider. 

 

Senator Ogden moved to replace Rider 57 in the base bill with the new rider 57 before the Committee, regarding Article VII, Department of Transportation - Clarifying Intent of Engineering Staff Rider; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt $750 million, and the corresponding all funds, for a previously pended item regarding Medicaid cost increase; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair recognized Senator Hinojosa to lay out a rider regarding Article XII, Border Security.

 

Senator Williams moved to amend the rider regarding Article XII, Border Security, by including the DPS overtime policy in Section c3; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved that Sections b, c, and d of the rider regarding Article XII, Border Security, be moved to Article IX; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the amended rider regarding Article XII, Border Security; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

At 1:17 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden reconvened the Committee at 4:34 p.m.

 

The Committee stood at ease.

 

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

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Section 17.01.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Section 17.01; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Appropriation for a Salary Increase for State Employees in Salary Schedule C.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Appropriation for a Salary Increase for State Employees in Salary Schedule C; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Section 5.08.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Section 5.08; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Deletion of Rider - Office of State Federal Relations.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Deletion of Rider - Office of State Federal Relations; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Section 8.02.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Section 8.02; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Section 15.03.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Section 15.03; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Section 17.04.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Section 17.04; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Hinojosa laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Limitation on Purchase of Microsoft Vista Information Technology.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Limitation on Purchase of Microsoft Vista Information Technology; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, No Destruction of Human Embryos. 

 

Senator Ogden moved to amend the rider regarding Article IX, No Destruction of Human Embryos, by striking the language "any activity whatsoever, including"; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the amended rider regarding Article IX, No Destruction of Human Embryos.  There being objection, a record vote was taken.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 5 nays, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, Pass-through Tolling Agreements. 

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, Pass-through Tolling Agreements; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Seliger requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the recommendations for Article XII; without objection, it was so ordered.  The motion finally carried with a record vote of 14 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, relating to Texas Workforce and Economic Development Rider: Texas Economic Stimulus.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, relating to Texas Workforce and Economic Development Rider: Texas Economic Stimulus; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out riders regarding Article IX, Adjutant General's Department.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the riders regarding Article IX, Adjutant General's Department; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out a rider regarding Article IX, relating to Fraud Reporting.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the rider regarding Article IX, relating to Fraud Reporting; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden laid out the Final Directives to the Legislative Budget Board Staff for the Appropriations Bill during Production.

 

Senator Ogden moved to adopt the Final Directives to the Legislative Budget Board Staff for the Appropriations Bill during Production; 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 5:24 p.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand recessed until March 26, 2009.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Amy Jeter, Clerk