MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

10:00 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 Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 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 Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

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

 

Senator Chris Harris

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. 

 

The Committee heard invited and public testimony regarding the following interim charges:

Consider and make recommendations relating to the constitutional constraints and fiscal implications of exempting real property, leased to a school, as defined by Section 11.21 of the Tax Code, from ad valorem taxation.

Study the impact of changing the constitutional and statutory spending limit based on the sum of the rate of population growth and the rate of inflations.  Examine what past biennial spending limits would have been , and what the next biennium's limit might be, under a new definition.  Consider the impact of exempting growth from federally mandated programs.

 

Monitor the use of Byrne Grant Border security funds, including whether additional funds need to be spent on communications interoperability.

Monitor the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas grant making process to ensure that funds are spent efficiently and effectively.

 

 

At 10:07 a.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

At 10:31 a.m. Senator Ogden resumed the chair.

 

At 10:43 a.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair.

 

The chair opened the floor for public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the subject are shown on the attached list.

 

The chair moved that public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 1:07 p.m. Senator Hinojosa moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Annette Graves, Clerk