The House Committee on Appropriations

85th Legislature

March 16, 2017

7:30 a.m.

E1.030

 

Pursuant to a notice posted on March 10, 2017, and permission granted on March 16, 2017, to meet while the House was in session, the House Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Zerwas, at 7:39 a.m.

 

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Zerwas; Longoria; Ashby; Bonnen, Greg; Capriglione; Cosper; Davis, Sarah; Dean; Giddings; Gonzales, Larry; González, Mary; Howard; Koop; Miller; Muñoz, Jr.; Perez; Raney; Roberts; Rodriguez, Justin; Rose; Sheffield; Simmons; VanDeaver; Walle; and Wu.

 

A quorum was present.

 

 

(Representative Phelan now present.)

 

HB 2

 

The chair laid out HB 2.

 

The chair offered a complete committee substitute.

 

The chair explained HB 2.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The chair closed on HB 2.

 

The committee substitute was withdrawn without objection.

 

HB 2 was left pending without objection.

 

Articles VI, VII, & VIII Subcommittee Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out subcommittee recommendations for the agencies in Article VI.

 

Agencies included in Article VI

 

            The Department of Agriculture

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Animal Health Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Commission on Environmental Quality

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The General Land Office and Veterans’ Land Board

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Railroad Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Soil and Water Conservation Board

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Water Development Board

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Gonzales, Larry moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article VI.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Gonzales moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article VI.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out subcommittee recommendations for the agencies in Article VII.

 

Agencies included in Article VII

 

            The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Lottery Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Department of Transportation

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Workforce Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Reimbursements to the UC Benefit Account

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Gonzales, Larry moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article VII.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Gonzales moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article VII.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for the agencies in Article VIII.

 

Agencies included in Article VIII

 

The State Office of Administrative Hearings

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Chiropractic Examiners

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Dental Examiners

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The Funeral Service Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Professional Geoscientists

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Health Professions Council

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of Injured Employee Council

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Department of Insurance

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of Public Insurance Counsel

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Professional Land Surveying

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Department of Licensing and Regulation

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Texas Medical Board

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Nursing

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Optometry Board

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Pharmacy

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Executive Council of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Examiners

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Plumbing Examiners

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Psychologists

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Racing Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The State Securities Board

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Public Utility Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of Public Utility Counsel

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Special Provisions of Article VIII

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Gonzales, Larry moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article VIII.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Gonzales moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article VIII.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Articles I, IV, & V Subcommittee Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out subcommittee recommendations for the agencies in Article I.

 

Agencies included in Article I

 

            The Commission on the Arts

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of the Attorney General

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Bond Review Board

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Fiscal Programs - Comptroller of Public Accounts

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

Social Security and Benefit Replacement Pay

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Commission on State Emergency Communications

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Texas Emergency Services Retirement System

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Employees Retirement System

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Texas Ethics Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Facilities Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Lease Payments, Facilities Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Texas Public Finance Authority

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The General Obligation Bond Debt Service Payments, TPFA

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of the Governor

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Historical Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Department of Information Resources

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Library & Archives Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Pension Review Board

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Preservation Board

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The State Office of Risk Management

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Secretary of State

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Veterans Commission

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Longoria moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article I.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Longoria moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article I.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out subcommittee recommendations for the agencies in Article IV.

 

Agencies included in Article IV

 

The Supreme Court of Texas

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Court of Criminal Appeals

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The 14 Courts of Appeals

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of Court Administration

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of Capital and Forensic Writs

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The State Law Library

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

Judiciary Section, The Comptroller’s Department

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The Article IV Special Provisions

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Longoria moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article IV.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Longoria moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article IV.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Article V

 

Agencies included in Article V

 

            The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Department of Criminal Justice

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Commission on Fire Protection

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Commission on Jail Standards

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Juvenile Justice Department

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Commission on Law Enforcement

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Military Department

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Texas Department of Public Safety

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Longoria moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article V.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Longoria moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article V.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Article III Subcommittee Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Article III.

 

Agencies included in Article III – Public Education

 

            The Texas Education Agency

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The School for the Deaf

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Special Provisions - School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and School for the Deaf

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Teacher Retirement System

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Optional Retirement Program

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Agencies included in Article III – Higher Education

 

            The Higher Education Employees Group Insurance Contributions

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Higher Education Coordinating Board

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Available University Fund

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Higher Education Fund

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            National Research University Fund

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Support for Military and Veterans Exemptions

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The General Academic Institutions

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Representative Ashby offered an amendment to the measure.

 

            The amendment was adopted without objection.

 

            The Health Related Institutions

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Public Community/Junior Colleges

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Texas AgriLife Research

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Texas AgriLife Extension Service

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Texas Engineering Experiment Station

           

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Texas A&M Transportation Institute

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Texas Engineering Extension Service

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Special Provisions Relating Only to Components of Texas State Technical College

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            The Special Provisions Relating Only to State Agencies of Higher Education

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Ashby moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article III.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Ashby moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article III.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Article IX and X Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out the recommendations for Article X as well as the associated adopted and recommended Riders for inclusion in Article X.

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Longoria moved to adopt the recommendations for  Article X and the associated Riders for inclusion in Article X.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Article II Subcommittee Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Article II.

 

Agencies included in Article II

 

            Department of Family and Protective Services

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Department of State Health Services

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Health and Human Services Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

At 9:58 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was recessed until during reading and referral of bills.

 

The committee reconvened at 12:06 p.m. and was called to order by the chair, Representative Zerwas.

 

The quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Zerwas; Longoria; Ashby; Bonnen, Greg; Capriglione; Davis, Sarah; Dean; Howard; Koop; Muñoz, Jr.; Perez; Raney; Roberts; VanDeaver; and Walle.

 

A quorum was present.

 

Article II Subcommittee Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Article II.

 

(Representative Cosper now present.)

 

(Representative Giddings now present.)

 

(Representative Miller now present.)

 

(Representative Rose now present.)

 

(Representative Sheffield now present.)

 

(Representative Wu now present.)

 

Agencies included in Article II

 

            Health and Human Services Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

            Special Provisions

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Davis, Sarah moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article II.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Representative Davis, Sarah moved to adopt the rider recommendations by the subcommittee and adopt the Article XI rider packet for Article II.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

Articles IX and X, Pending Items, and Riders

 

The chair laid out the recommendations for Article IX as well as the associated Riders.

 

(Representative Gonzales, Larry now present.)

 

(Representative González, Mary now present.)

 

(Representative Phelan now present.)

 

(Representative Rodriguez, Justin now present.)

 

(Representative Simmons now present.)

 

Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

The chair moved the adoption of subcommittee recommendations for Article IX items pertaining to Tax Amnesty, Accelerated Sale of Unclaimed Securities, and the Special Provisions Contingency Rider.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair moved to divide and consider only the new Rider on Contract Cost Containment.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair moved the adoption of the Contract Cost Containment Rider.

 

The motion prevailed by the following record vote:

 

Ayes:                           Representatives Zerwas; Longoria; Ashby; Bonnen, Greg; Capriglione; Cosper; Davis, Sarah; Dean; Gonzales, Larry; Howard; Koop; Miller; Muñoz, Jr.; Perez; Phelan; Raney; Roberts; Rodriguez, Justin; Rose; Sheffield; VanDeaver; Wu (22).

 

Nays:                           Representative Giddings (1).

 

Present, Not Voting:   Representative González, Mary (1).

 

Absent:                        Representatives Dukes; Simmons; Walle (3).

 

Article II Subcommittee Pending Items and Riders

 

The chair laid out the subcommittee recommendations for Article II.

 

Agencies included in Article II

 

            Health and Human Services Commission

 

            Testimony taken/registration recorded.  (See attached witness list.)

 

Representative Munoz offered an amendment to the Rider on Intermediate Care Facility Conversion.

 

            The amendment was adopted without objection.

 

The chair moved adoption of the rider recommendations for Article II.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The chair laid out the Rider recommendations for Article XI.

 

The chair moved to adopt the Article XI rider packet.

 

The motion was adopted without objection.

 

The Chair provided direction to the Legislative Budget Board to produce the budget recommendations adopted by the Committee.

 

At 1:53 p.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

 

 

________________________________________________

Rep. Zerwas, Chair

 

 

________________________________________________

Nelda Hunter, Clerk