MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Interim Subcommittee on Article III Agencies
Wednesday, March 25, 1998
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Finance
Subcommittee on Article III Agencies was held on Wednesday,
March 25, 1998 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at
Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chair Senator Judith
Zaffirini
Senator J.E. Brown
*****
Chairman Moncrief called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
The following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
None.
The Chair recognized Andrea Claire, of the State Auditor's
Office, to provide a briefing on agency responses to the
performance measures survey requested by Senator Ratliff and
Representative Junell.
The Chair called on representatives from Article III agencies
to provide testimony and answer questions of the committee
regarding interim charges. (All agencies submitted written
comments prior to the hearing date.) Witnesses appeared as
follows:
Mike Moses, representing the Texas Education Agency,
provided oral and written testimony.
Bill Monroe, representing the Texas Education Agency,
provided oral testimony.
Joe Wisnoski, representing the Texas Education Agency,
provided oral testimony.
Mark Littleton, representing the State Board for Educator
Certification, provided oral testimony.
Dan Junell, representing the State Board for Educator
Certification, provided oral testimony.
Barry Alaimo, representing the State Board for Educator
Certification, registered as a resource witness, but did
not testify.
Phil Hatlen, representing the Texas School for the Blind
and Visually Impaired, provided oral testimony.
Barney Schulz, representing the Texas School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired, provided oral testimony.
Kenneth Miller, representing the Texas School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired, registered as a resource
witness, but did not testify.
Susan Houghtling, Texas School for the Blind and Visually
Impaired, registered as a resource witness, but did not
testify.
Claire Bugen, representing the Texas School for the Deaf,
provided oral and written testimony.
Jim Smith, representing the Texas School for the Deaf,
provided oral testimony.
Arnold Viramontes, representing the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund Board, provided oral testimony.
Gwen Stafford, representing the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund Board, provided oral testimony.
Rhonda Hill, representing the Telecommunications
Infrastructure Fund Board, provided oral testimony.
Charles Dunlap, representing the Teacher Retirement
System, provided oral and written testimony.
Ronnie Jung, representing the Teacher Retirement System,
registered as a resource witness, but did not testify.
Edward Hiler, representing the Texas A&M University
System and agencies of the agriculture program, provided
oral testimony.
John Beverly, representing the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station, provided oral testimony.
Chester P. Fehlis, representing the Texas Agricultural
Extension Service, provided oral testimony.
Gary Nunley, representing the Texas Wildlife Damage
Management Service (formerly the Animal Damage Control
Service), provided oral testimony.
James B. Hull, representing the Texas Forest Service,
provided oral testimony.
Tom Boggus, representing the Texas Forest Service,
registered as a resource witness, but did not testify.
Konrad Eugster, representing the Texas Veterinary Medical
Diagnostic Laboratory, provided oral testimony.
C. Roland Haden, representing the Texas Engineering
Experiment Station, provided oral testimony.
Carol J. Cantrell, representing the Texas Engineering
Experiment Station, registered as a resource witness, but
did not testify.
G. Kemble Bennett, representing the Texas Engineering
Extension Service, provided oral testimony.
Arturo Alonzo, representing the Texas Engineering
Extension Service, provided oral testimony.
Don Bugh, representing the Texas Transportation
Institute, provided oral testimony.
Robert V. Avant, Jr., representing the Texas Food and
Fibers Commission, provided oral and written testimony.
The Chair asked if there was anyone present who wished to
testify on any of the Article III agencies. There was no one
present who wished to provide public testimony.
There being no further business, at 12:05 p.m., Senator
Moncrief announced that the Committee would stand recessed
subject to the call of the Chair. Without objection, it was
so ordered.
_________________________
Senator Mike Moncrief, Chair
_________________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk