Minutes Tuesday, July 7, 1998 Page MINUTES SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFORMATION Tuesday, July 7, 1998 1:00 p.m. Visiting Court Room Potter County Courthouse 500 South Fillmore Amarillo, TX 79186 ***** Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on Public Information was held on Tuesday, July 7, 1998, in the Visiting Court Room, Potter County Courthouse, 500 South Fillmore, Amarillo, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Kenneth Armbrister Senator John Carona Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator John Whitmire ***** The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted. Senator Carona moved adoption of the minutes from the last meeting. Without objection, it was so ordered. The Chair recognized Senator Teel Bivins to make welcoming remarks. The Chair recognized Senator Robert Duncan, Representative Delwin Jones, and Representative David Swinford as being in attendance. The committee heard invited testimony on the structure, duties, and responsibilities of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission from Mitchell W. Pearlman, Executive Director. The committee heard invited testimony on SB 1069 (75th Legislative Session) and related matters from Garet von Netzer, Publisher, Amarillo Globe News, representing the Texas Daily Newspaper Association and the Texas Press Association. The committee heard invited testimony regarding judicial records from Denise Davis, Director, Texas Judicial Council. The committee heard public testimony on the committee charges. The following persons testified on these issues: Kathleen Ballanfant, newspaper publisher, representing the Texas Community Newspaper Association. Walt Borges, Texas Citizen Action-Court Watch. Anita E. Burgess, City Attorney, City of Lubbock. Mike Coggins, Publisher, Moore County News Press. Bennett Cunningham, KTVT-TV, Investigative Reporter. Cindy Groomer, County and District Clerk's Association of Texas. Troy Harrison, A and T Consultants. Jeff Hartsell, City of Lubbock. James P. Jeffers, City Manager, City of Plainview. Lew Mellenkamp, Texas Economic Development Council. Merrill Nunn, representing himself. Randy Sanders, Executive Editor, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, representing the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association. Hadassah Schloss, Open Records Administrator, General Services Commission. Chris Shields, Texas Economic Development Council. At 4:10 p.m. the committee took a 25-minute break and reconvened at 4:35 p.m. Public testimony resumed. Jean Anne Stratton, District Clerk, Lubbock County. Brad Tooley, The Canyon News and the Texas Press Association. Minutes Tuesday, July 7, 1998 Page The following persons submitted written testimony but did not testify: Patricia F. Donovan, representing herself. James Hunt, News Director, KGNC Radio. Rhonda Myron, Associate Commissioner, Government Relations, Texas Department of Insurance. There being no further business, at 4:57 p.m. Chairman Wentworth announced that the committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered. __________________________________________ Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair __________________________________________ Todd Baxter, Chief Clerk and General Counsel