MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION
Monday, January 25, 1999
1:45 pm
E1.714
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, an open meeting of the Senate Committee on
Administration was held on Monday, January 25, 1999 in E1.714,
at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Chris Harris Senator Frank Madla
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator John Whitmire
Senator Florence Shapiro
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senator Harris passed the gavel to Senator Ellis. Senator
Ellis recognized Senator Harris to present the proposed
Administration Committee Rules. Senator Harris moved
adoption of the rules. Senator Shapiro seconded the
motion. Motion passed 3 ayes, 0 nays.
Senator Ellis laid out SB 69 and recognized Senator Harris to
explain the bill. Senator Shapiro moved that SB 69 be
reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of
3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.
Senator Ellis laid out SJR 13 and recognized Senator Harris to
explain the bill. Senator Harris moved
that SJR 13 be reported favorably to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed The motion
carried with a vote of 3 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,
and 2 absent.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Frank Madla
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Ellis recognized Senator Harris. Senator Harris
discussed the financial constraints that the Senate is
experiencing and the probability of Committee budgets being
cut. He announced that Betty King, Secretary of the Senate,
was going to try and cut $250,000.00 out of the Central
Staff's budget to be used by Committees. He stated that the
Administration Committee would be asked to make hard
decisions during the rest of this fiscal year about the monies
spent by the Senate.
Senator Harris talked about putting a freeze on district-wide
newsletters. This would only effect the time period from the
end of session until 8/31/99. This would mean that Senators
who have not mailed their 99' newsletter would have to wait
until after 8/31/99 to mail one. Senators would not loose
their option to mail a 99' newsletter it would just be
postponed to the next fiscal year. They would be allowed to
mail two district-wide newsletters in the 2000 fiscal year.
Senator Madla moved to put a temporary freeze on the mailing
of district-wide newsletters until after the 1999 fiscal year
ending 8/31/99. There being no objections, the motion was
adopted.
Senator Harris stated that with the extra monies from the
Central Staff budget, the temporary freeze of 99'
newsletters, and with all Committee Chairmen doing their best
to conserve he hoped there would be enough monies to operate
Committee budgets for the seven month period of 2/1/99 thru
8/31/99. A memo will go to all Chairmen asking them to
submit proposed budgets by Friday, January 29, 1999.
Committee members will get comparison figures from last
session, interim committee figures, other pertinent
information and copies of the proposed budget requests sent to
them in the overnight mail on Friday. After receipt of the
budgets the Administration Committee will analyze the proposed
budgets, see how much the Committees are asking for and then
see if that matches the monies available for the committees.
There was discussion on late travel vouchers, Senate caucus
expenditures, how information from the Administration
Committee gets distributed and the possibility of some new
Administration policies .
There being no further business, at 3:15 pm Senator Harris
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Chris Harris, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk