MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS
Friday, November 19, 1999
10:00 a.m.
University of TX - El Paso, Neill Auditorium
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs
was held on Friday, November 19, 1999, at the University of TX -
El Paso, Neill Auditorium, in El Paso, TX.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Florence Shapiro Senator David Bernsen
Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator J. E. Brown
Senator Tom Haywood Senator David Cain
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Drew Nixon
Senator Jeff Wentworth
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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The chair made opening remarks and then asked Senator Lucio and
Senator Shapleigh for opening remarks.
The chair called Mr. Carlos Ramirez, Mayor of El Paso forward to
make welcoming remarks on behalf of the city.
The chair asked Senator Wentworth and Senator Haywood to make
their opening remarks.
Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the minutes from the
previous hearing held on October 28, 1999; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The meeting began with invited testimony. Those witnesses
testifying and registering on State Affairs Committee Charge
number 1 are shown on the attached list.
The chair requested that Commissioner Robert Nichols with the
Texas Department of Transportation be prepared to address the
committee at a later date regarding the number of abandoned
railways in Texas as well as other rail issues. Senator
Shapleigh also requested that the Department have rail
information available from Mexico and other border states.
At 12:30 p.m. Senator Shapiro moved that the committee stand
recessed until 1:30 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:50 p.m. the committee reconvened.
The chair reconvened the meeting and called for public testimony
from the Honorable Linda Harper-Brown, Irving City Council.
Further information regarding witnesses testifying and
registering on State Affairs Committee charge number 1 are shown
on the attached list.
The chair requested that the Executive Director of the Texas
Department of Transportation send the committee information
regarding what are the barriers, from the Departments
perspective, to building toll roads in Texas. Senator Shapleigh
requested information from the Department on what they see as
funding options for improvements needed on Texas roadways. The
chair asked for an answer to Senator Shapleigh's question
regarding why Texas ports are not funded through Federal Harbor
funds.
Once invited and public testimony was concluded and there being
no further business, at 5:50 p.m. Senator Shapiro moved that the
Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
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____________________
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Senator Florence Shapiro, Chair Cindy R
Nottingham,
Clerk