MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS
AND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS
Monday, March 8, 1999
11:00 am
Lt. Gov. Cmte. Rm.
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran
Affairs & Military Installations was held on Monday, March 8,
1999 in the Lt. Gov. Cmte. Rm., at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan None
Senator Gregory Luna
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
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Vice-Chairman Luna called the meeting to order at 11:10 a.m.
Vice-Chairman Luna turned the gavel to Senator Shapleigh to
preside at the hearing at this time. Senator Shapleigh laid
out SB 525, relating to compensation and benefits for members
of the state military forces and their dependents, and
recognized its sponsor, Senator Luna. The purpose of the bill
was explained. The first resource witness to be recognized
was Mr. Hugh D. Shine, of the Texas National Guard, Temple
Texas. Mr. Shine presented to the Committee, Sgt. Steven
McGuire, of the National Guard, who while on duty was blinded
in an accident during the floods in Del Rio, Texas. Senator
Shapleigh recognized Mr. John Stanford from the Adjutant
General's Dept., and Mr. Bill McLemore, Texas Association of
Veteran County Service, to testify on compensation and
benefits under this bill. Mr. Robert L. Halverson, Commander
of the 49th Armored Division and Brigadier General Wayne
Marty, Texas National Guard, were recognized as resource
witnesses. Senator Ogden was recognized for questions.
Senator Shapleigh recognized Mr. John Braun, National Guard
Association of Texas, to testify. Senator Fraser was
recognized for questions. It was noted by Senator Luna that
further information will be needed and Amendments will need to
be made to this bill. There being no further testimony,
Senator Shapleigh closed the hearing on SB 525 and at the
request of the sponsor, SB 525 was left pending in Committee.
Senator Shapleigh turned the gavel back to Chairman Truan to
preside at the hearing. Chairman Truan laid out SB 526,
relating to providing tuition payment assistance to certain
members of the state military forces attending public
institutions of higher education, and recognized it sponsor,
Senator Luna. Chairman Truan recognized that a Quorum was
present and the Clerk called the Roll. The Chair recognized
Mr. Jim Bisson, Texas Adjutant General's Office, as a
resource witness on SB 526. Senators Luna and Ogden were
recognized for questions. The Chair recognized Mr. Lee
Shamblee, Texas Army National Guard, as a resource witness.
Mr. O. M. Little was recognized by Chairman Truan as a
witness against the bill. Senators Luna and Ogden were
recognized for questions. The Chair recognized Mr. John
Braun, National Guard Association of Texas, and Mr. Bob
Halverson, to testify as resource witnesses. There being no
further testimony or objections for or against this bill, the
hearing on SB 526 was closed. Senator Luna moved that the
bill be left pending before the full committee. There being
no objections, it was so ordered by the Chair.
There being no further business to transact, Senator Luna
moved that the Committee stand recessed at 12:35 p.m. subject
to call of the Chair. There being no objections, the motion
passed.
_______________________________________
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chairman
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Emma Dibbles, Committee Clerk
Attachments