MINUTES SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING Thursday, March 29, 2001 8:30 a.m. Capitol Extension Auditorium ***** Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Redistricting was held on Thursday, March 29, 2001, in the Capitol Extension Auditorium at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator Jeff Wentworth None Senator Mike Jackson Senator Kenneth Armbrister Senator David Cain Senator Robert Duncan Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Judith Zaffirini ***** The chair called the meeting to order at 8:50 a.m. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Mike Jackson Senator Ken Armbrister Senator Robert Duncan Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the committee minutes from the previous hearing on January 31, 2001. There being no objection, the minutes were adopted. SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING Minutes Thursday, March 29, 2001 Page Two The chair provided opening remarks and introduced committee staff. The chair called attention to the new Senate schedule. Effective on March 29, 2001, the Senate would begin meeting at 10 a.m. The chair announced the committee would take public testimony for about one hour in the morning and would reconvene thirty minutes following adjournment of the Senate. Due to the large number of attendees wishing to testify, the chair requested witnesses limit their testimony to six minutes or less, if possible. The chair also asked witnesses to identify themselves and state who they represent. Senator Zaffirini requested witnesses state the senate districts in which they reside and the names of the counties they planned to discuss. There being no objection, the chair then announced the committee would reconvene in a joint meeting with the House Committee on Redistricting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, 2001 to hear public testimony on redrawing Congressional and State Board of Education district lines. The chair stressed the meeting location was moved from E1.004 (Capitol Extension Auditorium) to 1E.030 (House Appropriations Committee Room) because of the large number of committee members. Senator Zaffirini emphasized that the purpose of this meeting was to hear testimony about redrawing senate lines. Senator Zaffirini and Senator Truan provided welcome comments. Public testimony began and committee members questioned witnesses. At 9:55 a.m. the chair announced that the committee would stand in recess until 30 minutes following adjournment of the Senate. At 1:09 p.m. the committee reconvened. The chair informed attendees that some committee members' absences were due to simultaneous meetings of the Senate Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Finance. The chair reminded persons wanting to testify to be sure to complete a witness card. SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING Minutes Thursday, March 29, 2001 Page Three Public testimony took place and committee members questioned witnesses. There being no further business, at 3:25 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the Committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, the motion passed. ____________________________ Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair ____________________________ Erica Sadlon, Clerk