MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Monday, February 24, 2003 
                                     8:00 a.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.036 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was  
         held on Monday, February 24, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Teel Bivins                     None 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Florence Shapiro 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Royce West 
         Senator John Whitmire 
         Senator Tommy Williams 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Testimony was given on the following agencies with witnesses on  
         the attached list: 
          
         Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing 
         Texas Rehabilitation Commission 
          
         At 9:55 a.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 10:00 a.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         Cancer Council 
         Texas Department on Aging 
          
         At 12:01 p.m. Senator Bivins moved that the committee stand  
         recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate;  
  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 2:50 p.m. the committee reconvened.   
          
         Department of Health 
          
         At 4:27 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.                      
          
         At 4:33 p.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation 
          
         At 5:29 p.m. Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         At 5:34 p.m. Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         At 8:05 p.m. Senator Shapiro assumed the chair.   
          
         There being no further business, at 8:36 p.m. Senator Shapiro  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Teel Bivins, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Stephanie Hoover, Clerk