MINUTES 
                                           
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE 
                             Wednesday, March 10, 2004 
                                     1:00 p.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.028 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Criminal  
         Justice was held on Wednesday, March 10, 2004, in the Capitol  
         Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator John Whitmire                   Senator John Carona 
         Senator Tommy Williams                  Senator Juan Hinojosa 
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The Chair laid out the proposed committee rules for  
         consideration.  Senator Ellis moved the adoption of the  
         committee rules.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.   
         The motion passed with 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present and not voting  
         and 2 absent. 
          
         The committee then heard invited testimony on four Interim  
         charges.  Charge 2 relating to the best practices for probation  
         and community supervision programs, Charge 3 relating to the  
         management and organizational structure of the Texas Department  
         of Criminal Justice, Charge 4 relating to the effectiveness of  
         current parole guideline policies and Charge 7 relating to  
         foreign citizens serving sentences in Texas prison's.  Witness's  
         testifying and registering on the Interim charges are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         There being no further business, at 3:30 p.m. Senator Whitmire  
         moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator John Whitmire, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Carley Rose, Clerk