MINUTES 
                                           
                            SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE 
                             Thursday, February 3, 2005 
                                     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 Thursday, February 3, 2005, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Steve Ogden                     None 
         Senator Judith Zaffirini                 
         Senator Kip Averitt 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Bob Deuell 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Kyle Janek 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
         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 8:01 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out SB 1, the General Appropriations Bill, which  
         had been left pending at a previous hearing. 
          
         Testimony was given on the following agencies with witnesses on  
         the attached list: 
          
         Department of Housing and Community Affairs 
         Office of Rural Community Affairs 
         Department of Transportation 
          
         At 9:53 a.m. Senator Ogden moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until 45 minutes after adjournment of the Senate;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Zaffirini reconvened the Committee at 11:20 a.m. 
          
         Testimony resumed on the following agencies, with witnesses on  
         the attached list: 
          
         Workforce Commission 
          
         Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         Lottery Commission 
         Department of Agriculture 
         Railroad Commission 
          
         Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         General Land Office, Veterans Land Board, and Trusteed Programs  
         of the General Land Office 
          
         Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         Animal Health Commission 
          
         Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.   
          
         Commission on Environmental Quality 
          
         Senator Ogden resumed the chair.   
          
         Parks and Wildlife Department 
         River Compact Commissions 
         Soil and Water Conservation Board 
         Water Development Board 
          
         Senator Ogden moved that SB 1 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:07 p.m. Senator Ogden  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed until 9 a.m., February  
         7, 2005.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Steve Ogden, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Amy Jeter, Clerk