The House Committee on Appropriations 
         77th Legislature 
         March 1, 2001 
         7:00 a.m. 
         Capitol Extension, E1.030 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted on February 21, 2001, the House  
         Committee on Appropriations met in a public hearing and was  
         called to order by the chair, Representative Junell, at 7:06  
         a.m. 
          
         The roll was answered as follows: 
          
         Present:  Representatives Junell; West, George "Buddy"; Allen;  
                   Delisi; Flores; Gutierrez; Hamric; Heflin; King,  
                   Tracy; Luna, Vilma; Maxey; McReynolds; Pickett;  
                   Puente; Smith (15). 
          
         Absent:   Representatives Coleman; Eiland; Farrar; Gallego;  
                   Giddings; Glaze; Hochberg; Janek; Moreno, Paul;  
                   Mowery; Pitts; Turner, Sylvester (12). 
          
         A quorum was present. 
          
         Testimony was taken.  (See attached witness list.) 
          
         Office of the Governor 
          
         (Representative Glaze now present.)(Representative Turner,  
         Sylvester now present.)(Representative Giddings now present.) 
          
         Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations.   
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor 
          
         (Representative Gallego now present.)(Representative Farrar now  
         present.) 
          
         Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations  
         with the following change:  To revise Unexpended Balance  
         authority estimates.  Without objection, the motion was adopted.   
          
         Comptroller of Public Accounts 
          
         Representative Heflin moved the adoption of LBB recommendations  
         with the following technical changes:  Modify Rider 15, Texas  
         Performance Review and e-Texas Commission, to indicate change of  
         strategies in which funds are appropriated.  Restore Rider 13,  
         Reimbursement for Treasury Operations inadvertently deleted from  
         the bill pattern.  And with the other following changes:   
         Capital Budget rider (Heflin #1) and Texas State IT Academy  
         rider (Heflin #2).  Without objection, the motion was adopted.   
          
         Comptroller of Public Accounts Fiscal Programs 
  
         Representative Flores moved the adoption of LBB recommendations  
         with the following technical changes:  Modify appropriation to  
         Strategy A.1.3., Reimbursement-Commitment Hearings, to reflect  
         UB authority between fiscal years.  Modify statutory reference  
         in Strategy A.1.11., Local Continuing Education Grants, to  
         reflect Occupation Code, Section 1701.157.  Reduce GR  
         appropriation each year of the biennium and add GR-Dedicated  
         Account 116, Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education,  
         and increase appropriations to that account in the same amount  
         each year.  Modify language in Strategy A.1.6., County  
         Taxes-University Lands, to reflect the correct year in which the  
         Act identified was implemented.  And with the other following  
         changes:  Department of Energy Federal Funds rider (Flores #1)  
         and Texas Energy Coordination Council rider (Flores #2) and Oil  
         Overcharge Settlement Funds rider (Flores #3).  Without  
         objection, the motion was adopted.   
          
         Social Security Contributions and Benefit Replacement Pay 
          
         Representative Flores moved the adoption of LBB recommendations.   
         Without objection, the motion was adopted. 
          
         Texas Department of Agriculture 
          
         (Representative Hochberg now present.) 
          
         Representative Flores moved the adoption of LBB recommendations  
         with the following changes:  Capital Construction of Metrology  
         Laboratory rider (Flores #1) and Contingency Appropriation:  
         Additional Loan Volume rider (Flores #2) and Appropriations  
         Limited to Revenue Collections: Octane Testing rider (Flores #3)  
         and Appropriation: "Go Texas" Partner Program rider (Flores #4)  
         and Appropriation of Receipts: Yardage Fees rider (Flores #5)  
         and Contingency to Increase the Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Cap  
         for New Initiatives rider (Flores #6) and Capital Budget rider  
         (Flores #7).  And with the addition of the following to Article  
         XI:  Salary Parity.  Information Systems Development.   
         Additional FTEs to Protect against Invasive Pests.  Funding for  
         Existing Positions for the biennium.  Additional GOTEPP funds  
         for the biennium.  Purchase of personal computers and laptops.   
         Use Interest Earned on GOTEPP Account.  Without objection, the  
         motion was adopted. 
          
         At 8:26 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection,  
         the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair. 
          
         ________________________ 
         Rep. Junell, Chair 
          
         ________________________ 
         Darshoel Willis, Clerk