MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Thursday, January 11, 2001
10:00 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,
January 11, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin,
Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Chris Harris
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. There being a
quorum present, the following
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator John Whitmire
The Chair gave introductory remarks and welcomed new members to the
Senate Finance Committee. The intent of the Chair is to hold budget
hearings Monday through Thursday each week. The Committee will meet
throughout the day except when the Senate is in session. Exceptions
will be made next week for the Martin Luther King holiday and the
Inauguration in Washington, D.C..
The Chair introduced Committee staff.
The Chair laid out draft Committee Rules and asked members to review
them for adoption at the next meeting on 1-16-2001. If there are any
changes, please submit them to the Committee staff before the meeting.
The Chair introduced John Keel, representing the Legislative Budget
Board; Billy Hamilton, representing the Comptroller's Office; and Tony
Fabelo, representing the Criminal Justice Policy Council to provide an
overview of key issues included in the budget recommendations (Senate
Bill 1).
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to provide testimony
regarding Legislative Budget Board recommendations:
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Don Gilbert, Commissioner
The Chair asked if the Commissioner would come back on Tuesday, January
16, 2001 when Senator Harris, Vice-Chair would be in attendance to ask
questions.
Texas Education Agency
Jim Nelson, Commissioner of Education
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Dr. Don W. Brown, Commissioner
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Tony Fabelo, Ph.D., Executive Director, Criminal Justice
Policy Council
Wayne Scott, Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal
Justice
Steve Robinson, Executive Director, Texas Youth Commission
Vicki Spriggs, Executive Director, Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission
James R. (Jim) Hine, Executive Director, Texas Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services
The Chair asked if Wayne Scott and members of his Board would come back
on Tuesday, January16, 2001.
There being no further business, Senator Ellis moved that the Committee
stand recessed until 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2001. Without
objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk