MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, January 31, 2001
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 Wednesday, January
31, 2001, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator John Whitmire
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 Judith Zaffirini
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. There being a quorum
present, the following business was transacted:
The Chair recognized the following witnesses to provide testimony
regarding Legislative Budget Board (LBB) recommendations:
Office of the Governor
Zelma Smith, LBB Budget Analyst
Barry McBee, Executive Asst.
Introduced staff in attendance. Spoke to the proposed budget and
the one additional rider they are asking for. Answered
questions.
Richard Nedelkoff, Director, Criminal Justice
Answered questions about plans for the use of the monies that
will be funded in the budget for the
Criminal Justice Division.
Registering, but not testifying:
Paul Gulick, Director, Support Services
William M. Hale, Executive Director
Jerry Tucker, Director of Finance
Donna White, Director, Administration
Secretary of State
Stanton Korn, LBB Budget Analyst
Henry Cuellar, Secretary of the State
Spoke to the proposed budget and the two exceptional items they
are requesting. Answered questions regarding the Secretary of
State's responsibilities to Colonials, along with many other
questions.
Ann McGeehan, Director, Elections Division
Answered questions regarding pay raises for primary election
poll workers.
Registering, but not testifying:
Jim Beck, Director, Administrative Services
Juneteenth Commission
Al Edwards, State Representative
Answered questions.
Senator Lindsay assumed Chair.
Commission on Human Rights
Tom Lambert, LBB Budget Analyst
William M.. Hale, Executive Director
Gave information on the duties of the Commission. Spoke to the
exceptional items; Texas Star Program, EEO Training Academy, and
Information Resources technology in proposed budget. Answered
questions.
Laura Ayoub Keith, Chairman
Introduced other members of the Commission in attendance. Spoke
to the request for a salary increase for the Executive Director.
Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
C.G. Madin, Commissioner
Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission
Jess Calvert, LBB Budget Analyst
Ed Bloom, Executive Director
Gave an overview of the past biennium. Spoke to exceptional
items in proposed budget. Answered questions.
Craig Pedersen, Commissioner, Executive Administrator, TWDB
Spoke to the salary increase for Executive Director.
Steve Robinson, Commissioner, Executive Director, TYC
Spoke to the thought process that goes into the suggestions made
by state employees and how worthwhile the program is.
Department of Information Resources
Stanton Korn, LBB Budget Analyst
Carolyn Purcell, Executive Director
Gave an overview of the past biennium. Spoke to the exceptional
items in proposed budget. Answered questions.
Carole Greisdorf, Board Member
Made a brief statement and praised Ms. Purcell and her work.
At 10:43 a.m. Senator Lindsay moved that the committee stand recessed
until 45 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it
was so ordered.
At 1:00 p.m. the committee reconvened with Senator Zaffirini in the chair.
Texas Historical Commission
Sarah Foster, LBB Budget Analyst
John L. Nau, III, Vice-Chair of Commission
Introduced other Commissioners in attendance. Gave an
explanation of what the duties of the Texas Historical Commission
are and an overview of the last biennium.
Lawerence Oaks, Executive Director
Spoke of ways to empower people at the local level to help save
our history and the importance of the public being made aware
of how vital their participation is. Spoke to the exceptional
items in proposed budget.
Senator Truan assumed the chair.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Sarah Foster, LBB Budget Analyst
Sandra Pickett, Commissioner
Brief overview. Answered questions.
Peggy D. Rudd, Executive Director
Spoke to exceptional items in proposed budget.
Public Testimony:
Patrick Heath, Former Commissioner, Mayor of Boerne
Janice Weber, Director, Laredo Public Library
Steven L. Brown, Director, North Richland Hills Public Library
Registering, but not testifying:
Edward Seidenberg, Deputy Director, Texas State Library
Eileen Shocket Altmiller, Librarian
Gloria Maraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library
Association
Julie B. Todaro, President, Texas Library Association
Pat Tuohy, Librarian
State Pension Review Board
Stephanie Coates, LBB Budget Analyst
Shari Shivers, Chairman of Board
Spoke to the LBB major items not included in recommendations.
Joe Walraven, Sunset Commission
Registering, but not testifying:
Rita Hornitz, Executive Director
State Preservation Board
Jeff Scarpelli, LBB Budget Analyst
Rick Crawford, Executive Director
Spoke to item #1 under Major Items Not Included in
Recommendations. He also talked about the exceptional items in
proposed budget. Answered questions.
Registering, but not testifying:
Brian Ragland, Director of Finance and Administration
Senator Ellis assumed chair.
Texas Veterans Commission
Jess Calvert, LBB Budget Analyst
Alexander Vernon, Vice-Chairman
Introduced other Commissioners and staff.
James E. Nier, Executive Director
Gave an overview of accomplishments in past biennium. Addressed
the exceptional items in the proposed budget. Answered
questions.
James S. Breden, III, Commissioner
Spoke to the number of exceptional items presented.
James S. Duncan, Commissioner
Read a letter from a disabled veteran who had received help from
the Texas Veterans Commission.
Senator Barrientos recognized Manuel Castillo, a disabled veteran of WW II
and a recipient of a purple heart.
Public Testimony:
Manuel Castille, WW II Veteran
Betty S. Zuspann, Veterans Health Care liaison
John David Freye, Self
Office of State Federal Relations
Jeff Scarpelli, LBB Budget Analyst
Laurie M. Rich, Executive Director
Gave a brief overview. Answered questions.
Employees Retirement System
Stephanie Coates
Sheila W. Beckett, Executive Director
Introduced Chairman. Spoke to the exceptional items in proposed
budget and the hugh increases in all medical costs. Answered
many questions.
Bill Barton, Chairman of the Board
Spoke to the request to re-establish the insurance contingency
reserve fund.
Gary Anderson, Executive Director, Texas Public Employees Association
Spoke in support of the ERS budget request.
Registering, but not testifying:
Philip S. Dial, Consulting actuary
Darrell Leslie, Director of Finance, ERS
Ann Waterman, Director of Operations, ERS
There being no further business, at 4:49 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the
Committee stand recessed until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 31, 2001.
Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Myra J. Schmitt, Clerk