MINUTES
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
3:00 p.m.
Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Veteran Affairs & Military
Installations was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2001, in the
Lt. Governor Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Carlos F. Truan None
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
*****
Chairman Truan called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
Invited guest speaker, Adjutant General Daniel James III,
testified as a Resource Witness on the Adjutant General's
Department. General James thanked both the Veteran Affairs &
Military Installations Committee and the Finance Committee for
its support of the Department. Brigadier General Michael Smith,
Assistant Adjutant General, also testified on the Adjutant
General's Department as a Resource Witness. General James noted
the success of the 49th Armored Division and its overseas
mission to Bosnia. The Division helped relocate over 28,000
people back to their homes who fled during ethnic cleansing in
Bosnia. General James then thanked Chairman Truan for his help
with SB 526, authored by the late Senator Gregory Luna, during
the 76th Session on tuition assistance for the National Guard.
General James and Claire Carlson, Budget Officer with the
Adjutant General's Department, testified on the Department's
budget and exceptional items requests as requested by the
Chairman. Blanca Laborde, Chief of Staff for Senator Truan,
outlined the Senate Finance Working Group's recommendations for
the Adjutant General's Department. Chairman Truan, Senator
Fraser, and Senator Haywood are members of the Finance Committee
Working Group looking specifically into veteran organizations'
budget requests. General James finished his presentation by
requesting an across-the-board pay raise for all state
employees.
Chairman Truan laid out SB 480 and recognized the author,
Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Shannon Porterfield,
representing Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and Timothy
Leahy, representing Southwestern Bell Telephone, testified on
the bill. Senator Truan moved SB 480 be left pending per the
author's request; without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Truan laid out SB 718 and recognized the author,
Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Senator Shapleigh sent up
a committee substitute; Chairman Truan recognized Senator Duncan
to explain the difference between the committee substitute and
the bill as filed. Tony Privett, representing City of Lubbock,
testified in favor of the bill. Senator Fraser moved adoption
of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Shapleigh moved that SB718 do not pass but
that CSSB718 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 0 absent. Senator Fraser moved that the bill be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
Chairman Truan laid out SB 658 and SJR 22 and recognized the
author, Senator Barrientos, to explain the bills. Bernie
Little, representing Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and
Joe Wisnoski, representing Texas Education Agency, testified on
the bills. Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 658 be reported
favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass
and be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of 4
ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator
Shapleigh then moved that SJR 22 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 1 absent.
Invited guest speaker, Jerry Malcolm, Executive Director,
testified as a Resource Witness on the Texas Military Facilities
Commission. Gary McClure, Chairman, and Lydia Cruz, Director of
Administration and Accounting, also testified on the Texas
Military Facilities Commission as Resource Witnesses. Mr.
Malcolm thanked both the Veteran Affairs & Military
Installations Committee and the Finance Committee for its past
support. As requested by Chairman Truan, Mr. Malcolm then
testified on the Commission's budget and exceptional items
requests. Senator Truan outlined the Senate Finance Working
Group's recommendations for the Texas Military Facilities
Commission.
Chairman Truan then briefly outlined the Senate Finance Working
Group's recommendations for the Texas Veterans Commission.
Senator Haywood moved adoption of the minutes from the previous
hearings held on February 7, 2001, and February 21, 2001;
without objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 4:37 p.m. Senator Van de
Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the
call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Carlos F. Truan, Chair
______________________
Rhonda Pointer, Clerk