Senate Finance Subcommittee Meets at State Capitol

AUSTIN - Members of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on ArticlesIV and V met at the state capitol on Tuesday, March 23, to discussjudiciary, public safety, and criminal justice issues. Serving on thecommittee are Senators Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio (chair), DavidSibley of Waco, and Eddie Lucio, Jr. of Brownsville.

The committee is responsible for analyzing agencies' execution ofuseful and accurate performance measures. The members evaluate theagencies' budgets and review requested appropriations. The committeemay also look into the agencies' caseloads, employment situations,responses to certain State Auditor reports, and settlement agreements aswell as any pending legal claims.

Tuesday's public hearing consisted of testimony provided by representatives from the Department of Criminal Justice and the Department of Public Safety.

The subcommittee will report its findings to the Senate FinanceCommittee which will then make any necessary recommendations forlegislative or state agency action to the 76th Legislature which convenesin January of next year.

Higher Education Issues Discussed at State Capitol

AUSTIN - Education was the topic of discussion of a public hearinglegislators held at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 23. TheSenate Interim Finance Subcommittee on Article III Agencies isresponsible for monitoring and reviewing the processes and proceduresof Texas higher education systems. Members include Senator Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth as Chair andSenators J.E. "Buster" Brown of Lake Jackson and Judith Zaffirini ofLaredo. The hearing consisted of a presentation of audit issues relating to Lamar University in Beaumont and Sul Ross State University. Members also heard testimony from agency representatives including the Texas State University System, Lamar University - Beaumont, and Sul Ross State University. The hearing will continue tomorrow, March 24, in Austin.

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