The Texas State Senate News

AUSTIN - Senate Bill (SB) 290, providing a severance tax exemption for small oil producers, is expected to be debated Tuesday on the Senate floor. The emergency legislation, strongly supported by Governor George W. Bush and Lt. Governor Rick Perry, passed through the Senate Finance Committee yesterday.

The Senate declared today Jim Wells County Day. Corpus Christi Senator Carlos F. Truan sponsored Senate Resolution 135 which recognizes residents of Alice, Orange Grove, Premont, and San Diego. The area is known as the "Hub of international trade" because of their location on trade routes between the United States and Mexico.

The State Affairs Committee, chaired by Plano Senator Florence Shapiro, heard testimony about the readiness of state agencies for expected Y2k problems. The Legislature allotted $110 million in 1997 to the Department of Information Resources to address the problem and prepare state agencies. The department says 73 agencies are ready for the year 2000 but 36 are less than halfway there. Their main concerns are public health, public safety, and fund distribution and collection, like child support and medicaid. Representatives from the Department of Information Resources said they could use $30 million more to prepare for an emergency.

The Senate reconvenes Monday at 1:30 p.m.

Events

2/8/99, Monday - Finance Committee Public Hearing at 9:00 a.m. in the Capitol Extension, room E1.036

2/8/99, Monday - Electric Utility Restructuring Special Committee at 9:30 a.m. in the Senate Chamber

2/8/99, Monday - Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee at 12:00 p.m. in 2E.20/Lt. Gov. Committee Room

2/8/99, Monday - Subcommittee on Higher Education at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment of the Senate, in 2E.20/Lt. Gov. Committee Room

2/11/99, Thursday - Border Affairs Special Committee at 8:30 a.m. in 2E.20/Lt. Gov. Committee Room

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