05/07/2001 01:22 PM Senate RLS

CHAIRWOMAN PEARCE  announced the Senate Finance Committee  adopted a                                                            
committee substitute  for HB 234-TOBACCO  SETTLEM'T:BONDS  & SMOKING                                                        
PROGRAM and a new fiscal note.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY moved to calendar CSHB 234(FIN)am.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS  objected and  commented that  he believes the  Senate                                                            
Finance Committee  should have included  the 20 percent for  tobacco                                                            
cessation  efforts, as  the House  did.   In addition,  he does  not                                                            
believe the  bill contains  an adequate commitment  to rural  school                                                            
construction and rural and urban maintenance projects.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THERRIAULT said  that although  he shares  Senator  Ellis's                                                            
concern  about  the  cessation   program,  Section  2  sets  up  the                                                            
cessation fund.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The  motion  to  calendar  CSHB  234(FIN)am  carried  with  Senators                                                            
Cowdery, Therriault and  Pearce voting "yea," and Senators Ellis and                                                            
Phillips voting "nay."