MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday, March 18, 1997
9:00 am
Lt. Governor's Committee Room
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Economic
Development was held on Tuesday, March 18, 1997 in the Lt.
Governor's Committee Room, Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman Senator Frank Madla
Senator David Cain, Vice Chairman
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Jerry Patterson
Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Eliot Shapleigh
*****
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:15 am. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The Chair laid out SB 216, which had been left pending in
Committee. Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the
Chair recognized Senator Nixon, author of SB 216, to explain
the difference between the committee substitute and the bill
as filed. Senator Duncan then moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Ellis then moved that SB 216 do not pass but that CSSB 216 be
reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes,
2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 455 and recognized the author, Senator
Duncan, to explain the bill. Senator Duncan sent up a
committee substitute and explained the difference between the
committee substitute and the bill as filed. Robert Huxel,
representing Texas Association of Insurance Agents, testified
in favor of the bill. Carol McDonald, representing ICAT,
Inc., registered in favor of the bill but did not wish to
testify. Senator Harris moved that SB 455 do not pass but that
CSSB 455 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting
and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 258 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill. Senator Ellis sent up a proposed
committee substitute and explained the difference between the
committee substitute and the bill as filed. Witnesses
testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the
attached list.
Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to incorporate the
amendment into the proposed committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis then moved that
the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that SB 258 do not pass
but that CSSB 258 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,
and 2 absent.
Senator Ellis requested unanimous consent to certify the bill
for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 217 which had been left pending in
Committee, and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to
explain the committee substitute which had been previously
sent up. The public testimony had been left open to hear
additional witnesses wishing to testify on the bill. Hannah
Riddering, representing Texas National Organization for Women,
testified in favor of the bill. Will Davis, representing
Texas Association of Life & Health Insurers, testified in
opposition to the bill. The Chairman read the names of those
registering in favor of or as resources on the bill but not
wishing to testify. The Chairman closed the public hearing
and moved that SB 217 be left pending; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 98 which had been left pending in
Committee, and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini, to
explain the committee substitute which had been previously
sent up. Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Harris moved that SB 98 do not pass but that CSSB 98 be
reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
pass and be printed. The motion carried with a vote of 10
ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.
The Chair laid out SB 854 and recognized the author, Senator
Patterson, to explain the bill.
Leslie Pettijohn, Commissioner of Consumer Credit, testified
as a resource on the bill, and Sam Kelley, representing
Intermac, testified in favor of the bill.
Chairman Sibley advised that the public hearing would be left
open for additional testimony to respond to members'
questions, and moved that SB 854 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out SB 445 and recognized the author, Senator
Haywood, to explain the bill.
Alex Mills, representing North Texas Oil & Gas Association;
Steve Burleson, representing Boley-Featherston Insurance; and
Ben Sebree, representing Texas Mid-Continent Oil & Gas
Association, all testified in favor of the bill. Walter
Hinojosa, representing Texas AFL-CIO, testified in opposition
to the bill. Lindsey Dingmore, representing Texas Independent
Producers & Royalty Owners, registered in favor of the bill
but did not wish to testify.
Chairman Sibley advised that the public hearing would be
closed and moved that SB 445 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 10:55 am Senator Sibley
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
__________________________
Senator David Sibley, Chairman
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Barbara Henderson, Clerk