MINUTES
         
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE
                             Monday, February 17, 1997
                                      1:30 pm
                                   Senate Chamber
         
                                       *****
         
         
         
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence 
         was held on Monday, February 17, 1997 in the Senate Chamber at 
         Austin, Texas.  
         
                                       *****
         
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT:
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    None
         Senator Chris Harris
         Senator David Cain
         Senator Robert Duncan
         Senator Gregory Luna
         Senator Steve Ogden
         Senator Jeff Wentworth
         
                                       *****
         
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:46 pm.  There being a 
         quorum present, the following business was transacted.  
         
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:  none.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 448 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Madla, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Ellis moved that SB 448 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 415 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Brown, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 415 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 0 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 302 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Brown, to explain the bill.  
         
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
 
         





         the attached list.  
         Senator Wentworth moved that SB 302 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 0 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 261 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Sibley, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Luna moved that SB 261 be reported favorably to the full 
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  
         The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not 
         voting, and 0 absent.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 401 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Zaffirini, to explain the bill.
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Luna sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between 
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 401 do not pass but that CSSB 401 
         be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it 
         do pass and be printed.  There being objection, the motion 
         carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 
         0 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 424 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Bivins, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Bivins to explain 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 moved that SB 424 be left pending; without 
         objection, it was so ordered.
         
         The Chair laid out SB 320 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Armbrister, to explain the bill.  
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on 
         the attached list.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 320 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 0 absent.  
         Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify the bill 
         for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
 
         





         
         
         The Chair laid out SB 129 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Nixon, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved 
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator 
         Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; 
         without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Wentworth 
         sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without 
         objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Harris moved to 
         withdraw Committee Amendment 3; the motion passed without 
         objection.
         Senator Harris moved that SB 129, as amended, be reported back 
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Harris requested 
         unanimous consent to certify the bill for Local & Uncontested 
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 311 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the Chair 
         recognized Senator Harris to explain the difference between the 
         committee substitute and the bill as filed.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 311 do not pass but that CSSB 311 
         be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it 
         do pass and be printed.  There being objection, the motion 
         carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 
         0 absent.  Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to certify 
         the bill for Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it 
         was so ordered.  
         The Chair laid out SB 348 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 348 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 
         present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Harris requested 
         unanimous consent to certify the bill for Local & Uncontested 
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  
         
         The Chair laid out SB 333 and recognized the author, Senator 
         Harris, to explain the bill.  
         Senator Harris moved that SB 333 be reported favorably to the 
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be 
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 1 
         present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Harris requested 
         unanimous consent to certify the bill for Local & Uncontested 
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  
         
         There being no further business, at 3:17 pm Senator Ellis moved 
         that the Committee be recessed. Without objection, it was so 
         ordered.  
         
         
         
 
         





         ______________________                       
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
         
         ______________________