MINUTES 
          
                        SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                               Monday, May 5, 1997 
                                     8:00 am 
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.012 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         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, May 5, 1997 in the Capitol  
         Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Rodney Ellis                    Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator David Cain 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Gregory Luna 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:04 am. Awaiting a  
         quorum, the following business was transacted. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 3559 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Zaffirini, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 3559 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved that HB 3559 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1091 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 1091 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Ellis moved that HB 3559 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1965 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 1965 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved HB 1965 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Wentworth moved  
         that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1316 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.  Witnesses registering  
         on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 1316 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved HB 1316 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Wentworth moved  
         that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2683 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 2683 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved HB 2683 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent. Senator Wentworth moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2215 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Madla, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 2215 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Harris moved that HB 2215 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
           
         The Chair laid out HB 3507 and recognized Senator Wentworth,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         The Chair moved that HB 3507 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Harris moved HB 3507 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.    Senator Harris moved that the  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1602 and recognized Senator Wentworth,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 1602 be left pending to await a  
  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved HB 1602 be reported back to  
         the senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 1 nays, 1  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 259 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  The  
         Chair moved that HB 259 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Duncan moved HB 259 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 906 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 906 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Duncan moved HB 906 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1312 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.  The Chair moved that  
         HB 1312 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection  
         it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Harris  
         moved HB 1312 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 1 absent.   
          
         At 8:38 am Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1126 and recognized Senator Ellis, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  
         The Chair moved that HB 1126 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Harris moved HB 1126 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Harris moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar, without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2003 and recognized Senator Ellis, in  
  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  The  
         Chair moved that HB 2003 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved HB 2003 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 0 absent.   
         Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2007 and recognized Senator Ellis, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 2007 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Harris moved that HB 2007 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2271 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 2271 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, At the time of the vote at 4:55 pm Senator Harris  
         assumed the chair.  After the vote at 4:56 pm Senator Ellis  
         resumed the chair. 
         Senator Ellis moved HB 2271 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, 0 nays, 0 present not  
         voting, and 1 absent.   
         At 8:48 am Senator Ellis resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 984 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Sibley, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 984 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved that HB 984 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 219 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Haywood, to explain the bill.   
         The Chair moved that SB 219 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved SB 219 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.  
          
         The Chair laid out SB 692 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lindsay, to explain the bill.   
         The Chair moved that SB 692 be left pending to await a quorum;  
  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Ellis moved that SB 692 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 8:55 am Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1329 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ellis, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that SB 1329 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Ellis moved that SB 1329 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         At 9:18 am Senator Ellis resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 2734 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.  The Chair moved that  
         HB 2734 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection  
         it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator  
         Wentworth moved HB 2734 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 1 absent.   
         Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 1193 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.  The Chair moved that  
         HB 1193 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection  
         it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Harris  
         moved HB 1193 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 412 and recognized Senator Cain, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 412 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Harris moved HB 412 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Harris moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 971 and recognized Senator Cain, in the  
  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         The Chair moved that HB 971 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Cain moved HB 971 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Cain moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:34 pm, in the Lt.  
         Governor's Committee Room, Capitol  2 E. 20. The roll was  
         called.  There being being a quorum present all bills were  
         voted out or left pending.  
         The following member arrived after roll was called: Luna. 
           
         There being no further business, at 5:04 pm Senator Ellis  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         __________________________ 
         Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair 
          
         __________________________ 
         Helen Gonz lez, Clerk