MINUTES 
          
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                             Thursday, April 3, 1997 
                                     2:00 pm 
                         Capitol Extension, Room E1.028 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural  
         Resources was held on Thursday, April 3, 1997 in the Capitol  
         Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator J.E. Brown                      None 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Jon Lindsay 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
         Senator Drew Nixon 
         Senator Steve Ogden 
         Senator Carlos Truan 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:45 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 968 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 968 be reported favorably to  
         the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1077 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Truan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 1077, as amended be reported  
         favorably to the full 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 Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 718 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Duncan, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 718 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 728 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Nelson, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Ogden sent up a committee substitute and moved its  
         adoption; without objection, it was adopted. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1656 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Truan, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         At 3:20 pm Senator Haywood assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1354 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Brown sent up a committee substitute, explained the  
         differences, and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         substitute was adopted. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
  
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         At 3:45 pm Senator Bivins assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1529 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1888 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         At 4:00 pm Senator Brown resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1576 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Bivins, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1591 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Haywood, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Haywood sent up a committee substitute, explained the  
         differences, and moved adoption; there being no objection, the  
         substitute was adopted. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
         The Chair laid out SB 595 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Ratliff, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         The Chair again laid out SB 1591 and recognized the author,  
         Senator Haywood, to explain the bill.   
         At 4:08 pm Senator Bivins resumed the chair.   
          
         SB 1591 was left pending. 
  
         At 4:29 pm Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1588 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Haywood, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The Chair called on the committee to stand at ease. 
          
         At 6:15 pm Senator Brown resumed the chair and called the  
         meeting back to order. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 595. 
          
         Senator Lucio moved that SB 595 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 1  
         absent, and one present not voting. 
          
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out CSSB 728. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 728, as substituted, be reported  
         favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it  
         do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 11  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.   
          
         Senator Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1529. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 1529 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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.   
          
         Senator Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1576. 
          
         Senator Bivins moved that SB 1576 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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.   
          
         Senator Bivins moved that the bill be recommended for  
  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1588. 
          
         Senator Haywood moved that SB 1588 be reported favorably to  
         the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 8 ayes, 2 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out CSSB 1591. 
          
         Senator Haywood moved that SB 1591, as substituted, be  
         reported favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation  
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a  
         vote of 9 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1656. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 1656 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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.   
          
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1888. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 1888 be reported favorably to the  
         full 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.   
          
         Senator Truan moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         There being no further business, at 5:58 pm Senator Truan  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator J.E. Brown, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Carol McGarah, Clerk