MINUTES 
          
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                             Tuesday, April 15, 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 Tuesday, April 15, 1997 in the Capitol  
         Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator J.E. Brown                      Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Gonzalo Barrientos 
         Senator Teel Bivins 
         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 2:15 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The Chair laid out HB 706 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, 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 HB 1190 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Barrientos sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         At 2:35 pm Senator Barrientos assumed the chair.   
  
         The Chair laid out SB 1585 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.   
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 1585, 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 10  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1509 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 Brown resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1406 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Lucio sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio moved to reconsider the vote by which the  
         substitute was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 4 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 5 and moved  
  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 6 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 7 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 8 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that all amendments be rolled into a new  
         committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Truan moved that SB 1406, 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 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 1520 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 1520 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 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 596 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Lindsay, to explain the bill.   
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that SB 596 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, 0  
         present not voting, and 5 absent.   
          
         Senator Lindsay moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill  
         was reported; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Lindsay sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lindsay moved that SB 596, 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 8  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chair simultaneously laid out SB 1439 and SB 1856 and  
         recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the  
         bills. 
          
         Senator Wentworth sent up a Committee Substitute to SB 1439  
         and moved adoption; without objection, the substitute was  
         adopted. 
          
         Senator Wentworth sent up a  Committee Substitute to SB 1856  
         and moved adoption; without objection, the substitute was  
         adopted. 
          
         Senator Wentworth sent up Committee Amendment 1 to CSSB 1856  
         and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was  
         adopted. 
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that Committee Amendment 1 to CSSB  
         1856 be rolled into a new substitute; without objection, it  
         was so ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on both bills are shown  
         on the attached list.   
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1439, 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1856, 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that CSSB 1856 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that CSSB 1439 be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 4:42 pm Senator Barrientos resumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1223 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 1224 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute 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. 
          
         The Chair laid out SB 1225 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 1226 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment 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 1340 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown moved to reconsider the vote by which the  
         substitute was adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.   
          
         The bill was left pending. 
          
         The Chair referred HB 394 to the Subcommittee on Water for  
         further consideration. 
          
         At 5:40 pm Senator Brown resumed the chair and recessed the  
         hearing until 6:30.   
          
         The Chair called the hearing back to order at 6:38 and laid  
         out HB 706. 
          
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 706 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 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 HB 1190 as amended. 
          
         Senator Nixon moved that HB 1190, 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 Nixon moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
         The Chair laid out SB 1791. 
          
         Senator Wentworth sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted. 
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1791, 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 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         Senator Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar, without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 6:43 pm Senator Bivins assumed the chair.   
          
         The Chair laid out CSSB 1586 and recognized the author,  
         Senator Brown, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 4 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 5 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 6 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 7 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up Committee Amendment 8 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up Committee Amendments 8-13.  After  
         discussion the amendments were withdrawn. 
          
         Senator Ogden sent up Committee Amendment 14 and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that the amendments be rolled into a new  
         substitute and that the substitute be adopted; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 1586, 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 8  
         ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         At 7:10 pm Senator Brown resumed the chair.   
          
         There being no further business, at 7:10 pm Senator Bivins  
         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