MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday, March 16, 1999
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 16, 1999 in the Lt.
Governor's Committee Room, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator David Sibley, Chairman None
Senator Kenneth Armbrister, Vice Chairman
Senator John Carona
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Frank Madla
Senator John Whitmire
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The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Chairman Sibley advised that SB 172 by Senator Harris had been
laid out at the March 9, 1999 hearing and left pending.
Senator Jackson sent up a proposed committee substitute; the
Chairman recognized the author, Senator Harris, 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 Madla sent up Committee Amendment 1 to the proposed
committee substitute and moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted. Senator Armbrister requested
unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a new
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister then moved that the new committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 172 do not pass but that CSSB
172 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.
At 9:15 am Senator Armbrister assumed the Chair and advised
that SB 970 had been laid out at the March 9, 1999 hearing and
left pending. The Chairman recognized the author, Senator
Sibley. Senator Sibley sent up Committee Amendment 1 and
moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Sibley requested unanimous consent to incorporate the
amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Sibley then moved that the new
committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Sibley moved that SB 970 do not pass but
that CSSB 970 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting,
and 0 absent.
At 9:35 am Senator Sibley resumed the Chair and advised that
the Committee would take up subcommittee reports from the
Subcommittee on Technology and Business Growth.
The subcommittee report on SCR 9 by Senator Ellis was laid out
by Senator Fraser, Chairman of the Subcommittee. Senator
Fraser moved adoption of the subcommittee report; without
objection, the subcommittee report was adopted. Senator
Fraser then moved that SCR 9 be reported favorably to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present
not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Fraser moved that the bill
be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The subcommittee report on SB 598 was laid out by Senator
Fraser. Chairman Sibley recognized the author of SB 598,
Senator Duncan, to explain the substitute as adopted in
Subcommittee. Senator Fraser sent up Committee Amendment 1
and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was
adopted. The Chairman moved that the bill be left pending
until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The subcommittee report on SB 34, by Senator Shapiro, was
laid out by Senator Fraser. The Chairman moved that the bill
be left pending until after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:50 am Chairman Sibley moved that the Committee stand
recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate;
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 12:10 pm the Committee reconvened and consideration of the
subcommittee report on SB 34 continued. Senator Fraser moved
adoption of the subcommittee report; without objection, the
subcommittee report was adopted. Senator Fraser then moved
that SB 34 be reported favorably 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.
The subcommittee report on SB 222, by Senator Gallegos, was
laid out by Senator Fraser. Senator Fraser moved adoption of
the subcommittee report; without objection, the subcommittee
report was adopted. The Chairman called Eric Woomer of
Senator Gallegos' office to testify as a resource on the bill.
Chairman Sibley then moved that SB 222 be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The subcommittee report on SB 231, by Senator Ellis, was laid
out by Senator Fraser. Senator Fraser moved adoption of the
subcommittee report; without objection, the subcommittee
report was adopted.
Senator Fraser moved that SB 231 be reported favorably 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 Fraser moved that the bill
be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
Consideration of SB 598 continued. Senator Madla sent up
Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted. Senator Fraser requested unanimous
consent to incorporate Committee Amendment 1 adopted earlier
in the hearing and Committee Amendment 2 into a committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Armbrister then moved that the new committee substitute be
adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Fraser
moved that SB 598 do not pass but that CSSB 598 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.
The subcommittee report on SB 348, by Senator Haywood, was
laid out by Senator Fraser. Senator Fraser moved adoption of
the subcommittee report; without objection, the subcommittee
report was adopted. Senator Fraser moved that SB 348 be
reported favorably 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 subcommittee report on SB 274, by Senator Bivins, was laid
out by Senator Fraser. Senator Fraser sent up a committee
substitute and explained the difference between the new
committee substitute and the substitute adopted in
subcommittee. Senator Fraser moved adoption of the committee
substitute, without objection, it was so ordered. The
Chairman called Anthony Grigsby, representing the Texas Civil
Justice League, who testified in favor of the bill. Wade
Caldwell, representing himself, and Richard Hile, representing
the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, testified in opposition
to the bill. Senator Fraser moved that SB 274 do not pass but
that CSSB 274 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,
and 2 absent.
There being no further business, at 1:55 pm Chairman Sibley
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chairman. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator David Sibley, Chairman
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Barbara Henderson, Clerk