MINUTES 
          
                    SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 
                              Friday, May 14, 1999 
                                     8:00 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 Friday, May 14, 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 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:10 am.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 213 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Armbrister moved that HB 213 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 Whitmire moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3189, pending in Committee,  and  
         recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the  
         bill.  Senator Jackson moved that HB 3189 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1777 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the  
         attached list.  Senator Sibley moved that HB 1777 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.   
  
         The Chairman laid out HB 2844 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the  
         attached list.  Senator Whitmire moved that HB 2844 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2035 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.  Les  
         Findeisen, representing Texas Motor Transportation  
         Association, registered in favor of the bill but did not  
         testify.  Senator Armbrister moved that HB 2035 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.  Senator  
         Armbrister moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2151 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Whitmire, to explain the bill.  Laurie  
         Bricker, representing Houston ISD, registered in favor of the  
         bill but did not testify.  Senator Whitmire moved that HB 2151  
         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 Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1086 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the  
         attached list.  Senator Carona moved that HB 1086 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Armbrister moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3029 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Brown, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the  
         attached list.  Senator Carona moved that HB 3029 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3624 and recognized Senator  
         Armbrister, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain  
         the bill.  Jim Butler, representing Texas A&M System,  
         testified on the bill.  Senator Carona moved that HB 3624 be  
  
         reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of  
         4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Armbrister moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2605 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the  
         attached list.  Senator Carona moved that HB 2605 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         At 9:00 am Senator Armbrister assumed the chair.  The Chairman  
         laid out HB 3449 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator  
         Lucio, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Madla moved that HB 3449 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1814 and recognized Senator Sibley,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.  Senator Sibley moved that HB 1814 be  
         reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of  
         4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         At 9:15 am Senator Sibley resumed the chair.  The Chairman  
         laid out HB 1059 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator  
         Barrientos, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Madla moved that HB 1059 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.   
         The Chairman laid out HB 319 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Cain, to explain the bill.  Senator Carona  
         moved that HB 319 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 Carona moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1627 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Cain, to explain the bill.  Terry Hale,  
         representing TML - Group Benefits Risk Pool, testified on the  
         bill.  Senator Sibley moved that HB 1627 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 Madla moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1628 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Cain, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Jackson moved that HB 1628 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.   
          
         At 9:55 am the Chairman moved that the Committee stand  
         recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         At 10:05 pm the Committee reconvened.  The Chairman laid out  
         HB 2585 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Cain, to  
         explain the bill.  John Kuhl, representing Texas Business Law  
         Foundation, registered in favor of the bill but did not  
         testify.  Senator Jackson moved that HB 2585 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
         The Chairman laid out HB 729 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Fraser moved that HB 729 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1826 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Whitmire moved that HB 1826 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2579 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Senator Whitmire  
         moved that HB 2579 be reported favorably to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 499 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  The bill was  
         left pending until later in the hearing to take testimony.  
  
         The Chairman laid out HB 2853 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Robert Croyle,  
         representing International Association of Drilling  
         Contractors, registered in favor of the bill but did not  
         testify. Senator Fraser moved that HB 2853 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3596 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Walter Hinojosa,  
         representing Texas AFL-CIO, registered in favor of the bill  
         but did not testify.  Senator Fraser moved that HB 3596 be  
         reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of  
         4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1357 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  Senator Fraser  
         moved that HB 1357 be reported favorably to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.  Senator Fraser moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2781 and recognized Senator Whitmire,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Whitmire moved that HB 2781 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Whitmire moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3315 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Senator Fraser  
         moved that HB 3315 be reported favorably to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HJR 73 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
         Senator Sibley moved that HJR 73 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
  
         not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2022 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  David Pinkus,  
         representing Small Business United of Texas, registered in  
         favor of the bill but did not testify. The Chairman moved that  
         HB 2022 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Sibley  
         moved that HB 2022 be reported favorably to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.  Senator Fraser moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
            
         The Chairman laid out HB 1916 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Lucio,  to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         Chairman moved that HB 1916 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Fraser moved that HB 1916 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Fraser moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3059 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  The Chairman  
         moved that HB 3059 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  
         Senator Sibley moved that HB 3059 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Whitmire moved that the  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3714 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.  The Chairman  
         moved that HB 3714 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  
         Senator Carona moved that HB 3714 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Whitmire moved that the  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3086 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. The Chairman  
         moved that HB 3086 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  
         Senator Fraser moved that HB 3086 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Carona moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1769 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. The Chairman  
         moved that HB 1769 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  
         Senator Whitmire moved that HB 1769 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Carona moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1829 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Haywood, to explain the bill.  The Chairman  
         moved that HB 1829 be left pending to await a quorum; without  
         objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  
         Senator Fraser moved that HB 1829 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, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Fraser moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2051 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. Lisa McGiffert,  
         representing Consumers Union, registered in favor of the bill  
         but did not testify.  The Chairman moved that HB 2051 be left  
         pending to await a quorum; without objection it was so  
         ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Carona moved that  
         HB 2051 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
         Senator Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 946 and recognized Senator Jackson,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         The Chairman moved that HB 946 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Sibley moved that HB 946 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         The Chairman laid out HB 3584 and recognized Senator Whitmire,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         The Chairman moved that HB 3584 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of  
         a quorum, Senator Whitmire moved that HB 3584 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1700 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         Chairman moved that HB 1700 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Fraser moved that HB 1700 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Fraser moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2910 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill.  The  
         Chairman moved that HB 2910 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Sibley moved that HB 2910 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3547 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Barrientos, to explain the bill.  The  
         Chairman moved that HB 3547 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Fraser moved that HB 3547 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 537 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Barrientos.  The Chairman then left the bill  
         pending until later in the hearing in order to take testimony  
         on the bill. 
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2482 and recognized Senator Whitmire,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         The Chairman moved that HB 2482 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection it was so ordered.  H. W. Sputnik  
         Strain, representing Texas Motorcycle Rights Association,  
         testified for the bill.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator  
         Sibley moved that HB 2482 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that the bill be  
  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
         At 10:35 pm Senator Whitmire assumed the chair.  The Chairman  
         laid out HB 3016 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator  
         Sibley, to explain the bill.  The Chairman moved that HB 3016  
         be left pending to await a quorum; without objection it was so  
         ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Fraser moved that  
         HB 3016 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, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.   
         Senator Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 10:40 pm Senator Sibley resumed the chair.  The Chairman  
         laid out HB 2941 and recognized Senator Whitmire, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  The  
         Chairman moved that HB 2941 be left pending to await a quorum;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Fraser moved that HB 2941 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, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 2868 and recognized Senator Whitmire,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Fraser moved that HB 2868 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Carona moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3493 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.  Scott  
         McAnally, representing Research & Oversight Council on  
         Workers' Compensation, registered on the bill but did not  
         testify.  Senator Sibley moved that HB 3493 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3497 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.  Scott  
         McAnally, representing Research & Oversight Council on  
         Workers' Compensation, registered on the bill but did not  
         testify.  Senator Fraser moved that HB 3497 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
  
         Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1184 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Gallegos, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the  
         attached list.  Senator Whitmire moved that HB 1184 be  
         reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of  
         4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Fraser moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 3603 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  Harold Freeman,  
         representing Texas Medical Association, registered in  
         opposition to the bill but did not testify.  Senator Fraser  
         moved that HB 3603 be reported favorably to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 643 and recognized Senator Whitmire,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Whitmire moved that HB 643 be reported favorably to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Whitmire moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 814 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator West, to explain the bill.  Senator Sibley  
         moved that HB 814 be left pending; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         The Chairman laid out SB 1907 and recognized the author,  
         Senator Gallegos, to explain the bill.  Bruce Austin,  
         representing Harris County Community Development Department,  
         registered in favor of the bill but did not testify.  Senator  
         Whitmire moved that SB 1907 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Whitmire moved that the  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 11:00 pm Senator Fraser assumed the chair.  The Chairman  
         laid out HB 3021 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator  
         Sibley, to explain the bill.  Lisa McGiffert, representing  
         Consumers Union, registered in favor of the bill but did not  
         testify.  Senator Sibley moved that HB 3021 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4  
         ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator  
         Sibley moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
         The Chairman laid out HB 3658 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Sibley, to explain the bill.  Craig Pinkley,  
         representing Texas Department of Economic Development,  
         testified in favor of the bill. 
         Senator Sibley moved that HB 3658 be reported favorably to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present  
         not voting, and  
          
         3 absent.  Senator Sibley moved that the bill be recommended  
         for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chairman laid out HB 1991 and recognized the Senate  
         sponsor, Senator Sibley, to explain the bill. Randy Lee,  
         representing Stewart Title Guarantee Co., registered in  
         opposition to the bill but did not testify. Senator Sibley  
         moved that HB 1991 be left pending; without objection, it was  
         so ordered. 
          
         At 11:10 pm Senator Sibley resumed the chair.  The Chairman  
         laid out HB 1811 and recognized Senator Carona, in the absence  
         of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Senator Carona  
         moved that HB 1811 be reported favorably to the Senate with  
         the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting,  
         and 3 absent.  Senator Carona moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
         The Chairman then called for public testimony on HB 499, laid  
         out earlier in the hearing, to commence.  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  
         Lacking a quorum, no action was taken on HB 499. 
          
         Chairman Sibley called for public testimony on HB 537, laid  
         out earlier in the hearing, to commence.  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  
         Lacking a quorum, no action was taken on HB 537. 
          
         The following bills received favorable votes in Committee but  
         due to the committee report deadline established under Senate  
         Rule 7.24(b), the Committee was unable to report the bills: 
          
              HB 643 
              HB 946 
              HB 1769 
              HB 1829 
              HB 2051 
              HB 2482 
              HB 2579 
  
              HB 2868 
              HB 2910 
              HB 3086 
              HB 3315 
              HB 3493 
              HB 3497 
              HB 3547 
              HB 3584 
              HB 3603 
              HB 3714 
              HJR 73 
              SB 1907 
          
         There being no further business, at 12:05 am Senator Sibley  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chairman.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         __________________________ 
         Senator David Sibley, Chairman 
          
         __________________________ 
         Barbara Henderson, Clerk