MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Wednesday, May 12, 1999
8:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Wednesday, May 12, 1999 in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Bill Ratliff None
Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator John Carona
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Royce West
*****
At 8:10 a.m. Senator West assumed the chair.
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senators Barrientos and Lindsay.
The Chair laid out HB 1398 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Zaffirini, to explain the bill.
Senator Lindsay sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Truan sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
At 8:30 a.m. Senator Ogden assumed the chair.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The Chair moved that HB 1398 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of
a quorum, Senator West moved that HB 1398, as amended, be
reported back to the 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.
At 9:00 a.m. Senator West resumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 3776 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Truan, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The Chair moved that HB 3776 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of
a quorum, Senator Truan moved that HB 3776 be reported back to
the 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 HB 3159 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 Chair moved that HB 3159 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of
a quorum, Senator West moved that HB 3159 be reported back to
the 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 HB 2140 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Carona, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
The Chair moved that HB 2140 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of
a quorum, Senator Carona moved that HB 2140 be reported back
to the 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 Carona moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 3197 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Bernsen, to explain the bill.
Senator Ogden 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 Chair moved that HB 3197 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of
a quorum, Senator West moved that HB 3197, as amended, be
reported back to the 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 West moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it
was so ordered.
At 9:25 a.m. Senator Ratliff assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 804 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 804 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection it was so ordered. Upon arrival of a
quorum, Senator Duncan moved that HB 804 be reported back to
the 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.
The Chair laid out HB 3549 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill.
Senator Lindsay sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Lindsay sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator West moved that HB 3549, as amended, be reported back
to the 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 West moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2615, which had been left pending during
a previous hearing, and recognized Senator Fraser for a
motion.
Senator Fraser moved that HB 2615 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, 1 nay, 3 present not
voting, and 0 absent.
The Committee recessed at 9:55 a.m. and reconvened at 3:50
p.m. to continue the public hearing.
At 3:50 p.m. Senator Ogden assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 1604 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.
Senator Lindsay sent up Committee Amendment 1. After
discussion, the amendment was withdrawn.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 1604 be reported favorably to
the 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 Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2372 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.
Senator Truan 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.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2372, as amended, be reported
back to the 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 HB 2371 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.
Senator Moncrief 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.
Senator Moncrief moved that HB 2371 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 551 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.
Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on
the attached list.
Senator Fraser moved that HB 551 be reported favorably to the
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.
At 4:30 p.m. Senator Truan assumed the chair.
The Chair laid out HB 652 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ratliff, to explain the bill.
There were no witnesses wishing to testify for, against or on
the bill.
Senator Ratliff moved that HB 652 be reported favorably to the
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 Ratliff moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The Chair laid out HB 2146 and recognized Senator Moncrief, 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 Moncrief moved that HB 2146 be reported favorably to
the 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 Moncrief moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
There was no action taken on HB 3421.
There being no further business, at 4:45 p.m. Senator Ratliff
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Bill Ratliff, Chair
______________________
Patricia Hicks, Clerk