MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES
Wed., March 17, 1999
8:30 a.m.
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Human
Services was held on Wed., March 17, 1999, in the Senate
Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini, Chair
Senator John Carona, Vice Chair
Senator David Bernsen
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Chris Harris
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The chair laid out the March 10, 1999, minutes and called for
revisions. There being none, Senator Carona moved their
approval. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by
unanimous consent.
The chair explained that SB 983 by Senator Madla, relating to
a branch office of a home health or personal assistance
services agency, was withdrawn from the agenda by the author.
The chair invited members of the committee to have staff
representatives participate in a staff working group for SB
374 by Zaffirini, relating to the creation of and transfer of
certain programs to a long-term care agency on human services,
aging, health, and rehabilitation and the transfer of certain
functions from the Department on Aging to the Independent
Aging Policy Council. The chair also requested staff
participation from Representatives Elliott Naishtat's and
Patricia Gray's offices, the governor's office, the lieutenant
governor's office, the speaker's office and impacted agencies.
The chair laid out anew the committee substitute for SB 499 by
Senator Shapleigh, relating to the eligibility of certain
victims of family violence or stalking for unemployment
compensation, which had been left pending, and recognized
Senator Shapleigh.
Senator Harris asked unanimous consent to be shown voting
"nay" on the committee substitute for SB 499. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Bernsen asked unanimous consent to be shown voting
"aye" on the committee substitute for SB 499. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Carona moved that SB 499 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the
committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be
printed. The motion prevailed with a vote of 4 "ayes" and 1
"nay."
The chair laid out SB 451 by Senator Armbrister, relating to
the sales of cigarettes or tobacco products in package stores,
and recognized the author to explain the bill.
The following person registered in support of SB 451, but did
not testify:
Fred Marosko, executive director, Texas Package Stores
Association, 1122 Colorado, #311, Austin, Texas 78701.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony, the chair closed public
testimony.
Senator Bernsen asked unanimous consent to be shown voting
"aye" on SB 451. There being no objection, the motion
prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Harris moved that SB 451 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Harris moved that SB 451 be recommended for the local
and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The chair laid out SB 996 by Senator Lindsay, relating to
funeral expenses for children in foster care, and recognized
the author to explain the bill.
Senator Carona sent up committee amendment 1 and moved its
adoption. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by
unanimous consent.
Senator Carona sent up committee amendment 2 and moved its
adoption. There being no objection, the motion prevailed by
unanimous consent.
The following person registered as a resource witness on SB
996, but did not testify:
Sarah Webster, director of child protective services,
Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services,
701 West 51st Street, Austin, Texas 78714.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony, the chair closed public
testimony.
Senator Gallegos moved that the amendments adopted be rolled
into a committee substitute for SB 996 and that the committee
substitute be adopted. There being no objection, the motion
prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Bernsen requested unanimous consent to be shown voting
"aye" on the committee substitute for SB 996. There being no
objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Carona moved that SB 996 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do not pass, but that the
committee substitute adopted in lieu thereof do pass and be
printed. The motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0
"nays."
Senator Harris moved that the committee substitute for SB 996
be recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
At 8:41 a.m. Senator Carona assumed presiding duties.
The chair laid out SB 1293 by Senator Zaffirini, relating to
permits to administer medication to residents of nursing and
convalescent homes and certain related institutions, and
recognized the author to explain the bill.
The following persons registered as resource witnesses on SB
1293, but did not testify:
Renee Clack, director, credentialing department, Texas
Department of Human Services, 701 West 51st Street,
Austin, Texas 78714.
Nicholas Dauster, executive assistant, Texas Department
of Human Services, 701 West 51st Street, Austin, Texas
78714.
There being no other witnesses registered or responding to the
chair's call for public testimony relating to SB 1293, the
chair closed public testimony.
Senator Harris asked unanimous consent to be shown voting
"aye" on SB 1293. There being no objection, the motion
prevailed by unanimous consent.
Senator Bernsen moved that SB 1293 be reported to the Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The
motion prevailed by a vote of 5 "ayes" and 0 "nays."
Senator Bernsen moved that SB 1293 be recommended for the
local and uncontested calendar. There being no objection, the
motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
At 8:44 a.m. Senator Zaffirini resumed presiding duties.
With no other business to come before the committee and upon a
motion by Senator Carona, the chair recessed the committee by
unanimous consent at 8:44 a.m., subject to the call of the
chair.
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Judith Zaffirini, Chair
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Scott Caffey, Committee Clerk