MINUTES 
                                           
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE 
                                Tuesday, May 8, 2001 
                                     8:00 a.m. 
                      Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business &  
         Commerce was held on Tuesday, May 8, 2001, in the Betty King  
         Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                         
         Senator David Sibley, Chairman           
         Senator Troy Fraser, Vice Chairman 
         Senator John Carona 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Eddie Lucio 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chairman called the meeting to order at 8:10 a.m.  There  
         being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2295 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Gallegos, to explain the bill.  Senator Shapleigh sent  
         up a committee substitute; Senator Gallegos explained the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Lucio moved adoption of the committee  
         substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.  The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio moved that  
         HB2295 do not pass but that CSHB2295 be reported back to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
         The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Lucio moved that the  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB3015 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  The witness testifying on  
         the bill is shown on the attached list.  The chairman moved that  
         the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Senator Fraser moved that HB3015 be reported favorably  
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0  
         nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 HJR5 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Senator Shapleigh 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 chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh requested unanimous consent to  
         roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh then moved that  
         the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh moved that HJR5 do not pass but  
         that CSHJR5 be reported back to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Shapleigh moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2029 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  The witness registering  
         on the bill is shown on the attached list.  The chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh moved that HB2029 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator  
         Shapleigh moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2337 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill.  Senator Fraser sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1; Senator Shapiro explained the amendment.   
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list.  The chairman moved that the public testimony  
         be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  The chairman  
         moved that HB2337 be left pending; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1562 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio moved that HB1562  
         be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record  
         vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1161 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Moncrief, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte  
         sent up a committee substitute; the chairman recognized Senator  
         Moncrief to explain the difference between the committee  
  
         substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Lucio moved adoption  
         of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  There were no witnesses testifying and registering on  
         the bill.  The chairman moved that the public testimony be  
         closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio  
         moved that HB1161 do not pass but that CSHB1161 be reported back  
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0  
         nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Lucio moved  
         that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1351 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  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio moved that HB1351  
         be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record  
         vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2495 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.  Witnesses registering  
         on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh moved that HB2495 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB259 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Armbrister, to explain the bill.  Senator Carona sent up  
         a committee substitute; Senator Armbrister explained the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the committee  
         substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.    Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached  
         list.  The chairman moved that the public testimony be closed;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte  
         moved that HB259 do not pass but that CSHB259 be reported back  
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0  
         nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Van de Putte  
         moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1047 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  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that  
         HB1047 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
  
         carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1592 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying  
         and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that  
         HB1592 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1243 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte  
         sent up a committee substitute and explained the difference  
         between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator  
         Van de Putte moved adoption of the committee substitute; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Witnesses registering on the bill  
         are shown on the attached list.  The chairman moved that the  
         public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that HB1243 do not pass but  
         that CSHB1243 be reported back to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1794 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Cain, to explain the bill.  Senator Jackson sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted.  The witness testifying on the bill is  
         shown on the attached list.  The chairman moved that the public  
         testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Jackson requested unanimous consent to roll the  
         amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Jackson then moved that the committee  
         substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Jackson moved that HB1794 do not pass but that CSHB1794  
         be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it  
         do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote  
         of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 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 HB2327 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.  There were no  
         witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.  The chairman  
         moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that HB2327 be  
         reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it  
  
         do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote  
         of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator  
         Van de Putte moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2331 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.  There were no  
         witnesses testifying or registering on the bill.  The chairman  
         moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that HB2331 be  
         reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it  
         do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote  
         of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator  
         Van de Putte moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB548 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Jackson, to explain the bill.  Witnesses registering on  
         the bill are shown on the attached list.  The chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Jackson moved that HB548 be reported  
         favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass  
         and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator  
         Jackson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         At 9:57 a.m. the chairman moved that the committee stand  
         recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 2:37 p.m. the committee reconvened.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB 2600 and advised that the bill would be  
         rescheduled for Thursday, May 10, and that public testimony  
         would not be heard until that date.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2530 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Senator Sibley sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted.  Senator Sibley 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.  The chairman moved that the  
         public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Senator Lucio moved that HB2530, as amended, be  
         reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4  
         ayes, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1995 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Carona, to explain the bill.  There were no witnesses  
  
         testifying or registering on the bill.  The chairman moved that  
         the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Senator Carona moved that HB1995 be reported favorably  
         to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0  
         nay, 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 chairman laid out HB2139 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  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Carona moved that HB2139  
         be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record  
         vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 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.  Senator Sibley then moved that the vote on HB2139  
         be reconsidered; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator  
         Sibley sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without  
         objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Carona moved that  
         HB2139, as amended, be reported back to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 0 absent.  The amended bill was not recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar. 
          
         The chairman laid out HB2159 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Carona, to explain the bill.  Senator Carona sent up a  
         committee substitute and explained the difference between the  
         committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Carona  
         moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the  
         bill are shown on the attached list.   
          
         Testimony on HB 2159 was suspended to hear Senator Duncan for an  
         explanation of HB 2600, previously laid out, and to hear expert  
         witness testimony from Scott McAnally of the Research and  
         Oversight Council on Workers Compensation, Austin, Texas. 
          
         Testimony on HB 2159 continued.  Upon completion of testimony,  
         the chairman moved that public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Carona moved that HB2159  
         do not pass but that CSHB2159 be reported back to the Senate  
         with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present  
         not voting, and 0 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 HB3458 and recognized Senator Carona, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Senator  
         Carona 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  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. Senator Carona moved that HB3458,  
         as amended, be reported back to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Carona moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The posting rule, Senate Rule 11.18, was suspended to hear the  
         following bills: SB 1837 and HB 2498. 
            
         The chairman laid out SB1837 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         chairman moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Shapleigh moved that  
         SB1837 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB2498 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte 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 chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Lucio requested unanimous consent to roll  
         the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Lucio then moved that the committee  
         substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Lucio moved that HB2498 do not pass but that CSHB2498 be  
         reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4  
         ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB1692 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Bivins, to explain the bill.  Senator Lucio sent up a  
         committee substitute and explained the difference between the  
         committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Lucio 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 chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  The chairman moved that HB1692 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 5:10 p.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair.   
          
         The chairman laid out HB196 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Sibley, to explain the bill.  Senator Sibley 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 chairman moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Sibley requested unanimous consent to roll  
         the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Sibley then moved that the committee  
         substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Sibley moved that HB196 do not pass but that CSHB196 be  
         reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 HB217 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Sibley, to explain the bill.  Senator Sibley sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the  
         amendment was adopted.  Senator Sibley 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.  The chairman moved that the  
         public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Senator Sibley requested unanimous consent to roll the  
         amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Sibley then moved that the committee  
         substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Sibley moved that HB217 do not pass but that CSHB217 be  
         reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do  
         pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6  
         ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Sibley  
         moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local &  
         Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Sibley resumed the chair.  There being no further  
         business, at 5:27 p.m. the chairman 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