MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE 
                               Monday, March 5, 2001 
                           1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.012 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence  
         was held on Monday, March 5, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Royce West                      Senator J. E. Brown 
         Senator David Bernsen 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 3:21 p.m.  The previous  
         meeting had been recessed. 
          
         The chair laid out SB252 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Harris, to explain the bill.  There was no public testimony on  
         the bill.   
          
         The chair called roll.  There was a quorum present. 
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
          
         Senator Bernsen moved that SB252 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 Bernsen moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB277 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Harris, to explain the bill.  Senator Duncan sent up a committee  
         substitute; the chair recognized Senator Harris to explain the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Duncan 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 chair moved that the public testimony be closed;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator West moved that  
         SB277 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB625 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Duncan, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.  Senator West moved that SB625 be  
         left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.    
          
         The chair laid out SB561 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Sibley, to explain the bill.  Senator Duncan sent up a committee  
         substitute; the chair recognized Senator Sibley to explain the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Duncan 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 chair moved that the public testimony be closed;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Jackson moved  
         that SB561 do not pass but that CSSB561 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.   
          
         The chair laid out SB723 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Bernsen, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The  
         chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 3:58 p.m. Senator Bernsen assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB788 and recognized the author, Senator  
         West, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and registering  
         on the bill are shown on the attached list.  The chair moved  
         that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         At 4:01 p.m. Senator West resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB626 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Duncan, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.   
          
         At 4:03 p.m. Senator Bernsen assumed the chair.   
          
         At 4:52 p.m. Senator West resumed the chair.  
          
         Senator Bernsen moved that SB723 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 Bernsen moved that  
         the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 6:52 p.m. Senator Bernsen assumed the chair.   
          
         Senator West moved that SB788 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 West moved that the  
         bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         At 6:53 p.m. Senator West resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair moved that the public testimony for SB626 be closed;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator West moved that  
         SB626 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         There was no action taken on SB719. 
          
         There being no further business, at 7:40 p.m. Senator West moved  
         that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Royce West, Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Stephanie Hoover, Clerk