MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING
Wednesday, April 18, 2001
1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment
Senate Chamber
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate
Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Redistricting was held on Wednesday, April 18, 2001, in
the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Kenneth
Armbrister
Senator Mike Jackson Senator Florence
Shapiro
Senator David Cain
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Judith Zaffirini
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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m.
There being a quorum present, the following business
was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was
called:
Senator Duncan.
Senator Zaffirini moved to adopt the committee minutes
from the previous hearing on Wednesday, April 11, 2001.
The motion was seconded by Senator Jackson. There
being no objection, the minutes were adopted.
The chair encouraged those wishing to testify to
complete a witness registration card, stating whom they
represent, and if pertinent, state which districts,
counties, and cities they plan to discuss.
The chair announced that maps of his working senate
district plan were distributed to senators at the last
committee meeting so senators could review them over
the Easter break. The chair reminded committee members
that his plan does not pair any senators to run against
each other, every senator lives in his or her own
district, all of the proposed districts are contiguous,
districts are more compact than the current map, each
proposed district falls within the allowable population
deviation of five percent above or five percent below
the ideal population, 23 counties were made whole, and
no voter tabulation districts in the entire state are
split. The chair announced that a number of senators
have visited with him about the working plan, and they
have suggested minor adjustments. The chair stated
that he and his staff plan to accommodate senators, so
long as the suggestions comply with the Voting Rights
Act and other applicable statutory and constitutional
guidelines.
Senator Zaffirini wanted to know how many cities are
divided in the chair's plan. Following discussion, the
chair responded that committee staff would find out the
answer to Senator Zaffirini's question. Senator Ellis
inquired about the process of making changes to the
working plan and the timetable for presenting a final
plan, as the Houston delegation has proposed changes.
The chair responded that he recently met with four
members of the Houston delegation, and committee staff
is currently attempting to make the proposed changes
fit into neighboring districts. As for the timetable,
the chair stated that he and House Redistricting
Chairman Jones initially laid out a schedule where a
working draft plan would be in the hands of respective
members by last week. The Senate committee met its
deadline, but the House committee did not. The chair
announced both houses hope to have a map on the floor
of their respective chambers during the first week in
May. There was a discussion between the chair and
Senator Cain about voter tabulation districts.
The chair announced that HB 1754 had been laid out at
the previous meeting by Senator Zaffirini on behalf of
the Senate sponsor, Senator Van de Putte. The chair
asked if anyone wished to testify on HB 1754. There
being no witnesses, the chair closed public testimony
on the bill. Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 1754 be
passed, printed, and reported favorably to the Senate.
The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay,
0 present not voting, and 3 absent.
Senator Truan encouraged committee members to support
his redistricting plan for Senate District 20 and
answered questions from committee members regarding his
proposal. Public testimony on PLAN 01002S and other
redistricting topics was taken, and committee members
questioned witnesses.
There being no further business, at 5:10 p.m., Senator
Jackson moved the committee stand in recess, subject to
the call of the chair. The motion was seconded by
Senator Cain. Without objection, the motion passed and
the committee recessed, subject to the call of the
chair.
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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair
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Erica Sadlon, Clerk