MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on International
Relations and Trade was held on Wednesday, March 12, 2003, in
the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas. On
Monday, March 17, 2003, following a suspension of Senate Rules
11.10 and 11.18 by the full Senate, a hearing of the Senate
Committee on International Relations and Trade was held at
Chairman Lucio's desk on the Senate floor upon adjournment of
the Senate.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Teel Bivins Senator John Carona
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Judith Zaffirini
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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:39 p.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
At 1:39 p.m., Senator Zaffirini assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 558 and recognized Senator Lucio, in the
absence of the author, to explain the bill. Senator Lucio sent
up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. The chair opened public testimony for SB 558.
No individuals testified on SB 558. The chair then moved that
the public testimony on SB 558 be closed; without objection, it
was so ordered. The chair moved that SB 558 be left pending;
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 1:44 p.m., Senator Lucio resumed the chair.
Gilberto Hinojosa, Cameron County Judge, testified on the
effects of proposed health care cuts to the Border region.
Dr. Lorenzo Pelly, M.D., Medical Director of the Respiratory
Theory Program at the University of Texas at Brownsville,
testified on the effects of proposed health care cuts to the
Border region.
Matthew Clements testified on the effects of proposed health
care cuts to the Border region.
James Springfield, President and CEO of Valley Baptist Health
Systems, testified on the effects of proposed health care cuts
to the Border region.
At 2:48 p.m., Senator Nelson assumed the chair.
Senator Lucio moved adoption of the committee substitute for SB
558; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio moved
that SB 558 do not pass but that CSSB 558 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, 0
nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.
At 2:50 p.m., Senator Lucio resumed the chair.
The chair moved that County Judge Dolores Briones from El Paso
County and County Judge Louis Bruni from Webb County be
appointed to fill vacancies on the Border Colonia Advisory
Board. The Board is charged with providing suggestions to the
Texas Department of Transportation as to how to best maximize
the use of funds available through the Border Colonia Access
Program. Without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair moved adoption of the minutes from the previous
hearing held on March 5, 2003; without objection, it was so
ordered.
There being no further business, at 2:52 p.m., Senator Lucio
moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
March 17, 2003
Upon adjournment of the Senate and following a suspension of the
24-hour posting rule, the committee reconvened at Chairman
Lucio's desk on the Senate Floor at 2:55 p.m. At 2:55 p.m.,
Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair. Senator Lucio moved to
reconsider the vote by which CSSB 558 passed out of the
committee on Wednesday, March 12, 2003. Without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Lucio moved that SB 558 do not pass but
that CSSB 558 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.
At 2:58 p.m., Senator Lucio resumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 2:58 p.m., Senator Lucio
moved that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair
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Laura Garcia, Clerk