MINUTES 
                                           
               SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND TRADE 
                              Wednesday, May 14, 2003 
                           1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.016 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         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, May 14, 2003, in the  
         Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.                Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh                 Senator Judith Zaffirini 
         Senator John Carona 
         Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 4:38 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Senator Estes moved approval of the minutes from the previous  
         hearings held on May 7, 2003 and May 8, 2003; without objection,  
         it was so ordered. 
          
         The chair laid out HB 148 and recognized Senator Shapleigh, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  The  
         chair opened public testimony for HB 148.  Witnesses 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.  The bill was left pending before the committee. 
          
         At 4:41 p.m. Senator Shapleigh assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1653 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  The chair opened public  
         testimony for HB 1653.  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.  The bill was left pending before the committee. 
          
         The chair laid out HB 2975 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Lucio, to explain the bill.  
         The chair opened public testimony for HB 2975.  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.  The bill was left pending  
         before the committee. 
          
         The chair laid out HB 3420 and recognized Senator Lucio, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Senator  
         Lucio sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without  
         objection, the amendment was adopted.  The chair opened public  
         testimony for HB 3420.  Witnesses 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.  The  
         bill was left pending before the committee. 
          
         At 5:13 p.m. Senator Lucio resumed the chair.       
          
         The chair laid out HB 177 and recognized Senator Shapleigh, in  
         the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  The  
         chair opened public testimony for HB 177.  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.  The bill was left pending before  
         the committee. 
          
         The chair laid out HCR 59 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill.  The chair opened public  
         testimony on HCR 59.  Witnesses 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 Estes sent up Committee Amendment 1; the amendment was  
         left pending before the committee.  The bill was left pending  
         before the committee. 
          
         There being no further business, at 5:27 p.m. the chair moved  
         that the committee stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ______________________ 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., Chair 
          
         ______________________ 
         Laura Garcia, Clerk