MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment
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 Government
Organization was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2003, in the
Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator John Whitmire
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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. A quorum
having been previously established, the following business was
transacted:
The following member arrived after the meeting began:
Senator John Whitmire
The chair laid out SB 260 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapleigh, to explain the bill. Senator Brimer requested
unanimous consent to incorporate amendments into the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Brimer then moved that the committee substitute be adopted;
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 Ellis moved that SB 260
be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 261 and recognized the author, Senator
Shapleigh, 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. A vote on SB 261 will be taken
once the committee reconvenes at 3:00pm.
The chair laid out SB 263 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, 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 Wentworth requested
unanimous consent to incorporate amendments into the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Wentworth then moved that the committee substitute be adopted;
without objection, it was so ordered. A vote on SB 263 will be
taken once the committee reconvenes at 3:00pm.
The chair laid out SB 89 and recognized the author, Senator
Wentworth, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses that
testified or registered on the bill. A vote on SB 89 will be
taken once the committee reconvenes at 3:00pm
The chair laid out SB 95 and recognized Senator Armbrister, in
the absence of the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.
Senator Armbrister sent up a committee substitute; the chair
recognized Senator Armbrister to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Ellis
moved adoption of the committee substitute; Senator Wentworth
asked to amend the committee substitute, 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. A vote on SB 95
will be taken once the committee reconvenes at 3:00pm.
At 2:32 p.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.
The chair laid out SB 388 and recognized the author, Senator
Ellis, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering
on the bill are shown on the attached list. Senator Ellis
requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Ellis then moved that the committee substitute be
adopted; 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 Wentworth moved
that SB 388 be left pending; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 2:40 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
Before going to recess, Senator Armbrister moved to un-adopt
C.S.S.B. 95. Senator Wentworth sends up the committee
substitute; without objection, the new committee substitute was
adopted.
At 2:45 p.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand
recessed until 3:00 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 3:00pm the committee will reconvene to take a vote on SB261,
SB 263, SB 89 and SB 95. SB 260 and SB 388 were left pending
during the initial discussions of the hearing.
At 3:05 p.m. the committee reconvened. After reconvening, the
following votes were taken on
the bills:
SB 261
Senator Wentworth moved passage of SB 261. The motion carried
with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1
absent. Senator Wentworth moved that SB 261 be placed on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
SB 263
Senator Ellis moved that CSSB 263 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.
SB 89
Senator Wentworth moved that SB 89 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.
SB 95
The chair moved that SB 95 be left pending; without objection,
it was so ordered.
There being no further business, at 3:45 p.m. Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
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Karen Domino, Clerk