MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Wednesday, March 19, 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, March 19, 2003, in the Betty
King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis None
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Kenneth Armbrister
Senator Teel Bivins
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Bill Ratliff
Senator John Whitmire
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 1:05p.m. A quorum was
established at 1:20pm, the following business was transacted:
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
Senator Kim Brimer
Senator Bill Ratliff
The chair laid out SB 275 and recognized the author, Senator
Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nelson to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the
committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Wentworth assumed the chair. Senator Ellis sent up an
amendment and requested unanimous consent to roll the amendment
into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Ellis resumed the chair. Witnesses
registering, but not testifying for/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 CSSB 275 be reported back to the Senate with a
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 Ellis moved that C.S.S.B. 275 be
recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 255 and recognized the author, Senator
Averitt, 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 moved that SB
255 be reported back to the Senate with a recommendation that it
do pass an be printed. The motion carried with a record vote of
7 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. Senator
Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on
the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 264 and recognized the author, Senator
Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. Senator Ellis requested
unanimous consent to incorporate an amendment into the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Armbrister then moved that the new 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. A vote on CSSB 264 will be
taken once the committee reconvenes at 4:30pm.
The chair laid out SB 276 and recognized the author, Senator
Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. Senator Wentworth sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Armbrister 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. A vote on CSSB 276
will be taken once the committee reconvenes at 4:30pm.
At 2:30 p.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair. The chair
laid out SB 265 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr.,
to explain the bill. At 2:33 a.m. Senator Ellis resumed the
chair. Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the
chair recognized Senator Lucio to explain the difference between
the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Ellis
moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,
it was so ordered. Senator Ratliff sent up and explained
Amendment 1. Senator Ratliff requested unanimous consent to
incorporate an amendment into the committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Armbrister sent up
Committee Amendment 2 and then pulled it down. Senator Ellis
then moved that the new 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. A vote on CSSB 265 will be taken
once the committee reconvenes at 4:30pm.
The chair laid out SB 284 and recognized the author, Senator
Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. Witnesses registering, but not
testifying for/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 284 be
left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 271 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. Witness registering, but not
testifying for/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 271 will be taken
once the committee reconvenes at 4:30pm.
The chair laid out SB 282 and recognized the author, Senator
Jackson, to explain the bill. Senator Armbrister sent up
Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the
amendment was adopted. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee
Amendment 2 and moved adoption; there wasa an objection, the
amendment was not adopted. Senator Armbrister agreed to work
with the various parties on a suitable amendment. 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 282 be left pending for a week; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out SB 273 and recognized Senator Armbrister, in
the absence of the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the
bill. Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 1 and
moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved
adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator
Armbrister requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments
into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Armbrister 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. A vote on CSSB 273
will be taken once the committee reconvenes at 4:30pm.
The chair laid out SB 394 and recognized Senator Armbrister, in
the absence of the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the
bill. Witness registering, but not testifying for/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 394 will be taken once the committee reconvenes at
4:30pm.
The chair laid out SB 650 and recognized Senator Armbrister, in
the absence of the author, Senator Shapleigh, 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; without
objection, it was so ordered. At 3:40 p.m. Senator Brimer
assumed the chair. Senator Ellis sent up Committee Amendment 1
and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was
adopted.
At 3:42 p.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair. Senator
Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator
Armbrister requested unanimous consent to incorporate amendments
into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so
ordered. Senator Ellis then moved that the new committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Witnesses registering, but not testifying for/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 CSSB 650 will be taken at 4:30pm.
The chair laid out SB 260 and recognized Senator Armbrister, in
the absence of the author, Senator Shapleigh, 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
Armbrister moved adoption of the committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Witness registering, but not
testifying for/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 CSSB 260 will be taken
at 4:30pm.
There was no action taken for the following bill: SB 659.
At 4:05pm, the chair moved that the committee stand recessed
until 4:30pm; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 4:30pm, the committee will reconvene to take a vote on
CSSB264, CSSB276, CSSB265, SB284, SB271, SB282, CSSB273, SB394,
CSSB650 and CSSB 260.
At 4:35pm, the committee reconvened. After reconvening, the
following votes were taken on the bills:
CSSB264
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 264 do not pass but that CSSB
264 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.
CSSB 276
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 276 do not pass but that CSSB
276 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
Ellis moved that the bill be placed on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
CSSB 265
Senator Ellis moved that SB 265 do not pass but that CSSB 265 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.
SB 271
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 271 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 Armbrister moved that
the bill be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered
SB 273
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 273 do not pass but that CSSB
273 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 Ellis moved that the bill be placed on the Local &
Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
SB 394
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 394 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 Ellis moved that the
bill be placed on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
SB 650
Senator Armbrister moved that SB 650 do not pass but that CSSB
650 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. Senator
Ellis moved that the bill be placed on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
SB 260
Senator Ellis moved that SB 260 do not pass but that CSSB 260 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 Ellis
moved that the bill be placed on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
_________________
Karen Domino, Clerk