MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS 
                              Thursday, April 10, 2003 
                                     8:00 a.m. 
                           Capitol Extension, Room E1.028 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs  
         was held on Thursday, April 10, 2003, in the Capitol Extension,  
         Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Bill Ratliff                    None 
         Senator Todd Staples 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
         Senator Robert Duncan 
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Frank Madla 
         Senator Jane Nelson 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         There was no action taken for the following bill(s): SB 563. 
          
         Chairman Ratliff called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m., and  
         resumed the public testimony portion of the hearing on Article 2  
         of HB 4.   
          
         Chairman Ratliff temporarily interrupted public testimony in  
         order to take up and consider several bills.  The chairman laid  
         out SB 993 (pending business) and HB 1822 and recognized the  
         author, Senator Armbrister, to explain the bills. Senator  
         Armbrister requested unanimous consent to substitute HB 1822 for  
         SB 993 since the committee substitute adopted at a previous  
         hearing and the house bill were identical and at the same stage;  
         without objection it was so ordered.  Senator Armbrister moved  
         that HB 1822 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 3 absent.   Pursuant to a motion in writing,  
         unanimous consent was granted for Senator Ellis to be shown  
         voting aye (the 6 ayes include the motion in writing). Senator  
         Armbrister moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.    
          
         The chairman laid out SB 496, which had been recommitted to the  
         committee, and recognized the author, Senator Janek, to explain  
         the bill.  Senator Armbrister sent up a committee substitute;  
         the chair recognized Senator Janek 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.  Senator Staples moved that SB 496  
         do not pass but that CSSB 496 be reported back to the Senate  
         with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The  
         motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present  
         not voting, and 3 absent.   
          
         Chairman Ratliff resumed the public testimony portion on Article  
         2 of HB 4.  The chairman moved that the public testimony on  
         Article 2 be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Chairman Ratliff opened the public testimony portion on Article  
         3 of HB 4.  Senator Ellis assumed the chair and testimony  
         continued.  Senator Ratliff resumed the chair and preceded to  
         outline the schedule for the afternoon hearing and the schedule  
         for next week.  At 9:45 a.m., Senator Ratliff moved that the  
         committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.  
          
         At 1:50 p.m., pursuant to unanimous consent being granted on the  
         senate floor to suspend the posting rule,  the committee  
         reconvened in the Senate Chamber, and continued the public  
         testimony portion on Article 3 of HB 4. The chairman moved that  
         the public testimony on Article 3 be closed; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.   
          
         The chairman laid out SB 463 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Janek, to explain the bill.  Senator Staples sent up a committee  
         substitute; the chair recognized Senator Janek to explain the  
         difference between the committee substitute and the bill as  
         filed.  Senator Staples moved adoption of the committee  
         substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator
                                                                            
         Staples moved that SB 463 do not pass but that CSSB 463 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 2 absent.  Pursuant to a  
         motion in writing, unanimous consent was granted for Senator  
         Nelson to be shown voting aye (the 7 ayes include the motion in  
         writing). Senator Armbrister moved that the bill be recommended  
         for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Chairman Ratliff opened the public testimony portion on Article  
         4 of HB 4. Senator Staples assumed the chair.  Witnesses  
         testifying and registering on the bill during today's hearing  
         are shown on the attached list.  Senator Ratliff resumed the  
         chair and testimony continued.  The chairman  moved that the  
         public testimony on Article 4 be closed; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Ratliff announced that the committee will begin taking  
         testimony on Article 5 of HB 4 at 8:00a.m., Monday, April 14,  
         2003, in the Senate Chamber.  At 6:25 p.m., Senator Ratliff moved  
         that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the  
         chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         ________________________ 
         Senator Bill Ratliff, Chairman 
          
         ______________________ 
         Nancy B. Macken, Clerk