MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
10:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.012
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources was held on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, in the Capitol
Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kenneth Armbrister Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Mike Jackson Senator Florence Shapiro
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Todd Staples
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The chair laid out HB 2470 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Jackson, 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 Armbrister moved that HB
2470 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2300 and recognized Senator Jackson, in
the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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
Armbrister moved that HB 2300 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 917 and recognized Commissioner Jerry
Patterson, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Armbrister moved that HB 917 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 547 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. Senator Jackson sent up
Committee Amendment 1 and Senator Averitt explained the
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 Armbrister moved that HB 547 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2351 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. There were no witnesses
on the bill. Senator Armbrister moved that HB 2351 be left
pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 10:25 a.m. Senator Jackson assumed the chair.
The chair laid out HB 1152 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Estes, 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 Jackson moved that HB
1152 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2654 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Estes, 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 Jackson moved that HB
2654 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2320 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. Senator Lucio, Jr.
sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the 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 Jackson
moved that HB 2320 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2660 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lucio, Jr., 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 Jackson moved that HB
2660 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2663 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lucio, Jr., 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 Jackson moved that HB
2663 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
At 10:50 a.m. Senator Jackson moved that the committee stand
recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:30 p.m. the committee reconvened.
The chair laid out HB 2546 and recognized Craig Chick,
Legislative Aide to Senator Janek, in the absence of the Senate
sponsor, 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 Armbrister moved that HB
2546 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 1858 and recognized Senator Estes, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator
Estes sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the
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 Armbrister moved that HB 1858 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2533 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Staples, to explain the bill. Senator Estes sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Estes sent up Committee Amendment 1 and
explained the amendment. Senator Estes sent up Committee
Amendment 2 and explained the 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 Armbrister moved that HB
2533 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The posting rule, Senate Rule 11.18, was suspended to hear the
following bill(s): SB 1772 and HB 2328.
Senator Lucio moved to reconsider the vote by which CSSB 1772
had passed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio
then moved to withdraw the substitute for SB 1772; without
objection, it was so ordered Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a new
committee substitute; the chair recognized Leslie Gaigon,
Legislative Aide to Senator Williams, to explain the difference
between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. Senator
Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without
objection, it was so ordered. Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB
1772 do not pass but that CSSB 1772 be reported back to the
Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.
The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0
present not voting, and 2 absent. Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that
the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
At 2:45 p.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair
The chair laid out HB 1931 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Williams, 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 Armbrister moved that HB
1931 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
At 2:55 p.m. Senator Lindsay assumed the chair.
The chair laid out HB 1989 and recognized Senator Estes, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Lindsay moved
that HB 1989 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 3556 and recognized Senator Estes, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Lindsay moved
that HB 3556 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2328 and recognized Senator Estes, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. There were
no witnesses on the bill. Senator Lindsay moved that HB 2328 be
left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 919 and recognized Senator Estes, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Lindsay moved
that HB 919 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 1529 and recognized Senator Estes, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 Lindsay moved
that HB 1529 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out SB 1438 and recognized Senator Lucio, Jr., in
the absence of the author, 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 Lindsay moved
that SB 1438 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
At 4:25 p.m. Senator Armbrister resumed the chair.
There being no further business, at 4:30 p.m. Senator Armbrister
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Kenneth Armbrister, Chair
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Kelly Gilbert, Clerk