MINUTES
Committee on Veteran Affairs &
Military Installations
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
1:30 p.m. (or upon adjournment of the Senate--whichever is
later)
Betty King Committee Room
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on Veteran
Affairs and Military Installations was held on Wednesday, April
23, 2003, in the Betty King Committee Room (2E.20) of the State
Capitol Building, behind the Senate Chamber, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair Senator Frank Madla
Senator Craig Estes, Vice Chair Senator Eliot Shapleigh
Senator Troy Fraser
*****
The Chair called the hearing to order at 4:26 p.m., pursuant to
the RECESS of the Committee's last regularly-posted hearing
which was held on Wednesday, April 16, 2003.
The Chair requested that Ms. Deborah Fine-Knapp, Clerk of the
standing Subcommittee on Base Realignment and Closure, to lead
the audience, the members, and the Committee staff, in the
Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. Ms. Fine-Knapp did
so.
Vice Chair Estes now present (4:27 p.m.)
The Chair asked that Vice Chair Estes temporarily preside over
the Committee. The Vice Chair did so.
The Vice Chair laid before the Committee Senate Bill No. 6 and
called upon its author, Chair Van de Putte, to explain the bill.
Chair Van de Putte did so.
Senator Fraser now present (4:29 p.m.) As a result of Fraser's
arrival, a quorum was now established with the Chair, the Vice
Chair, and Senator Fraser all present.
The Vice Chair recognized Mr. Colin G. Haza, Government Affairs
Liaison, Texas Lottery Commission, to testify ON Senate Bill No.
6. Mr. Haza came forward but did not yet speak.
The Chair offered Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill No.
6.
Senator Fraser posed questions to Mr. Haza relative to
Committee Amendment No. 1. Mr. Haza responded to those
questions.
The Chair then withdrew Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill
No. 6.
The Vice Chair asked if there were any other persons present
wishing to testify for, against, or on Senate Bill No. 6. There
was no response. The Vice Chair announced that public testimony
relative to Senate Bill No. 6 would now be closed.
On motion of the Chair, the Committee voted (3 YEAS--Chair Van
de Putte, Vice Chair Estes, and Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla
and Shapleigh; 0 PNV) to favorably report Senate Bill No. 6,
unchanged, back to the full Senate with the recommendation that
it do pass.
The Chair resumed presiding over the Committee.
The Chair noted that the Subcommittee on Base Realignment and
Closure had reported to the full Committee a complete substitute
for Senate Bill No. 1295.
The Chair asked again that Vice Chair Estes temporarily preside
over the Committee. The Vice Chair again did so.
The Vice Chair laid before the Committee--as a report of the
standing Subcommittee on Base Realignment and Closure--the
complete Subcommittee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1295
(Legislative Council inventory number 78R11975 MCK-D) and called
upon its author, Chair Van de Putte, to explain the substituted
version of the bill as presented by the Subcommittee. Chair Van
de Putte did so.
The Chair offered Committee Amendment No. 1 to the Subcommittee
Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1295.
The Vice Chair asked if there was any objection to the adoption
of Committee Amendment No. 1. No objection was raised.
The Chair then moved that Committee Amendment No. 1 be "rolled
into" the Subcommittee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1295. The
Vice Chair asked if there was any objection to doing so. No
objection was raised.
The Vice Chair then asked if there were any persons present
wishing to testify for, against, or on the Subcommittee
Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1295--with Committee Amendment
No. 1 "rolled into" it. There was no response. The Vice Chair
announced that public testimony relative to the Subcommittee
Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1295 would now be closed.
Minutes
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
page 3
The Chair moved that the product of the merger of the
Subcommittee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1295 and Committee
Amendment No. 1 be reported favorably back to the full Senate
with the recommendation that it do pass. The Committee voted to
do precisely that (3 YEAS--Chair Van de Putte, Vice Chair Estes,
and Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla and Shapleigh; 0 PNV).
The Vice Chair continued to preside over the Committee.
The Vice Chair laid before the Committee--as a matter of pending
business--Senate Bill No. 1800 and called upon its author, Chair
Van de Putte, to explain the bill. The Chair then requested
that a complete Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1800
(Legislative Council inventory number 78R12491 MCK-D) be laid
before the Committee in lieu of the original bill.
The Vice Chair then laid before the Committee the complete
Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1800 (Legislative
Council inventory number 78R12491 MCK-D) and again called upon
the author of the original Senate Bill No. 1800, Chair Van de
Putte, to explain the proposed Committee Substitute for Senate
Bill No. 1800. Chair Van de Putte did so.
The Vice Chair asked if there were any persons present wishing
to testify for, against, or on the Committee Substitute for
Senate Bill No. 1800. There was no response. The Vice Chair
announced that public testimony relative to the Committee
Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1800 would now be closed.
On motion of the Chair, the Committee voted (3 YEAS--Chair Van
de Putte, Vice Chair Estes, and Fraser; 0 NAYS; 2 ABSENT--Madla
and Shapleigh; 0 PNV) to favorably report the Committee
Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1800, in lieu of the original
Senate Bill No. 1800, back to the full Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass.
On motion of the Chair, and without objection, the Committee
Substitute for Senate Bill No. 1800 was recommended for
placement upon the Local and Uncontested Calendar.
The Chair resumed presiding over the Committee.
The Chair laid before the Committee the minutes of the previous
hearing of the Committee which had been held on Wednesday, April
16, 2003. On motion of Senator Fraser, and without objection,
those minutes were approved.
There being no further business, the Chair, at 5:10 p.m.,
RECESSED the Committee subject to the call of the Chair.
Minutes
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
page 4
_____________________________________________
LETICIA VAN DE PUTTE, R.Ph., Chair
______________________________________________
GREGORY D. WATSON, Committee Clerk