MINUTES 
                                           
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE 
                               Tuesday, May 17, 2005 
                                     8:00 a.m. 
                      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 Business &  
         Commerce was held on Tuesday, May 17, 2005, in the Betty King  
         Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman           Senator Kip Averitt,  
         Vice Chairman 
         Senator Kim Brimer                      Senator Kenneth  
         Armbrister 
         Senator Kevin Eltife                    Senator John Carona 
         Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 135 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Harris, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Fraser moved that HB 135 be left pending to  
         await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon  
         arrival of a quorum, Senator Brimer moved that HB 135 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.  Senator  
         Brimer moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         At 8:06 a.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1799 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  Senator Fraser sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment.  There were  
         no witness registered on the bill.  Senator Estes moved that HB  
         1799 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio moved  
         adoption of the amendment; without objection, it was so ordered.   
  
         Senator Lucio, Jr. requested unanimous consent to roll the  
         amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. then moved that the committee  
         substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 1799 do not pass but that CSHB  
         1799 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 3 absent.   
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 3250 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Fraser, 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 Estes moved that HB 3250  
         be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved  
         that HB 3250 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 3460 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Estes moved that HB 3460 be left pending to  
         await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon  
         arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 3460 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.  Senator  
         Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2273 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Estes moved that HB 2273 be left pending to  
         await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon  
         arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 2273 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.  Senator  
         Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1939 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
  
         Senator Fraser, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Estes moved that HB 1939 be left pending to  
         await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon  
         arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio sent up a committee  
         substitute; the chair recognized Senator Fraser 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 HB 1939 do not pass but that CSHB 1939 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 3 absent.  Senator Lucio,  
         Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the  
         Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 833 and recognized Senator Fraser, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Senator  
         Fraser sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized  
         Senator Fraser to explain the difference between the committee  
         substitute and the bill as filed.  There were no witnesses  
         registered on the bill.  Senator Estes moved that HB 833 be left  
         pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Estes moved adoption of the  
         committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.   
         Senator Estes then moved that HB 833 do not pass but that CSHB  
         833 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 3 absent.   
         Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for  
         placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 8:19 a.m. Senator Fraser resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2218 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Brimer, to explain the bill.  Senator Brimer sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment.  Committee  
         Amendment 1 was left pending.  Witnesses 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 Fraser moved that HB 2218 be left pending to await a  
         quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a  
         quorum, Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair  
         recognized Senator Brimer to explain the difference between the  
         committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Brimer  
         moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection,  
         it was so ordered.  Senator Brimer moved that HB 2218 do not  
         pass but that CSHB 2218 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 3 absent.  Senator Brimer moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 607 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  The chair  
         then recognized Representative Giddings to further 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 Fraser moved that HB 607 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 628 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Witnesses 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 Fraser moved that HB 628 be left pending to  
         await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon  
         arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 628 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.  Senator  
         Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on  
         the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2451 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill.  There were no  
         witnesses registered on the bill.  Senator Fraser moved that HB  
         2451 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr.  
         moved that HB 2451 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. objected that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2526 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  Witnesses  
         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 Fraser moved that HB 2526  
         be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator  
         Brimer moved that HB 2526 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.  Senator Brimer moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The roll was called at 9:58 a.m. and a quorum was present. 
          
         The chair laid out HB 511 and recognized Senator Estes, in the  
         absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.  There were  
         no witnesses registered on the bill.  Senator Van de Putte moved  
  
         that HB 511 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.  Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1021 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  There were no cards  
         registered on the bill.  Senator Fraser moved that HB 1021 be  
         left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 1855 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, 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 Lucio,  
         Jr. moved that HB 1855 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2223 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, 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 Lucio, Jr. moved that HB  
         2223 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended  
         for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2267 and recognized the Senate sponsor,  
         Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up  
         Committee Amendment 1.  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 Fraser moved that HB 2267 be left pending;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out HB 2581 and recognized Senator Van de Putte,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Witnesses 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 Van de Putte  
         moved that HB 2581 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 4 absent.  Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
  
         The chair laid out SB 1279 and recognized Senator Van de Putte,  
         in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill.   
         Senator Van de Putte sent up Committee Amendment 1, Committee  
         Amendment 2, Committee Amendment 3, and Committee Amendment 4  
         and explained the amendments.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  At  
         10:40 a.m. Senator Lucio, Jr. assumed the chair.  The chair  
         moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 1279 be left  
         pending; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         There being no further business, at 10:45 a.m. Senator Lucio,  
         Jr. moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call  
         of the chairman.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         _________________________________ 
         Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman   
          
         _________________________________ 
         Tatum Baker, Clerk