MINUTES 
                                           
                  SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS 
                            Wednesday, February 23, 2005 
                                     9:00 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  
         Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, February 23,  
         2005, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Frank Madla                     Senator Bob Deuell 
         Senator Kim Brimer 
         Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. 
         Senator Jeff Wentworth 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         The chair laid out SB 174 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brimer, to explain the bill.  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.  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 Madla moved that  
         SB 174 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Brimer moved  
         that SB 174 do not pass but that CSSB 174 be reported back to  
         the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0  
         nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 SB 177 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Brimer, to explain the bill.  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.  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 Brimer moved that  
         SB 177 do not pass but that CSSB 177 be reported back to the  
         Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.   
  
         The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0  
         present not voting, and 1 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 SB 224 and recognized Senator Brimer, 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 Brimer moved that  
         SB 224 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Brimer moved that the bill be  
         recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar;  
         without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Brimer assumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 270 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Madla, 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 Madla moved that SB 270  
         be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that  
         it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record  
         vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.   
         Senator Madla moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         Senator Madla resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 299 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, 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  
         299 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation  
         that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a  
         record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1  
         absent.   
          
         Senator Gallegos requested to be shown voting aye on CSSB: 174  
         and 177; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         The chair laid out SB 244 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and  
         registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  Senator  
         Madla moved that SB 244 be left pending; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.  
          
         Senator Gallegos requested to be shown voting aye on senate  
         bills: 224 and 270; without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         Senator Madla moved that the committee stand recessed until 15  
  
         minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it  
         was so ordered.   
          
         At 12:15 p.m. the committee reconvened.  The chair laid out SB  
         244.  Testimony resumed and witnesses 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 244 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 1 absent.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 313 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent  
         up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator  
         Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee  
         substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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.   
         Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 313 be left pending; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 200 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Gallegos, 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 Madla moved that SB 200  
         be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved  
         that SB 200 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 280 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Gallegos, 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that  
         SB 280 be reported favorably to the Senate with the  
         recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion  
         carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not  
         voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill  
         be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested  
         Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         Senator Brimer requested to be shown voting aye on SB 299;  
         without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 1:50 p.m. Senator Madla  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
  
         _________________________ 
         Senator Frank Madla, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Christine Wright, Clerk