MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Monday, May 16, 2005
9:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.012
*MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator John Whitmire
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Government
Organization was held on Monday, May 16, 2005, in the Capitol
Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. The
following members were present: Senator Ellis and Senator
Nelson.
A quorum being established at the previous hearing, the
following business was transacted:
At 9:05 a.m. Senator Nelson assumed the chair.
The chair laid out HB 2048 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. The chair laid out a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. 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. The
chair moved that HB 2048 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2025 and recognized Senator Ellis, 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. The chair moved that HB
2025 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2902 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator
Ellis 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. The chair moved
that HB 2902 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2856 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 Nelson moved that HB 2856
be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered.
At 9:25 a.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
The chair laid out HB 1535 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Shapleigh, 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. The chair moved that HB 1535 be
left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 972 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. Senator Nelson 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. The chair moved that HB
972 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was
so ordered.
At 9:36 a.m. Senator Nelson assumed the chair.
The chair laid out HB 2473 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. The chair moved that HB 2473 be
left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 1283 and recognized Senator Ellis, 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. The chair moved that HB
1283 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2378 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. No
witnesses testified on this bill. The chair moved that the
public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so
ordered. The chair moved that HB 2378 be left pending; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 3269 and recognized Senator Ellis, 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. The chair moved that HB
3269 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 3147 and recognized Senator Van de Putte,
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.
At 9:50 a.m. Senator Ellis resumed the chair.
The chair moved that HB 3147 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered.
At 9:54 a.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand
recessed subject to call of the chair.
The chair suspended Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18 on the Senate
floor to continue the public hearing of the Senate Committee on
Government Organization that was held on Monday, May 16, 2005.
The continuation of the hearing was held in the Senate Chamber
at Austin, Texas.
At 1:45 p.m. the committee reconvened.
The chair moved that the roll be called. All members were
present. A quorum being established the following business was
transacted:
The chair called up HB 972. Senator Nelson sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to roll
the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Nelson then moved that the committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Nelson moved that HB 972 do not pass but that CSHB 972
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 0 absent. Senator
Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair called up HB 1283. Senator Nelson moved that HB 1283
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair called up HB 1535. Senator Nelson moved that HB 1535
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
Senator Whitmire moved that the bill be recommended for
placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair called up HB 2025. Senator Nelson moved that HB 2025
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
Senator Nelson moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair called up HB 2048. Senator Nelson sent up a committee
substitute that was previously explained and moved adoption;
without objection it was so ordered. Senator Nelson moved that
HB 2048 do not pass but that CSHB 2048 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 0 absent. Senator Harris moved that the
bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested
Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair called up HB 2473. Senator Eltife moved that HB 2473
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair called up HB 2856. Senator Eltife moved that HB 2856
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
The chair called up HB 2902. Senator Eltife sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. Senator Eltife requested unanimous consent to roll
the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it
was so ordered. Senator Eltife then moved that the committee
substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.
Senator Eltife moved that HB 2902 do not pass but that CSHB 2902
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 0 absent. Senator
Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the
Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair called up HB 3147. Senator Eltife moved that HB 3147
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
The chair called up HB 3269. Senator Eltife moved that HB 3269
be reported favorably 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 0 absent.
Senator Eltife moved that the bill be recommended for placement
on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was
so ordered.
There being no further business, at 1:51 p.m. Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand at ease subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
_____________________________
Vanessa McMahan, Clerk