MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
Thursday, May 19, 2005
9:00 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 Government
Organization was held on Thursday, May 19, 2005, in the Capitol
Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator John Whitmire
Senator Kevin Eltife
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Mike Jackson
Senator Jane Nelson
*****
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted:
The chair laid out HB 1413 and recognized senate staff, 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 Ellis moved that
HB 1413 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2819 and recognized senate staff, 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 Ellis moved that
HB 2819 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 3112 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. Senator Eltife sent up
Committee Amendment 1. Senator Eltife sent up Committee
Amendment 2. Senator Wentworth explained both amendments.
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 Ellis
moved that HB 3112 be left pending to await a quorum; without
objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 1516 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator
Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized
Senator Eltife 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. Senator Ellis moved that HB 1516
be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2593 and recognized Senator Eltife, 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 Ellis moved that
HB 2593 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 1116 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the
absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator
Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized
Senator Eltife to explain the difference between the committee
substitute and the bill as filed. Senator Eltife 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 Ellis moved that
HB 1116 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 933 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Eltife, to explain the bill. Senator Eltife sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife 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.
Senator Ellis moved that HB 933 be left pending to await a
quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 3047 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Eltife, 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 Ellis moved that HB 3047
be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so
ordered.
The chair laid out HB 2525 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Lindsay, to explain the bill. Senator Eltife sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lindsay to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 1 and
recognized Senator Lindsay to explain 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 Eltife sent up
Committee Amendment 2 and explained the amendment. Senator
Ellis moved that HB 2525 be left pending to await a quorum;
without objection, it was so ordered.
The chair laid out HB 908 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Estes, to explain the bill. Senator Eltife sent up
Committee Amendment 1. No witnesses testified or registered on
the bill. The chair moved that the public testimony be closed;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Ellis moved that
HB 908 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it
was so ordered.
The chair called up HB 2593. Senator Eltife sent up Committee
Amendment 1. Senator Eltife moved that testimony be reopened;
without objection, it was so ordered. There were no further
witnesses to testify or register on the bill. The chair moved
that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was
so ordered.
At 9:47 a.m. Senator Ellis moved that the committee stand at
ease 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 Thursday, May 19, 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. A quorum being
established, the following business was transacted.
The chair laid out HB 1434 and recognized the Senate sponsor,
Senator Jackson to explain the bill. Senator Jackson sent up a
committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jackson to
explain the difference between the committee substitute and the
bill as filed. Senator Jackson moved adoption of the committee
substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator
Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the
amendment. Senator Gallegos, Jr. withdrew Committee Amendment 1.
Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 2 and
explained the amendment. Senator Gallegos, Jr. withdrew
Committee Amendment 2. 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 1434 do not pass but that
CSHB 1434 be reported back 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 2
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 908. Senator Harris sent up Committee
Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment
was adopted. Senator Jackson moved that HB 908, as amended, 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 1 absent.
The chair called up HB 933. Senator Eltife sent up a committee
substitute that was previously explained. Senator Eltife moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Eltife moved that HB 933 do not pass but
that CSHB 933 be reported back to the Senate with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The motion
carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not
voting, and 1 absent.
The chair called up HB 1116. Senator Eltife sent up a committee
substitute that was previously explained. Senator Eltife moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 1 that
was previously explained 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 1116 do not pass
but that CSHB 1116 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 1 absent.
The chair called up HB 1413. Senator Eltife moved that HB 1413
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 1 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 1516. Senator Eltife sent up a committee
substitute that was previously explained. Senator Eltife moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Eltife moved that HB 1516 do not pass but
that CSHB 1516 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 1 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 2525. Senator Eltife sent up a committee
substitute that previously explained. Senator Eltife moved
adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was
so ordered. Senator Eltife sent up Committee Amendment 1 that
was previously explained and moved adoption; without objection,
the amendment was adopted. Senator Eltife sent up Committee
Amendment 2 that was previously explained and moved adoption;
without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Eltife requested
unanimous consent to roll the amendments 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 2525 do not pass but that CSHB 2525 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 1 absent.
The chair called up HB 2593. Senator Eltife sent up Committee
Amendment 1 that was previously explained and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Eltife
moved that HB 2593, as amended, 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 1 absent.
The chair called up HB 2819. Senator Eltife moved that HB 2819
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 1 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 3047. Senator Eltife moved that HB 3047
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 1 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 3112. Senator Eltife sent up Committee
Amendment 1 that was previously explained and moved adoption;
without objection, the amendment was adopted. Senator Eltife
sent up Committee Amendment 2 that was previously explained and
moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.
Senator Eltife moved that HB 3112, as amended, 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 1 absent.
Senator Harris asked that he be shown voting aye for any bills
voted on during his absence; without objection it was so
ordered.
There being no further business, at 1:56 p.m. Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
_____________________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
_____________________________
Vanessa McMahan, Clerk