MINUTES 
                                           
                         SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS 
                              Thursday, March 3, 2005 
                           12:00 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                                   Senate Chamber 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs  
         was held on Thursday, March 3, 2005, in the Senate Chamber at  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Robert Duncan                   Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Tommy Williams                  Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister 
         Senator Rodney Ellis 
         Senator Chris Harris 
         Senator Mike Jackson 
         Senator Frank Madla 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 12:17 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:   
          
         Senator Harris moved to delay all business scheduled to be taken  
         up on Thursday,  March 3, 2005 until Monday, March 7, 2005. 
          
         Senator Duncan moved that the committee stand recessed until  
         1:00 p.m; without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         At 1:03 p.m. the committee reconvened.   
          
         Senator Harris withdrew his pending motion. 
          
         The chair laid out pending business CSSB 5 and recognized the  
         author, Senator Staples, to explain the bill as substituted.   
          
         Senator Williams assumed the chair.   
          
         Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the  
         amendment.  Senator Duncan then withdrew Committee Amendment 1.   
          
         Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 2 and explained the  
         amendment.  Senator Duncan then withdrew Committee Amendment 2  
         and resumed the chair.   
          
         Senator Williams assumed the chair.   
  
         Senator Duncan sent Committee Amendment 2 back up and Committee  
         Amendment 2 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Duncan resumed the chair.   
          
         Senator Williams sent up Committee Amendment 3 and the author of  
         SB 5, Senator Staples, was recognized to explain the amendment.   
         Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to call a resource  
         witness to answer questions regarding Committee Amendment 3;  
         without objection, it was so ordered and Margaret Lazarett of  
         the Texas Department of Insurance took the stand.  Committee  
         Amendment 3 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 4 and the author  
         of SB 5, Senator Staples, was recognized to explain the  
         amendment.  Committee Amendment 4 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 5 and the author  
         of SB 5, Senator Staples, was recognized to explain the  
         amendment.  Committee Amendment 5 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 6 and the author  
         of SB 5, Senator Staples, was recognized to explain the  
         amendment.  Committee Amendment 6 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Armbrister sent up Committee Amendment 7 and the author  
         of SB 5, Senator Staples, was recognized to explain the  
         amendment.  Committee Amendment 7 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Ellis sent up and explained Committee Amendment 8.   
         Senator Ellis then withdrew Committee Amendment 8. 
          
         Senator Ellis sent up and explained Committee Amendment 9.   
         Committee Amendment 9 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Madla sent up and explained Committee Amendment 10.   
         Committee Amendment 10 was left pending.  
          
         Senator Madla sent up and explained Committee Amendment 11.   
         Committee Amendment 11 was left pending.  
          
         Senator Madla sent up and explained Committee Amendment 12.   
         Committee Amendment 12 was left pending.  
          
         Senator Lucio sent up and explained Committee Amendment 13.   
         Committee Amendment 13 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up and explained Committee Amendment 14.   
         Committee Amendment 14 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Lucio sent up and explained Committee Amendment 15.   
         Committee Amendment 15 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Jackson sent up and explained Committee Amendment 16.   
  
         Committee Amendment 16 was left pending. 
          
         Senator Madla assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Duncan sent up an amendment to pending Committee  
         Amendment 3.  The amendment to the amendment was left pending. 
          
         Senator Duncan resumed the chair. 
          
         There being no further business, the Committee stood recessed  
         subject to the call of the chair.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Robert Duncan, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Teddy Carter, Clerk