MINUTES 
                                           
            SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS 
                              Wednesday, March 2, 2005 
                           1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment 
                      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 Veteran  
         Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, March 2,  
         2005, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at  
         Austin, Texas. 
          
                                       ***** 
                                           
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte            None 
         Senator Craig Estes 
         Senator Troy Fraser 
         Senator Kel Seliger 
         Senator Eliot Shapleigh 
                                           
                                       ***** 
                                           
         The chair called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted:  
          
         The following members arrived after the roll was called:   
         Senator Seliger arrived at 3:36, and Senator Shapleigh arrived  
         at 3:45.    
          
         The chair recognized Capt. Morgan Little, who led the Committee  
         in the Pledge of Allegiance. 
            
         Senator Estes moved adoption of the minutes from the previous  
         hearing held on February 23, 2005; without objection, it was so  
         ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 144 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 Estes moved that SB 144 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 Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 143 and recognized the author, Senator  
         Wentworth, to explain the bill.   
          
         Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the chair  
         recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between  
         the committee substitute and the bill as filed.  Senator Estes  
         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. 
          
         At 3:53 p.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair.   
          
         At 4:01 p.m. Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair.   
          
         The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without  
         objection, it was so ordered.       
          
         Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 143 do not pass but that CSSB  
         143 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 Estes moved that the bill be recommended for placement  
         on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was  
         so ordered.   
          
         The chair laid out SB 212 and recognized the author, 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.   
          
         Senator Shapleigh moved that SB 212 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.   
          
         There being no further business, at 4:15 p.m. Senator Van de  
         Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the  
         call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         _____________________________ 
         Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair 
          
         _____________________________ 
         Sara Gonzalez, Clerk