MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

9:00 a.m.

Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman

Senator Chris Harris, Vice Chairman

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator Leticia Van de Putte

Senator Kirk Watson

 

None

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.  The chair laid out SB 949 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

The roll was called at 9:05 a.m.  A quorum was present.

 

Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute to SB 949; the chair recognized Senator Hegar to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate 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 Fraser moved that SB 949 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1263 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill. 

 

At 9:23 a.m. Senator Harris assumed the chair. 

 

Witnesses 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 Van de Putte moved that SB 1263 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 884 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill.  Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Eltife to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate 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 Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Eltife moved that SB 884 do not pass but that CSSB 884 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Watson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 502 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill.  Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Harris moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt sent up Committee Amendment 1 to the committee substitute and explained the amendment.  Senator Averitt moved to adopted Committee Amendment 1; 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 Estes requested unanimous consent to roll the committee substitute and amendment into a new committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt moved that SB 502 do not pass but that CSSB 502 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Watson moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 222 and recognized the author, 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 Van de Putte moved that SB 222 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Van de Putte moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 742 and recognized the author, 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 Eltife moved that SB 742 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

At 10:40 a.m. Senator Fraser resumed the chair. 

 

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Lucio on SB 1263, CSSB 884, CSSB 502, and SB 222.  Without objection, it was so ordered.  These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

At 10:44 a.m. Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair. 

 

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Fraser on SB 1263, CSSB 884, CSSB 502, and SB 222.  Without objection, it was so ordered.  These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

At 10:45 a.m. Senator Fraser resumed the chair. 

 

At 11:00 a.m. Senator Fraser moved that the committee stand recessed 15 minutes until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 12:45 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

The chair laid out SB 611 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. 

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate 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 Lucio Jr., moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. then moved that SB 611 do not pass but that CSSB 611 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 8 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chairman read a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye submitted by the following: Senator Janek on CSSB 884, SB 1263, CSSB 502, SB 222, and SB 742.  These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

There being no further business, 12:56 p.m. Chairman Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chairman.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman

 

 

 

 

______________________________

Tatum Reagan, Clerk