MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, April 10, 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, April 10, 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 Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator Leticia Van de Putte

Senator Kirk Watson

 

Senator Kyle Janek

 

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Senator Harris, acting as the chair, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 

 

The chair laid out SB 830 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1.  Senator Ellis was recognized 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 Harris moved that SB 830 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 658 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, 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 Harris moved that SB 658 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1402 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. 

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 Harris moved that SB 1402 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 987 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. 

Senator Watson 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 Harris moved that SB 987 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 984 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

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 Harris moved that SB 984 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1735 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  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 Harris moved that SB 1735 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 709 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson 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 that SB 709 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1430 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Watson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson 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 that SB 1430 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:06 a.m. Senator Harris moved that the committee stand at ease until 10:45 a.m.; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:50 a.m. the meeting came back to order. 

 

Senator Fraser assumed the chair.  The roll was called, and a quorum was present.

 

The chair laid out SB 658, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Harris moved that SB 658 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 Harris moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 709, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 709 do not pass but that CSSB 709 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 chair laid out SB 984, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Watson moved that SB 984 do not pass but that CSSB 984 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 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 987, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum.  Upon arrival of a quorum,  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 987 do not pass but that CSSB 987 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, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1402, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Lucio moved that SB 1402 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 Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1430, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1430 do not pass but that CSSB 1430 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 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 1735, pending in committee, awaiting a quorum. Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Harris moved that SB 1735 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 Harris moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chairman read Motions in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on submitted by the following:  Senator Van de Putte on SB 658 and CSSB 709; Senator Eltife on SB 658 and CSSB 709.  These votes are reflected in the final votes on the aforementioned bills.

 

There was no action taken for the following bill:

 

SB 223

 

There being no further business, at 11:00 a.m., Chairman Fraser moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chairman.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

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Senator Troy Fraser, Chairman

 

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk