MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, April 19, 2007

11:00 a.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, April 19, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Judith Zaffirini Senator Kip Averitt Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Royce West Senator Tommy Williams		Senator Steve Ogden Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Troy Fraser Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Kyle Janek Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Jane Nelson Senator Florence Shapiro Senator John Whitmire

 

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Senator Judith Zaffirini, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 407 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 407 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1332 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, 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 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 1332 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 941 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 941 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 65 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

Senator Williams sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Williams sent up Committee Amendment 1.  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 Zaffirini moved that SJR 65 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 947 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, 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 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 947 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Eltife assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 769, which had been left pending at a previous hearing, and recognized the author, Senator Zaffirini.  Senator Zaffirini sent up a committee substitute, in lieu of a committee substitute sent up at a previous hearing; the chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Eltife moved that SB 769 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Zaffirini resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1615 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

Senator Averitt 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 Averitt sent up Committee Amendment 1.  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 Zaffirini moved that SB 1615 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SJR 61 and recognized Senator Averitt, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  There being no witnesses, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that SJR 61 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

The chair laid out SB 667 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, 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 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 Zaffirini moved that SB 667 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There was no action taken for the following bill(s):  SB 737, SB 992, SB 1185, and SB 1886.

 

There being no further business, at 5:20 p.m. Senator Zaffirini moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk