MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence was held on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Chris Harris

Senator Kirk Watson

 

Senator Jeff Wentworth

Senator John Carona

Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

 

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Senator Juan Hinojosa, the acting chair, called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 306 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

There was a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Harris 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute and moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 306 do not pass but that CSSB 306 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 3 absent.  

 

The chair laid out SB 399 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

There was a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Harris 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute and moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 399 do not pass but that CSSB 399 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 3 absent.  

 

Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 512 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Duncan 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to incorporate Committee Amendment 1 into the body of the bill; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Duncan then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 512 do not pass but that CSSB 512 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 3 absent. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 562 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

There was a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Harris 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute and moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 562 do not pass but that CSSB 562 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 3 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 778 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

There was a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Harris 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute and moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 778 do not pass but that CSSB 778 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 3 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 990 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, to explain the bill. 

 

There was a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Harris 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan sent up the committee substitute and moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 990 do not pass but that CSSB 990 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 3 absent.  

 

Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 763 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Harris moved that SB 763 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 3 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 449 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill. 

 

There was a committee substitute.  The chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

There was a committee amendment.  The chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain 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. 

 

The chair moved that SB 449 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 451 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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. 

 

The chair moved that SB 451 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 665 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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. 

 

The chair moved that SB 665 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 505 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan moved that SB 505 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 3 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 506 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan moved that SB 506 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 3 absent. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 507 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan moved that SB 507 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 3 absent. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The clerk called roll.  There was a quorum present.

 

Senator Duncan moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 14, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 3:44 p.m. Senator Hinojosa moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Juan Hinojosa, Vice Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Stephanie Hoover, Clerk