MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JURISPRUDENCE

Wednesday, April 25, 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, April 25, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Robert Duncan Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. Senator Chris Harris		Senator John Carona Senator Kirk Watson

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 3:50 p.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 1976 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

There were not witnesses on the bill.

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Duncan moved that SB 1976 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 2025 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

There were no witnesses on the bill.

 

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

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 2025 do not pass but that CSSB 2025 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 HB 632 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no witnesses on the bill.

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 632 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

At 3:52 p.m. Senator Wentworth moved that the committee stand recessed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 3:53 p.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1014 and SB 1015.  The chair recognized Senator Duncan, in the absence of the author, to explain the bills. 

 

Senator Duncan sent up committee substitutes for SB 1014 and SB 1015; the chair recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between the committee substitutes and the senate bills as filed. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the SB 1014 and SB 1015 are shown on the attached list. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

SB 1014 and SB 1015 were left pending.

 

At 4:10 p.m. Senator Duncan assumed the chair. 

 

At 4:15 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1414 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no witnesses on the bill.

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1414 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1554 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, 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 bill was left pending.

 

At 4:27 p.m. Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2030 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. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2030 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 Wentworth moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 4:30 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2352 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Hinojosa sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

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 Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that HB 2352 do not pass but that CSHB 2352 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 clerk called roll.  There was a quorum present.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on April 18, 2007; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2018 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no witnesses on the bill.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 2018 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2016 and recognized Senator Hinojosa, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no witnesses on the bill.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 2016 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 Hinojosa moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1701 and recognized the author, Senator Harris, 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 1701 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. 

 

At 5:29 p.m. Senator Duncan assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1520.  This was a pending bill.  

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Wentworth moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1520 do not pass but that CSSB 1520 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 HB 564 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Wentworth 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. 

 

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that HB 564 do not pass but that CSHB 564 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. 

 

At 5:44 p.m. Senator Wentworth resumed the chair. 

 

At 5:45 p.m. Senator Harris assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 660 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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. 

 

The bill was left pending.

 

The was no action taken on the following bills:  SB 1300, SB 1973, HB 290, HB 391, HB 417, HB 421, HB 519, HB 585, HB 732 and HB 1380

 

There being no further business, at 6:35 p.m. Senator Harris moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

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Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chair

 

 

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Stephanie Hoover, Clerk