MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Monday, March 12, 2007

9:00 a.m.

Senate Chamber

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on State Affairs was held on Monday, March 12, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Robert Duncan Senator Tommy Williams Senator John Carona Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Troy Fraser Senator Chris Harris Senator Mike Jackson Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Leticia Van de Putte		None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:07 a.m. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, the chair requested the roll call.  Senators Williams, Carona, Ellis, Fraser, Jackson, Lucio, Jr., and Van de Putte were all present.

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: 

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Chris Harris

 

There being a quorum established at 9:34 a.m., the following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out HB 2061 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Williams, 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 motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Having been present when a quorum was established, Senators Fraser and Harris requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on HB 2061.  Without objection, it was so ordered Senator Williams moved that HB 2061 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. 

 

The chair laid out SB 74 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. 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 Duncan moved that SB 74 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 471 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, 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 Duncan moved that SB 471 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.  Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Carona moved that SB 471 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on SB 471.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out SB 402 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  At 10:25 a.m. Senator Carona assumed the chair.  At 10:37 a.m. Senator Duncan resumed the chair.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Duncan moved that SB 402 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

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

 

The chair laid out SB 563 and recognized Senator Carona, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Carona 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 Duncan moved that the committee substitute for SB 563 be withdrawn for consideration, without objection it was so ordered.

Senator Duncan moved that SB 563 be left pending until 11:00 a.m.; without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Williams moved that SB 563 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Having been present when a quorum was established, Senator Fraser requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on SB 563.  Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 468 and recognized the author, Senator Ellis, to explain the bill.  Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 1.  Senator Harris then withdrew Committee Amendment 1 to SB 468.  Senator Harris sent up Committee Amendment 2 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Harris requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ellis then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ellis moved that SB 468 do not pass but that CSSB 468 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

There being no further business, at 11:12 a.m. Senator Duncan moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Robert Duncan, Chair

 

 

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Anna Beth White, Clerk