MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Monday, March 19, 2007

9:00 a.m.

Senate Chamber

 

*****

 

 

 

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 19, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

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

 

*****

 

Senator Leticia Van de Putte, the acting chair called the meeting to order at 9:11 a.m.

 

The following business was transacted:

 

The chair laid out SB 382 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, 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. At 9:48 a.m. Senator Duncan assumed the chair.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Duncan moved that SB 382 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum,  Senator Duncan requested the roll call.  Senators Duncan, Carona, Ellis, Jackson, and Van de Putte were all present.  A  quorum was established at 9:49 a.m.

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: 

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.

Senator Tommy Williams

Senator Troy Fraser

Senator Chris Harris

 

The chair laid out SB 929 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. 

Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and Senator Carona moved adoption of the amendment; without objection it was so ordered.  Senator Jackson sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Jackson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Jackson 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 Jackson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Jackson then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Jackson moved that SB 929 do not pass but that CSSB 929 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out SB 287 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., 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 287 be left pending temporarily. 

 

The chair laid out SB 592 and recognized Senator Carona, 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 Carona moved that SB 592 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 Carona moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 11:20 a.m. Senator Carona assumed the chair.   

 

The chair laid out SB 346 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. The bill was left pending temporarily. 

 

Senator Duncan moved that the committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 3:48 p.m. the chair reconvened the committee. 

 

At 3:49 p.m. Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1102 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  Senator Duncan moved that SB 1102 be left pending temporarily.

 

Senator Duncan resumed the chair.

 

At 6:35 p.m. Senator Duncan moved that the committee stand recessed pending the arrival of a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 6:44 p.m. the chair reconvened the committee. 

 

Senator Duncan laid out as a matter of pending business SB 287.  Senator Lucio, Jr. sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 287 do not pass but that CSSB 287 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.  Having been present when a quorum  was established, Senator Williams and Harris requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on SB 287.  Without objection is was so ordered.    

 

At 6:50 p.m. Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 346.  Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Duncan moved to roll the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Duncan then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Duncan moved that SB 346 do not pass but that CSSB 346 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. Having been present when a quorum  was established, Senator Williams and Harris requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on SB 346.  Without objection is was so ordered.

 

At 6:51 p.m. Senator Duncan resumed the chair.    

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 129 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Ellis moved that SB 129 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. Having been present when a quorum  was established, Senator Williams and Harris requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on SB 129.  Without objection is was so ordered.      

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 64 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ellis to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Ellis moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ellis moved that SB 64 do not pass but that CSSB 64 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.  Having been present when a quorum  was established, Senator Williams and Harris requested unanimous consent to be shown voting AYE on SB 64.  Without objection is was so ordered.     

 

At 6:56 p.m. Senator Van de Putte assumed the chair. 

 

Testimony resumed on SB 1102.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Duncan moved that SB 1102 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 8:00 p.m. Senator Duncan resumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Duncan at 8:00 p.m. moved that the Committee stand recessed.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Robert Duncan, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Anna Beth White, Clerk