MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE AFFAIRS

Monday, April 23, 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, April 23, 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.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 922 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Watson 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.  The chair moved that SB 922 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 886 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, 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 the bill be left pending temporarily; without objection it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1237 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, 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 the bill be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 402 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill.  Senator Harris sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Duncan sent up Committee Amendment 1 to HB 402. The chair moved that HB 402 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1854 and recognized Senator Ellis, in the absence of the author, 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 1854 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 973 and recognized Senator Harris, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 973 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 10:00 a.m. Senator Harris assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2188 and recognized Senator Duncan, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized 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.  The chair moved that HB 2188 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 10:05 a.m. Senator Duncan resumed the chair. 

 

At 10:06 a.m. Senator Duncan moved that the committee stand recessed until 11:00 a.m.; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 11:05 a.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, the chair requested the roll call.  Senators Duncan, Williams, Carona, Ellis, Fraser, Harris, Jackson, Lucio, Jr., and Van de Putte were all present.  A quorum was established at 11:06 a.m. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1854.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that SB 1854 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 886.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that HB 886 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.  Senator Lucio, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 973.  Senator Harris moved that HB 973 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.  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 as a matter of pending business HB 1237.  Senator Harris moved that HB 1237 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.  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 pending business SB 971, and recognized the author Senator Van de Putte on the proposed committee substitute to SB 971.  At the request of the author the chair moved that SB 971 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 791.  Senator Williams moved that SB 791 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.  Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1391.  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 Williams moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ellis moved that SB 1391 do not pass but that CSSB 1391 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.  Senator Ellis moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.   

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1582 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.  Senator Van de Putte sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1582 do not pass but that CSSB 1582 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.  Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1637.  Senator Williams moved that SB 1637 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.  Senator Williams moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 11:36 a.m. Senator Williams assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1847.  Senator Duncan moved that SB 1847 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

The chair laid out pending business HB 2005.  Senator Duncan moved that HB 2005 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent.  Senator Duncan moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 11:45 a.m. Senator Duncan resumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, at 11:45 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

 

 

 

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