MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

1:00 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 Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kip Averitt Senator Craig Estes Senator Kim Brimer Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Mike Jackson Senator Kel Seliger Senator Carlos Uresti		None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 2:57 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 847.  A committee substitute was adopted at a previous hearing.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 847 do not pass but that CSSB 847 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 2 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 pending business SB 975.  A committee substitute was offered at a previous hearing.  Senator Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute, without objection; it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 975 do not pass but that CSSB 975 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 pending business SB 1604. 

 

Two committee amendments were adopted at a previous hearing.  Senator Averitt requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt moved that SB 1604 do not pass but that CSSB 1604 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 1 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair.   

 

The chair laid out pending business SB 1665. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1665 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 1666. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1666 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 1667. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1667 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 1670. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1670 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 1816 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1816 do not pass but that CSSB 1816 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 11 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1509 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 Averitt moved that SB 1509 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1177 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Brimer to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Brimer 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 Averitt moved that SB 1177 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 714 and recognized the author, Senator Fraser, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Fraser to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Estes 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 Averitt moved that SB 714 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1343 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. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1343 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1574 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. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1574 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1351 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Brimer to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Brimer 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 Averitt moved that SB 1351 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1383 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Seliger 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 Averitt moved that SB 1383 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 574 and recognized the author, Senator Brimer, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Brimer to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Brimer 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 Averitt moved that SB 574 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 654 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 654 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1163 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1163 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1335 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Estes 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 Averitt moved that SB 1335 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1013 and recognized the author, Senator Jackson, to explain the bill. 

 

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. 

 

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 Averitt moved that SB 1013 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 771 and recognized Senator Averitt, 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 Averitt moved that SB 771 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1592 and recognized Senator Averitt, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Averitt 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 Averitt moved that SB 1592 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1762 and recognized Senator Averitt, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Averitt requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Averitt then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; 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 Averitt moved that SB 1762 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1179 and recognized the author, 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. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1179 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1178 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1178 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1526 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1526 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1676 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Hegar sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Hegar requested unanimous consent to roll the amendments into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hegar then moved that the committee substitute be adopted; 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 Averitt moved that SB 1676 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1675 and recognized the author, 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. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1675 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1677 and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Hegar sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hegar 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 Averitt moved that SB 1677 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk