MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

8:30 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 Health & Human Services was held on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:                                                      MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Jane Nelson                                                               

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Kyle Janek

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Royce West

Senator Judith Zaffirini

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

At 8:34 a.m., Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 30 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 30 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. 

 

Senators Patrick, West and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 33 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 33 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. 

 

Senators Patrick, West and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 138 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

The Chair recognized Senator Janek for an introduction.

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment.

 

Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 to SB 138; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson moved that SB 138 do not pass but that CSSB 138 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 Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 139 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 139 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 Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West moved that the Committee grant unanimous consent to him being shown voting aye on Senate Bills 30 and 33; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 140 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 140 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. 

 

Senators West and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Shapleigh moved that Senate Bill 140 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 198 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 198 do not pass but that CSSB 198 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. 

 

Senators Patrick, West and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 199 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 199 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, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senators Patrick and Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West asked to be shown present not voting; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:42 a.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

At 9:43 a.m., the Chair moved that the Committee stand in recess until 1:00 p.m.; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:09 p.m., the Committee reconvened.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 143 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator West moved that SB 143 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 Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West moved that the Committee grant unanimous consent to him being shown voting aye on Senate Bills 140 and 198, and present not voting on Senate Bill 199; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:35 p.m., Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 204 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill.  

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 204 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 Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

Senator West moved that Senate Bill 143 be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 36 and recognized the author, Senator Nelson, to explain the bill. 

 

The Chair opened the floor to public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  

 

With no further witnesses wishing to testify, the Chair closed public testimony.

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up Committee Amendment 1 and explained the amendment.

 

Senator Shapleigh moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 to SB 36; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Nelson requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nelson moved that SB 36 do not pass but that CSSB 36 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 Zaffirini asked to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:51 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair announced Senator Zaffirini's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on Senate Bills 30, 33, 36, 138, 139, 140, 143, 198, 199 and 204.

 

No action was taken on the following bills: Senate Bill 37.

 

There being no further business, at 1:52 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

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Tiffany Arrington, Clerk