MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

11:00 a.m. or upon adjournment

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, March 20, 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 1:22 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

At 1:24 p.m., Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 994 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 994 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that SB 994 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Uresti and West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:35 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out SB 625 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Janek moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 625; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Janek moved that SB 625 do not pass but that CSSB 625 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Janek requested that CSSB 625 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Uresti requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West announced his request to be shown voting aye on SB 994; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 1:38 p.m., Senator Deuell assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 993 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. 

 

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 adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 993 do not pass but that CSSB 993 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSSB 993 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 288 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.

 

CSSB 288 was left pending.

 

At 3:06 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Concurrent Resolution 28 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nelson sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Watson 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 Janek moved that SCR 28 do not pass but that CSSCR 28 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Janek requested that CSSCR 28 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 802 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

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

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 802 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nichols requested that SB 802 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; there was objection.

 

Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 814 and recognized the author, Senator Janek, to explain the bill.  

 

Senator Janek sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Janek to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

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 Nelson moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Janek requested unanimous consent to incorporate the amendment into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Janek moved that SB 814 do not pass but that CSSB 814 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 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator Nelson requested that CSSB 814 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator West announced his request to be shown voting aye on CSSCR 28, SB 802 and CSSB 814; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 3:31 p.m., Senator Shapleigh assumed the Chair.

 

Senator Uresti announced his request to be shown voting aye on SB 994 and CSSB 625; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 983 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.

 

Senate Bill 983 was left pending. 

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 414 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Lucio to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

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.

 

Senate Bill 414 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 419 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Lucio to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed. 

 

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

 

At 5:50 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

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

 

Senate Bill 419 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out Senate Bill 448 and recognized the author, Senator Uresti, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Uresti sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the bill as filed.

 

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

 

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

 

Senate Bill 448 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 983 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator West moved that SB 983 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senator West requested that SB 983 be recommended for placement on the Local and Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senators Janek, Patrick and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 6:31 p.m., Senator West assumed the Chair.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 288 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Nelson moved that SB 288 do not pass but that CSSB 288 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, 1 absent and 0 present not voting. 

 

Senators Janek, Patrick and Zaffirini requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Patrick announced his request to be shown voting aye on CSSB 288 and SB 983; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 6:34 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.

 

Senator Patrick announced his request to be shown voting aye on SB 983; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out SB 414 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 414; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

CSSB 414 was left pending.

 

The Chair laid out SB 448 which had been previously left pending.

 

Senator Nelson moved adoption of the committee substitute to SB 448; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

CSSB 448 was left pending.

 

The Chair announced Senator Janek's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 288 and SB 983; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair announced Senator Zaffirini's request for unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on CSSB 288, CSSB 814 and SB 983; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 6:37 p.m. the Chair announced that the Committee would stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Jane Nelson, Chair

 

 

 

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Tiffany Arrington, Clerk