MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

7:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

*****

 

 

 

Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security was held on Wednesday, May 2, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

*****

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Carona Senator Kirk Watson Senator Kim Brimer Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Robert Nichols		Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Jeff Wentworth Senator Tommy Williams

The following members arrived after the roll was called: 

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

*****

 

The chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.  There not being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 1279 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The chair moved that HB 1279 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Watson moved that HB 1279 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3718 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Individuals 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 3718 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Upon arrival of a quorum, Senator Watson moved that HB 3718 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 279 and recognized Senator Watson, 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. 

 

The chair moved that SB 279 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 864 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

Individuals 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 roll was called and a quorum was established.

 

Senator Watson moved that HB 864 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that the minutes from the April 26, 2007, hearing be corrected; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2282 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

Individuals 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 Nichols moved that HB 2282 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 71 and recognized Senator Nichols, 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. 

 

Senator Brimer moved that HB 71 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1559 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Ellis sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Hinojosa 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. 

 

Individuals 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 Watson moved that SB 1559 do not pass but that CSSB 1559 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3437 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

Individuals 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 Ellis moved that HB 3437 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 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 HB 2127 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

Individuals 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 Watson moved that HB 2127 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1781 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ellis, 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 Ellis moved that HB 1781 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 5 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 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 HB 1060 and recognized Senator Brimer, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Individuals 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 Brimer moved that HB 1060 do not pass but that CSHB 1060 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 413 as pending business. 

 

The chair moved that HB 413 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 8:06 a.m. The chair moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator John Carona, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

John W. Webb, Clerk