MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

7:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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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 9, 2007, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator John Carona

Senator Kirk Watson

Senator Kim Brimer

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

 

Senator Tommy Williams

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: 

Senator Rodney Ellis

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Jeff Wentworth

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The chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 1471 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 house bill as engrossed.  Senator Brimer 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 Wentworth moved that HB 1471 do not pass but that CSHB 1471 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. 

 

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

 

At 7:34 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 693 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Carona moved that HB 693 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1623 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Carona to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Carona 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 Carona moved that HB 1623 do not pass but that CSHB 1623 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. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 1857 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, 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 Carona moved that HB 1857 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 7:49 a.m. Senator Carona resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1049 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, 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 1049 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 3747 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, 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 Wentworth moved that HB 3747 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3955 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Wentworth, 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 Brimer moved that HB 3955 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

At 7:55 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2163 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, 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 Carona moved that HB 1623 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 2546 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, 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 Carona moved that HB 2546 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out HB 3601 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, 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 Carona moved that HB 3601 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 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

At 8:01 a.m. Senator Carona resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 174 and recognized the author, Senator Shapiro, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapiro sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapiro to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Shapiro 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 Brimer moved that SB 174 do not pass but that CSSB 174 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. 

 

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 SJR 67 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapiro sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ogden to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Shapiro 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 SJR 67 do not pass but that CSSJR 67 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. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2051 and recognized the author, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Brimer sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Ogden 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. 

 

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 SB 2051 do not pass but that CSSB 2051 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. 

 

At 8:30 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 412 as pending business and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Carona to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Carona 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 Carona moved that HB 412 do not pass but that CSHB 412 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. 

 

Senator Carona 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 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Carona sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Carona to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Carona 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 Carona moved that HB 413 do not pass but that CSHB 413 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

At 8:45 a.m. Senator Carona assumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, at 8:46 a.m. Senator Carona 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