MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

9:30 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.028

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was held on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Royce West

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.

Senator Dan Patrick

Senator Jeff Wentworth

 

None

 

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The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m., the following business was transacted: 

 

At 9:35 a.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 229 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses 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 West moved that SB 229 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 623 and recognized the author, Senator West, 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. 

 

At 9:37 a.m., Senator West resumed the Chair. 

 

At 9:38 a.m., a quorum was established.

 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on February 25, 2009; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 9:39 a.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair. 

 

Senator West moved that SB 229 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 623 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 3 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

At 9:40 a.m., Senator West resumed the Chair. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 447 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, 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 West moved that SB 447 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 397 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses 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 West moved that SB 397 be left pending to await a quorum; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 524 and recognized Senator Nichols, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

There were no public witnesses registered to testify on SB 524.

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 524 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 397 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

At 10:05 a.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair. 

 

The Chair laid out the following bills: SB 234, SB 235, SB 236, SB 237, SB 238, SB 239, SB 240 and SB 241 and recognized the author, Senator West, to explain the bills. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list. 

 

At 10:51 a.m., Senator Nichols moved that the committee stand recessed until 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 1:45 p.m., Senator West reconvened the committee.

 

At 1:46 p.m., Senator Nichols assumed the Chair. 

 

Testimony resumed on the following bills: SB 234, SB 235, SB 236, SB 237, SB 238, SB 239, SB 240 and SB 241.

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bills are shown on the attached list. 

 

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

 

Senator West moved that the following bills be left pending:  SB 237, SB 238, SB 240 and SB 241.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator West moved that SB 234 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator West moved that SB 235 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator West moved that SB 236 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator West moved that SB 239 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

At 2:46 p.m., Senator West resumed the Chair. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 461 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 461 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 0 absent. 

 

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

 

The Chair laid out SB 530 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, 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 Patrick moved that SB 530 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 0 absent. 

 

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

 

Senator Wentworth submitted a Motion in Writing requesting unanimous consent to be shown voting aye on the following bills: SB 234, SB 235, SB 236, SB 239, SB 397, SB 461, SB 524, SB 530.

 

There being no further business, at 2:55 p.m. Senator West moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

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Senator Royce West, Chair

 

 

_____________________________

Tiffany White, Clerk