MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Wednesday, April 29, 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, April 29, 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 9:30 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

Senator Nichols moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearings held on April 22, 2009, and April 24, 2009; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 1112 and recognized the author, Senator Estes, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up Committee Amendment 1 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted. 

 

Senator Nichols requested unanimous consent to incorporate Committee Amendment 1 into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Nichols then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1112 do not pass but that CSSB 1112 be reported back 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 2526 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Watson to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 2526 do not pass but that CSSB 2526 be reported back 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nichols moved to reconsider the vote by which CS SB 1112 was reported and recommended for the Local Calendar in order to take public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out CS SB 1112 and opened public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There were no witnesses registered to testify on this bill.

 

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

 

Senator Nichols moved that SB 1112 do not pass but that CSSB 1112 be reported back 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 2485 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, 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 Nichols moved that SB 2485 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 2511 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nichols 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 Nichols moved that SB 2511 do not pass but that CSSB 2511 be reported back 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 2512 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nichols 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 Nichols moved that SB 2512 do not pass but that CSSB 2512 be reported back 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 2515 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Nichols sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Williams to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Nichols 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 Nichols moved that SB 2515 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 2524 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, 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 Nichols moved that SB 2524 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 Nichols moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The Chair laid out SB 1471 and recognized the author, Senator Gallegos, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Gallegos, Jr. sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Gallegos, Jr. 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 Gallegos, Jr. moved that SB 1471 do not pass but that CSSB 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 4 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 2510 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Patrick sent up a committee substitute; the Chair recognized Senator Patrick to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Patrick 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 Patrick moved that SB 2510 do not pass but that CSSB 2510 be reported back 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 Patrick moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

As a matter of pending business, the Chair laid out SB 1861 and recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr., who moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1861 do not pass but that CSSB 1861 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 4 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

Senator Gallegos, Jr. moved to reconsider the vote by which CSSB 1861 was reported; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The Chair laid out CSSB 1861 and recognized Senator Gallegos, Jr., who moved that SB 1861 do not pass but that CSSB 1861 be reported back 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. 

 

At 10:13 a.m., Senator West moved that the committee stand recessed until 15 minutes after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Nichols announced during the Senate Session that the afternoon segment of the IGR hearing would be cancelled.

 

 

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Senator Royce West, Chair

 

 

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Tiffany White, Clerk