MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Thursday, May 7, 2009

12:00 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.036

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was held on Thursday, May 7, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.036, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Steve Ogden Senator Juan Hinojosa Senator Kip Averitt Senator Bob Deuell Senator Robert Duncan Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. Senator Jane Nelson Senator Kel Seliger Senator Royce West Senator John Whitmire Senator Tommy Williams Senator Judith Zaffirini		Senator Chris Harris Senator Florence Shapiro

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 3:17 p.m. and the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 406 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, to explain the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 406 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 8 and in the absence of the Senate sponsor, explained the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 8 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 236 and in the absence of the Senate sponsor, explained the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 236 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 1203 and in the absence of the Senate sponsor, explained the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 1203 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2071 and in the absence of the Senate sponsor, explained the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 2071 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2591 and in the absence of the Senate sponsor, explained the bill.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 2591 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Whitmire assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2729 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Ogden, to explain the bill. There being no public testimony, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 2729 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Ogden resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 8, which had been left pending awaiting public testimony.  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 Ogden moved that HB 8 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2301 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

Senator Williams sent up Committee Amendment 1.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 2301 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2591, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing, and recognized the author, Senator Hegar, to explain a proposed committee substitute.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 2591 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 2317 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill.  Senator Seliger sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 2317 be left pending awaiting public testimony; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 236, which had been left pending awaiting public testimony.  There being no public testimony, the chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Ogden moved that HB 236 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1203, which had been left pending awaiting public testimony.  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 Ogden moved that HB 1203 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2071, which had been left pending awaiting public testimony.  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 Ogden moved that HB 2071 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

A quorum was established.

 

The chair laid out HB 2317, and a committee substitute sent up earlier in the hearing.  Senator Seliger 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 Ogden moved that HB 2317 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2591, and a committee substitute explained earlier in the hearing.  Senator Whitmire sent up the committee substitute.  Senator Whitmire 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 Ogden moved that HB 2591 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 8, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Averitt moved that HB 8 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator West and Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 236, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Zaffirini moved that HB 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 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator West and Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Zaffirini moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1203, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Lucio moved that HB 1203 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator West and Senator Williams requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2071, which had been left pending earlier in the hearing.  Senator Lucio moved that HB 2071 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator West requested unanimous consent to be shown voting aye; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Lucio moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2317, and a committee substitute adopted earlier in the hearing.  Senator Seliger moved that HB 2317 do not pass but that CSHB 2317 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 12 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 3 absent.  Senator Seliger moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 2301, which had been left pending awaiting public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list.  Testimony closed.  Senator Ogden moved that SB 2301 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out HB 406, which had been left pending awaiting public testimony.  Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

Senator Hinojosa assumed the chair. 

 

Testimony continued.  The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Hinojosa moved that HB 406 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 5:18 p.m. Senator Hinojosa moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Steve Ogden, Chair

 

 

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Amy Jeter, Clerk