MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

1:00 p.m. or upon adjournment

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources was held on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Bob Deuell

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Kevin Eltife

Senator Troy Fraser

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Carlos Uresti

 

None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 341 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 Averitt moved that SB 341 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1637 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 Averitt moved that SB 1637 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1414 and recognized the author, Senator Williams, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Duncan 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 Duncan 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 Averitt moved that SB 1414 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1378 and recognized the author, Senator Duncan, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Duncan sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Duncan to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

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 Duncan withdrew the committee substitute.

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 1378 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 717 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, 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 Estes moved that SB 717 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 719 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, 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 Estes moved that SB 719 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 720 and recognized the author, Senator Nichols, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Eltife sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Nichols to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed. 

 

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 Estes moved that SB 720 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1223 and recognized the author, Senator Eltife, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1223 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1748 and recognized Senator Eltife, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

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 Averitt moved that SB 1748 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1829 and recognized the author, Senator Deuell, 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 Averitt moved that SB 1829 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 794 and recognized Senator Uresti, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 794 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1694 and recognized Senator Uresti, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Uresti sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Uresti to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Uresti 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 Averitt moved that SB 1694 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 16.

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute explained the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed at a previous hearing.  Senator Averitt moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that SB 16 do not pass but that CSSB 16 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1472.

 

Senator Eltife 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 Eltife moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Uresti moved that SB 1472 do not pass but that CSSB 1472 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 3 absent. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1260.

 

Senator Duncan moved that SB 1260 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1292.

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1292 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 3 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1572.

 

Senator Hinojosa 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 Hinojosa moved adoption of the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Hinojosa moved that SB 1572 do not pass but that CSSB 1572 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, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 4 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1254.

 

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

 

Senator Seliger moved that SB 1254 do not pass but that CSSB 1254 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 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 as a matter of pending business SB 724.

 

Senator Hegar moved that SB 724 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 10 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

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

 

The chair laid out SB 1042 and recognized Senator Estes, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Estes to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Estes 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 Averitt moved that SB 1042 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk