MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Thursday, May 14, 2009

8:00 a.m.

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 Thursday, May 14, 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 Troy Fraser

Senator Glenn Hegar

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Carlos Uresti

Senator Kel Seliger

 

Senator Kevin Eltife

 

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out HB 3461 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Watson, 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 HB 3461 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1533 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Davis, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 1533 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Seliger assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1883 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Deuell sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

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 Seliger moved that HB 1883 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3346 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

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 Seliger moved that HB 3346 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 432 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 house bill as engrossed. 

 

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 HB 432 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1467 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Estes, 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 house bill as engrossed. 

 

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 HB 1467 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1518 and recognized the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 1518 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 469 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Averitt sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Seliger to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the house bill as engrossed. 

 

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 HB 469 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 1890 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 1890 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3861 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, 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 HB 3861 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 2925 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 2925 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out HB 3140 and recognized Senator Seliger, in the absence of the Senate sponsor, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 3140 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that the committee stand recessed until after adjournment of the Senate; without objection, it was so ordered. 

                                   

Upon adjournment of the Senate and following a suspension of Senate Rules 11.10 and 11.18,  the committee reconvened at Senator Averitt's desk on the Senate Floor.  The following business was transacted.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 1518.

 

Senator Fraser moved that HB 1518 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

Senator Fraser 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 HB 1883. 

 

Senator Averitt moved adoption of the committee substitute laid out at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 1883 do not pass but that CSHB 1883 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 9 ayes, 0 nay, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 

 

Senator Averitt 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 HB 2925.

 

Senator Deuell moved that HB 2925 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 Averitt 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 HB 3140.

 

Senator Hegar moved that HB 3140 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 as a matter of pending business HB 3346.

 

Senator Averitt moved adoption of the committee substitute laid out at a previous hearing; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Averitt moved that HB 3346 do not pass but that CSHB 3346 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 Averitt 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 HB 3461.

 

Senator Uresti moved that HB 3461 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 Uresti moved that the bill be recommended for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk