MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Monday, April 20, 2009

8:00 a.m.

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security was held on Monday, April 20, 2009, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Carona Senator Kirk Watson Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Joan Huffman Senator Robert Nichols Senator Florence Shapiro Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Jeff Wentworth		Senator Wendy Davis

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 858 and recognized the author, Senator Seliger, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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. 

 

The chair announced that the bill would be left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 1266 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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. 

 

The chair announced that the bill would be left pending.

 

The chair laid out SB 2437 and recognized Senator Wentworth, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill.  

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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. 

 

The chair announced that the bill would be left pending.

 

At 8:19 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1570 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The chair opened public testimony on 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 8:36 a.m. Senator Wentworth assumed the chair.

 

The chair announced that the bill would be left pending.

 

At 9:05 a.m. Senator Carona resumed the chair.

 

Senator Watson moved that the Committee stand at ease until 9:15 a.m.; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:16 a.m. the committee reconvened. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 858.

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 858 be reported favorably 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 2 absent. 

 

Senator Wentworth 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 2437. 

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 2437 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

Senator Watson 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 1266. 

 

Senator Watson moved adoption of the committee substitute that was previously sent up; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 1266 do not pass but that CSSB 1266 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, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 2018 and recognized the author, Senator Watson, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Watson moved that SB 2018 do not pass but that CSSB 2018 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 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

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

 

At 9:20 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 501 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Carona moved that SB 501 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 1 absent. 

 

The chair 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 512 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Carona moved that SB 512 be reported favorably 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, 1 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1634 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

The chair called Judy Brown to testify on behalf of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

 

The chair moved that SB 1634 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, 3 nay, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent. 

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The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1783 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Carona moved adoption of the committee substitute that was previously sent up; without objection; it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Carona requested unanimous consent to incorporate amendments into the committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Carona then moved that the new committee substitute be adopted; without objection, it was so ordered.  Senator Carona moved that SB 1783 do not pass but that CSSB 1783 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 1 absent. 

 

Senator Carona 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 1784 and recognized the author, Senator Carona, to explain the bill. 

 

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

 

The chair called Judy Brown to testify on behalf of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

 

Senator Carona moved that SB 1784 do not pass but that CSSB 1784 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, 3 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair moved to accept Senator Shapiro's motion in writing; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 9:35 a.m. Senator Carona resumed the chair. 

 

There being no further business, at 9:36 a.m. Senator Watson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator John Carona, Chair

 

 

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Kelsey Erickson, Clerk