MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Wednesday, April 29 2009

7:30 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 Wednesday, April 29, 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 Wendy Davis

Senator Joan Huffman

Senator Robert Nichols

Senator Florence Shapiro

Senator Eliot Shapleigh

Senator Jeff Wentworth

Senator Rodney Ellis

 

None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 1822 and recognized Senator Watson, in the absence of the author, 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.

 

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 1318 and recognized the author, Senator Wentworth, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Wentworth sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Wentworth 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.

 

At 8:20 a.m. Senator Watson assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out HB 782 and recognized the Senate sponsor, Senator Carona, 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 as a matter of pending business SB 358.

 

Senator Carona moved to withdraw the committee substitute that was previously sent up; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Carona sent up a new committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Patrick 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 announced that the bill would be left pending

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 1318. 

 

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

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 1318 do not pass but that CSSB 1318 be reported favorably to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business HB 782. 

 

Senator Carona moved that HB 782 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 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 1466.

 

Senator Davis moved to withdraw the committee substitute that was previously sent up; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

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

 

Senator Davis moved that SB 1466 do not pass but that CSSB 1466 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  The motion carried with a record vote of 6 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 883. 

 

Senator Watson moved adoption of Committee Amendment 1 that was previously sent up; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Carona requested unanimous consent to roll Committee Amendment 1 into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Watson sent up Committee Amendment 2 on behalf of Senator Hinojosa and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Carona requested unanimous consent to roll Committee Amendment 2 into a committee substitute; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Huffman sent up Committee Amendment 3 and moved adoption; without objection, the amendment was adopted.  Senator Huffman requested unanimous consent to roll Committee Amendment 3 into a 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 883 do not pass but that CSSB 883 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 0 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 1570.

 

Senator Carona moved to withdraw the committee substitute that was previously sent up; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

Senator Carona sent up a new 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. 

 

Senator Carona moved that SB 1570 do not pass but that CSSB 1570 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, 1 nay, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 357.

 

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

 

Senator Carona moved that SB 357 do not pass but that CSSB 357 be reported back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. 

 

Before the vote was announced, Senator Carona moved to withdraw the motion to report CSSB 357 back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed.  Senator Ellis objected, and the motion by Senator Carona failed by a record vote of 4 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

Therefore, the chair announced that the motion to report CSSB 357 back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed failed with a record vote of 4 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 1 absent.

 

The chair announced that the Committee would stand at ease for five minutes.  At 8:22 a.m. the chair called the meeting to order.

 

The chair laid out as a matter of pending business SB 358.

 

Senator Carona moved that SB 358 do not pass but that CSSB 358 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent.

 

At 8:55 a.m. Senator Carona resumed the chair.

 

There being no further business, at 8:56 a.m. Senator Watson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Pursuant to a motion adopted on the Senate floor to suspend Senate Rules 11.10, 11.18, and 11.19, and pursuant to an announcement made on the Senate floor before adjournment, at 5:48 p.m. the committee reconvened at Chairman Carona's desk on the Senate floor.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The chair laid out SB 2568 and recognized the author, Senator Patrick, to explain the bill.

 

The chair opened public testimony on the bill. 

 

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

 

Senator Wentworth moved that SB 2568 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, 4 nays, 0 present not voting, and 0 absent. 

 

There being no further business, at 5:52 p.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

 

 

_____________________________

Kelsey Erickson, Clerk