MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERAN AFFAIRS & MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

1:30 a.m. or upon adjournment

Betty King Committee Room

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs & Military Installations was held on Wednesday, March 25, 2009, in the Betty King Committee Room at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Leticia Van de Putte Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Wendy Davis Senator Craig Estes		Senator Joan Huffman

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The following member arrived after the roll was called:  Senators Estes

 

The chair recognized Vice Chairman T.P. O'Mahoney, Texas Veterans Commission to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Senator Van de Putte moved adoption of the minutes from the previous hearing held on March 4, 2009; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SCR 38 and recognized the author, Senator Hinojosa, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

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

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SCR 38 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SCR 5 and recognized the author, Senator Averitt, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Van de Putte sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Averitt 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 public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SCR 5 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SCR 22 and recognized the author, Senator Lucio, Jr., to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Lucio, Jr. to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Lucio 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 public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SCR 22 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 3:30 p.m. the chair moved that the committee stand at ease.

 

At 3:34 p.m. the chair moved to reconvene.

 

Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1537 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Van de Putte sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte 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 requested that written testimony from Robert Enriquez of the Veterans Certification Office from the University of Texas at San Antonio entered into the record. There were no witness registration forms completed.

 

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

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1537 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1538 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

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

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1538 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

At 4:23 p.m. Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1022 and recognized Senator Shapleigh, in the absence of the author, to explain the bill. 

 

Senator Shapleigh sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Shapleigh to explain the difference between the committee substitute and the senate bill as filed.  Senator Shapleigh 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 public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.  

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1022 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 4:46 p.m. Senator Estes assumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1075 and recognized the author, Senator Van de Putte, to explain the bill.

 

Senator Estes sent up a committee substitute; the chair recognized Senator Van de Putte 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 public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

Senator Estes moved that SB 1075 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 4:56 p.m. Senator Van de Putte resumed the chair. 

 

The chair laid out SB 1408 and recognized the author, Senator Shapleigh, to explain the bill. 

 

Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on the attached list. 

 

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

 

Senator Van de Putte moved that SB 1408 be left pending; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

There being no further business, at 5:02 p.m. Senator Van de Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

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Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair

 

 

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Estella French, Clerk